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February 1, 2013

43% Think U.S. Is Too Involved in the Middle East

As America’s role in the Middle East takes center stage in the confirmation hearings for Secretary of Defense nominee Chuck Hagel, a plurality of voters believes the United States is too involved in that part of the world. But most still think there is an ongoing worldwide conflict between the Islamic world and the West.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters feel the United States is too involved in the Middle East. Just 15% think America is not involved enough in that part of the world. Thirty-one percent (31%) consider the level of U.S. involvement about right. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 29-30, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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February 1, 2013

Not All Smiles on Immigration Reform? By Froma Harrop

Such a happy scene: Republican senators grinning next to Democratic senators as though the debt-ceiling crisis, ObamaCare and Sarah Palin never happened. The unifying event is a bipartisan plan to reform the immigration laws, which definitely need fixing.    

February 1, 2013

Real Border Control Has to Come First in Any Immigration Deal By Scott Rasmussen

A bipartisan group of eight U.S. senators has proposed an immigration reform plan that appears to broadly reflect what voters would like to see. But there's a catch.

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January 31, 2013

Better Tools for Immigration Reform Than in 1986 By Michael Barone

Yesterday, as Barack Obama called for a bipartisan immigration bill in Las Vegas and Sen. Marco Rubio called for one on Rush Limbaugh's program, the chances for passage look surprisingly good.

January 31, 2013

60% Think U.S. Society Fair and Decent

Most voters continue to believe America is a fair country and feel those who move here should adopt its culture.

Sixty percent (60%) of Likely U.S. Voters think American society is generally fair and decent, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just 28% disagree and view the country as unfair and discriminatory. Twelve percent (12%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 21-22, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

January 31, 2013

41% of Super Bowl Viewers Say Beyonce Good Choice For Halftime Show

Female vocalist Beyonce was criticized for lip-synching at President Obama’s inauguration, and Super Bowl viewers have mixed feelings about whether she's a good choice for the halftime show. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of adults who will watch the Super Bowl finds that 41% think the best-selling female vocalist is a good choice to play the halftime show.  Thirty-six percent (36%) disagree, while 23% are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

How did you do in the new Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard to find out. 

The survey of 525 Adults Who Will Watch the Super Bowl was conducted on January 28-29, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

January 31, 2013

46% Think Tougher Border Control Unlikely If New Immigration Law Passes

Voters continue to favor a welcoming immigration policy but still feel more strongly that stricter border control has to come first. They’re evenly divided, however, over whether the government will make more of an effort to control the border if a new bipartisan immigration reform proposal is passed by Congress.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of Likely U.S. Voters agree that the goal of immigration policy should be to keep out only national security threats, criminals and those who would come here to live off our welfare system. Twenty-six percent (26%) disagree with that goal for immigration policy. Eighteen percent (18%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 29-30, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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January 31, 2013

Benghazi Hearings: Capitol Hill's Angry Little Men Keep Making Hillary Bigger By Joe Conason

Anyone truly concerned about the safety of U.S. diplomatic personnel abroad -- and that should include every American -- has fresh reason for fury over last September's disaster in Benghazi and its aftermath. But the target of public anger should not be Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, whose conduct has been exemplary ever since the U.S. ambassador to Libya and three of his brave colleagues lost their lives last September. Far more deserving of scorn are the likes of Republican Senators Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and all the other grandstanding, conspiracy-mongering, ill-informed politicians who questioned her Wednesday on Capitol Hill.

Four months after the tragedy occurred, Republicans on both the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee still seem to be obsessed with the talking points provided to U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice before she appeared on television to discuss the incident.

January 31, 2013

51% See More Corruption in Companies That Do Most of Their Business With Gov't

Voters are suspicious of companies that do a lot of business with the government. Fifty-one percent (51%) of Likely U.S. Voters think a company that earns most of its revenue from government is likely to be more corrupt than a company that earns most of its revenue from serving customers. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 17% believe a company that earns most of its revenue from serving customers is likely to be more corrupt. A sizable 31% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 27-28, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

January 30, 2013

39% Say U.S. Heading In Right Direction

Thirty-nine percent (39%) of Likely U.S. Voters now say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, January 27.

The latest finding is up four points from the previous week and is the highest level measured so far this year. Still, confidence is down from 43% the week prior to President Obama’s reelection, the highest level measured in over five years of weekly tracking. This time last year, only 29% said the country was heading in the right direction.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The national telephone survey of 3,000 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen January 21-27, 2013. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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January 30, 2013

Worker Confidence Slips in January

The Rasmussen Employment Index which measures worker confidence fell four points in January from a five-year high the month before, but the index remains above monthly levels measured for most of 2012.

At 87.1, the Employment Index is up six points from the start of 2012 and up 10 points from January 2011.

The survey of 9,476 working Americans was conducted in January 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 1 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

January 30, 2013

Only 32% Think Their Member of Congress Deserves Reelection

Voters aren’t just unhappy with Congress in general. They don’t think much of the member of Congress from their home district either.

Just 32% of Likely U.S. Voters now believe their local congressional representative deserves to be reelected, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Thirty-nine percent (39%) think their local congressman does not deserve reelection. Twenty-nine percent (29%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Play this week’s Rasmussen Challenge ! Answers due by 11:59pm ET on Jan. 30.  

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 27-28, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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January 30, 2013

Obama Is Not King By John Stossel

Watching President Obama's inaugural, I was confused. It looked like a new king was being crowned. Thousands cheered, like subjects worshipping nobility. At a time when America faces unsustainable debt and terrible economic troubles, why such pomp?

Maybe it's because so many people tell themselves presidents can solve any problem, like fairy-tale kings -- or gods.

Before America's first inauguration, John Adams suggested George Washington be called "His Most Benign Highness." Fortunately, Congress insisted on the more modest title, "President."

January 30, 2013

46% Say Obama Policies Too Hostile Toward Small Business

Voters tend to think President Obama's policies are friendlier to big business than to small business, but four-out-of-10 rate his policies to both as about right.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 46% of Likely U.S. Voters believe President Obama's policies are too hostile toward small business. Just four percent (4%) consider his policies too friendly to small business, while 39% say they are about right. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 27-28, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

January 29, 2013

63% Feel Confident About Nutritional Information On Menus

Most Americans are fairly confident in the nutritional facts they see on restaurant menus.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 63% of American Adults are at least somewhat confident in the accuracy of nutritional information currently provided on menus by some restaurants, but that includes only 15% are Very Confident. Twenty-eight percent (28%) are not confident in the accuracy of nutritional information provided by restaurants, with seven percent (7%) who are Not At All Confident. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on January 24-25, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

January 29, 2013

9% Rate Congress’ Job Performance Good or Excellent

Congress, it seems, can’t win as far as voters are concerned.

Even after going along with President Obama and compromising on a deal to avoid the end-of-the-year “fiscal cliff,” Congress receives good or excellent marks for its job performance from just nine percent (9%) of Likely U.S. Voters. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 64% give the nation’s legislators poor marks. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 27-28, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

January 29, 2013

59% Favor Stricter Regulation of Companies Mostly Dependent on Gov't

Voters strongly believe that companies that generate most of their income from the government should face more oversight than those that don’t. But voters tend to oppose the government’s involvement in the management of companies it does that much business with. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of Likely U.S. Voters think a company that earns most of its revenue from the government should be more strictly regulated than companies who earn most of their money by serving consumers. Twenty-two percent (22%) disagree, and 19% more are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Play this week’s Rasmussen Challenge! Answers due by 11:59pm ET on Jan. 30.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 25-26, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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January 29, 2013

Let's Stop Arguing About Birth Control By Froma Harrop

I'm looking forward to the year 2040, because that is when we won't be debating anymore whether birth control belongs in a basic health plan.    

January 29, 2013

44% Give Obama Positive Marks on Gun Control

President Obama has announced that gun control and immigration will be two of his top priorities this year, and voters nationwide give the president mixed reviews in both areas. But as in most issues involving Obama, there's a wide partisan opinion gap.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that 39% rate the president’s handling of immigration issues as good or excellent. Thirty-seven percent (37%) say he is doing a poor job in this area. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update ? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 25-26, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

January 28, 2013

Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 45%, Republicans 37%

Democrats hold an eight-point lead over Republicans on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending January 27, 2013.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 45% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 37% would choose the Republican instead.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook

The national telephone survey of 3,000 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from January 21-27, 2013. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage point with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.