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                            August 2, 201310% Rate Congress As Good or Excellent
Voters aren’t exactly singing Congress’s praises, but they’re giving it ever-so-slightly more positive ratings this month.
A new Rasmussen Reports national survey finds that 10% of Likely U.S. Voters now rate Congress’s performance as good or excellent. That’s up from seven percent (7%) at the beginning of July and the first time Congress' positives have reached double digits this year. Still, two-thirds (66%) of voters give Congress poor marks. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge?  Check the leaderboard. 
(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 July 30-31, 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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                            August 2, 2013To See Where Country is Heading, Ignore Washington by Scott Rasmussen
It's no secret that both political parties are struggling to connect with voters. Strategists dream up marketing plans to increase their party's appeal to this constituency or that group. Sometimes they work, and sometimes they don't. But they never establish a deep and lasting connection with voters.
That's because most of what the parties talk about is yesterday's news and is largely irrelevant to the realities of the 21st century.

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                            August 1, 201333% Say Economy Will Be Stronger In A Year, 39% Say Weaker
Americans remain slightly more confident in long-term economic recovery than in the short-term. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 33% of American Adults believe the U.S. economy will be stronger in a year, generally in line with findings over the past couple years.  But slightly more (39%) still feel the economy will be weaker one year from now, showing little change from last month but down from a recent high of 50% in November.  Seventeen percent (17%) expect it to stay about the same.  Eleven percent (11%) are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge?  Check the leaderboard. 
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 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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                            August 1, 2013President Obama’s Full-Month Approval Rating Stays at 47%
When tracking President Obama’s job approval on a daily basis, people sometimes get so caught up in the day-to-day fluctuations that they miss the bigger picture. To look at the longer-term trends, Rasmussen Reports compiles the numbers on a full-month basis, and the results can be seen in the graphics below.
President Obama’s total job approval held steady at 47% in July, tying the president’s lowest approval rating since December 2011. The president’s ratings for the past two months are more in line with his approval during most of his first term in office.
(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.
August 1, 2013We Don't Need Political Mini Royals By Froma Harrop
Can Huma save Anthony Weiner? Why Huma "stands by her man." What is Huma thinking? These and other pseudo questions top our political news these days.

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                            August 1, 201338% Agree with Obama’s Plan Linking Corporate Tax Cuts, New Jobs Program
President Obama in budget negotiations with congressional Republicans has proposed cuts in corporate tax rates in exchange for a new federal jobs program to tackle infrastructure needs. Thirty-eight percent (38%) of Likely U.S. Voters view Obama’s combination approach as the better way to create new jobs, but nearly as many (36%) think cutting corporate tax rates alone would be more effective. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 19% believe creating a new government jobs program alone is a better way to create new jobs. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge?  Check the leaderboard. 
(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 July 30-31, 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.
August 1, 2013Measuring GOP Extremism: What Carville and Greenberg's Latest Polling Reveals By Joe Conason
It is becoming increasingly plain that the most formidable obstacle to national progress and global security is the Republican Party -- and specifically the extremist factions that currently dominate the GOP.

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                            August 1, 201374% Oppose Making Minimum Wage Different for Different Age Groups
Americans recognize that more minimum-wage fast-food jobs are now being held by workers who are over 20, but while they favor raising the minimum wage, they don’t think that wage should be even higher for those who are older. 
Just 33% of American Adults believe the average age range of employees in fast-food restaurants is under 20. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% recognize that the average age of these workers is now 20 to 29. Nine percent (9%) think it’s even higher.  (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 American Adults nationwide was conducted on July 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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                            July 31, 201326% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction
For the second week in a row, 26% of Likely U.S. Voters say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, July 28.
That ties the finding from the previous week, the lowest level of confidence since mid-January 2012. Confidence in the country's direction rose steadily last fall, peaking at a high of 43% the week just before Election Day. It's been gradually decreasing ever since.
(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 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on July 22-28, 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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                            July 31, 2013Republicans Still Trusted More on Economy
Voters are almost evenly divided when asked which party they trust more to handle the 15 important issues regularly tracked by Rasmussen Reports, but they continue to favor Republicans most on the number one issue, the economy.
New national telephone surveying finds that the GOP is trusted more on seven issues, the Democrats on eight. In late May and early June, voters trusted Republicans more on 10 out of 15 issues after the post-election bounce for President Obama and his party had subsided. That was a complete reversal from March. 
Republicans are trusted more on the economy, taxes, job creation, government spending, issues affecting small business, gun control and national security.  Democrats earn more trust from voters when it comes to energy policy, the environment, Afghanistan, immigration, government ethics and corruption, health care, Social Security and education. On three of these issues, however, Democrats post just a one-point lead. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Win an iPad: There’s still time to play this week’s Rasmussen Challenge!
(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. 
Three national surveys of 1,000 Likely Voters each were conducted on July 18-19, 24-25 & 28-29, 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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                            July 31, 201361% Favor Raising Minimum Wage to $10.10 An Hour
Most Americans don't think it's possible to live on the current minimum wage of $7.25 an hour and favor raising it dramatically. They also believe the minimum wage should continue to rise to keep up with inflation even though they don't necessarily see that as good for the economy.
Just 10% of American Adults believe the current minimum wage is a wage someone can live on, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Seventy-seven percent (77%) say the minimum wage is not enough to live on. Thirteen percent (13%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Win an iPad: There’s still time to play this week’s Rasmussen Challenge!
The survey of 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on July 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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                            July 31, 201311% Still Think Snowden A Hero, 32% A Traitor
Even before a military judge handed down his verdict against Bradley Manning yesterday, nearly half of U.S. voters still believed the former Army intelligence analyst was a traitor for leaking government secrets. But voters remain more undecided when it comes to Edward Snowden, the private contractor who exposed the National Security Agency’s spying on domestic phone calls.
Thirty-two percent (32%) of Likely U.S. Voters consider Snowden a traitor who endangered lives and national security, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That compares to 46% who feel that way about Manning. (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 July 28-29, 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.
July 31, 2013Are We Rome Yet? By John Stossel
Unfortunately, the fall of Rome is a pattern repeated by empires throughout history ... including ours?
A group of libertarians gathered in Las Vegas recently for an event called "FreedomFest." We debated whether America will soon fall, as Rome did.
Historian Carl Richard said that today's America resembles Rome.

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                            July 30, 201356% Say More Competition, Less Regulation Better For Financial System
Most voters still view the federal bailouts of the financial industry negatively and continue to believe less government is better for the nation’s banking system. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of Likely U.S. Voters  think that the federal government’s bailouts of the financial industry were bad for the United States. Twenty-eight percent (28%) think the bailouts were good for the country, while 21% 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 July 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. 

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                            July 30, 2013Rasmussen Employment Index Falls to 2013 Low
The Rasmussen Employment Index which measures worker confidence dropped 10 points in July to its lowest level since last November.
At 83.1, worker confidence is down four points from the beginning of the year but is still up three points from a year ago. The Employment Index reached a near six-year high of 94.4 in May. The Index is down 24 points from June 2007.
(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 9,104 working Americans was conducted in July 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.
July 30, 2013Both GOP and Democrats Have Party Problems By Michael Barone
Since last November's election there has been a lot of punditry about the fissures and schisms in the Republican Party. The divisions are real, and some of the commentary has been revealing.    

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                            July 30, 201346% Favor More Restrictions on NSA Surveillance Program
Defenders of the National Security Agency’s recently disclosed surveillance of Americans’ telephone records seem to be getting somewhere. Voters tend to believe the NSA program should be reined in, but they’re not quite as suspicious of the government’s motives as they were earlier.   
Forty-six percent (46%) of Likely U.S. Voters favor putting greater restrictions on the NSA’s tracking of Americans’ telephone calls, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Thirty-six percent (36%) oppose additional restrictions on the program. Eighteen percent (18%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 
Win an iPad: A new Rasmussen Challenge starts today!
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 28-29, 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.   
July 30, 2013America's Wilderness Gets Crowded By Froma Harrop
Ever since Yosemite National Park won fame for its natural Western splendor, it's gone on many a register of things to see before one dies. It remains a bucket-list favorite, only nowadays there are millions, if not billions, more buckets. The park's crowds have become such that officials there are struggling to find ways to ease the crush of humanity.

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                            July 30, 2013Men Are Still Chief Breadwinners in Most Relationships
A recent major study suggests that an increasing number of American women are now the primary breadwinners in married couples, but for most men and women, the man remains the chief earner.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of men say they earn the most money in their marriage or domestic partnership, compared to 23% of women who say they earn the most. Fifty-four percent (54%) of women say their partner earns more. Only 18% of men say their partner is the bigger earner. (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 national survey of 1,818 Adults was conducted on July 17-18, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 2 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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                            July 29, 2013Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 39%, Republicans 38%
Democrats hold a one-point lead over Republicans on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending July 28.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 39% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 38% would choose the Republican instead. The week before, Democrats led by two - 40% to 38%. 
(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 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from July 22-28, 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.