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                            July 3, 2013Americans See George Washington As Greatest Founding Father
George Washington is back on top as the greatest Founding Father.  But Americans are now almost evenly divided on one of the key principles in the Pledge of Allegiance. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 37% of American Adults consider the first president of the United States the greatest Founding Father. Twenty-seven percent (27%) say Thomas Jefferson is the greatest, while 14% say the same of Benjamin Franklin.  Only five percent (5%) think that title belongs to John Adams, and three percent (3%) say James Madison.  Fourteen percent (14%) are not sure.  (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 June 23-24, 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 3, 2013More Americans View Blacks As Racist Than Whites, Hispanics
Americans consider blacks more likely to be racist than whites and Hispanics in this country.
Thirty-seven percent (37%) of American Adults think most black Americans are racist, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just 15% consider most white Americans racist, while 18% say the same of most Hispanic Americans. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 1-2, 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 3, 201363% View Too-Powerful Government As Bigger Threat Than Weaker One
More Americans than ever (63%) think a government that is too powerful is a bigger danger in the world today than one that is not powerful enough. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 21% disagree and think a government that is not powerful enough is a bigger danger. Seventeen percent (17%) are not sure. (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 1,000 Adults was conducted on June 19-20, 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 3, 2013The Snowden Paradox By Mark Meckler
Edward Snowden, the National Security Agency whistleblower, is either a hero or a traitor.  We’ve heard him described both ways in no uncertain terms.  So which is it?  I’ve been withholding judgment, I thought, based on needing more facts.  Yet no matter how many facts come out about the case, I remain ambivalent.   In the Snowden situation, I believe we have encountered a paradox.
July 3, 2013I Shrugged By John Stossel
Many libertarians, outraged by how our government spies on us, call me a "traitor" because I'm not very angry. I understand that the National Security Administration tracking patterns in our emails and phone calls could put us on a terrible, privacy-crushing slippery slope.    

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                            July 3, 201366% Know Someone Out of Work and Looking For Employment
The bad news is that two-out-of-three Americans still know someone who is out of work and looking for a job. The good news is that the percentage of these Americans is at its lowest level in several years.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 66% of American Adults know someone who is out of work and looking for a job. That's down three points from 69% last month. Two years ago, 75% knew someone in this situation.  (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 1,000 Adults was conducted on June 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 2, 2013Just 26% Give U.S. Public Schools Positive Marks
Most voters still don't think very positively about the nation's public schools and continue to believe political correctness trumps accuracy in America's textbooks.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 26% of Likely U.S. Voters rate the performance of public schools in America today as good or excellent.  Thirty-four percent (34%) rate public education as poor.  (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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 26-27, 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 2, 201356% Think Constitution Should Be Left Alone
Most Americans continue to believe the U.S. Constitution should be left as is and remain the nation’s fundamental law. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of American Adults think the Constitution should be left alone. Thirty-three percent (33%) believe minor changes are needed in the nation's foundational document. Just four percent (4%) feel major changes are necessary. Two percent (2%) think the United States should scrap the Constitution completely and start over. (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 1,000 Adults was conducted on June 19-20, 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 2, 2013Rasmussen Employment Index Remains Near Recent High
The Rasmussen Employment Index which measures worker confidence slipped just over a point in June after reaching a near six-year high the previous month.
July 2, 2013Investigate Issa! Or How to Apply the Chairman's Own Methods and Style to Him By Joe Conason
Among the many reasons that Americans hold the House of Representatives in low repute -- at historically abysmal levels, in fact -- is the blatantly partisan and ideological misconduct of so many committee chairs. Without any evident embarrassment these mighty politicians deny science, defy mathematics and dismiss every fact that contradicts their prejudices. But bad as these chairs tend to be, none is quite as flamboyantly awful as Rep. Darrell Issa, chairman of the Government Oversight Committee, a special investigative panel whose latest effort to conjure scandal from nothingness at the Internal Revenue Service would provoke his removal by a responsible leadership.

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                            July 2, 2013For Voters, NSA Case is Less of A Scandal but More of A Problem
Of the four major controversies now swirling around the Obama administration, the National Security Agency’s secret surveillance of the phone and e-mail traffic of millions of Americans is the one voters least consider a serious scandal. But as controversies go, they rate it slightly ahead of the others as a problem for the administration.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of Likely U.S. Voters consider both the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of conservative organizations and the White House’s explanation of what happened when the U.S. ambassador was killed in Benghazi, Libya last year as serious scandals. That’s unchanged from six weeks ago.
Twenty-five percent (25%) view the IRS matter as an embarrassing situation but not a scandal, while 19% say it’s not big deal. Similarly, 23% consider the Benghazi affair to be an embarrassing situation but not a scandal. Seventeen percent (17%) see it as no big deal. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 30-July 1, 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 2, 2013In U.K. but Not U.S., Young Voters Turn Against Big Government By Michael Barone
A trip to London provides an occasion to compare and contrast British politics and attitudes with those in America.   

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                            July 2, 201351% Think All EPA Regulations Need Congressional Approval
The Environmental Protection Agency sent a revised greenhouse gas emissions rule straight to the White House  yesterday, but most voters now think regulations like this should travel through Capitol Hill first.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of Likely U.S. Voters believe EPA regulations should require congressional approval before they can be implemented. That's up eight points from 43% in late December. Only 28% disagree, while nearly as many (21%) are not sure.  (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 June 26-27, 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 1, 2013Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 39%, Democrats 38%
Republicans have gained the edge over Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending June 30, 2013.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 39% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 38% would choose the Democrat instead. The week before, Democrats led by one.  This is the second time in the past three weeks that both were below 40%, something that hasn't happened since June 2009.
(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 June 24-30, 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.

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                            July 1, 201325% Say High School Graduates Prepared For College
Most voters don’t believe high school graduates have the necessary skills needed for college, and even more think they’re not prepared to enter the workforce.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 25% of Likely U.S. Voters think most high school graduates have the skills needed for college.  Fifty-eight percent (58%) disagree, while 17% are not sure.  (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 June 26-27, 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 1, 201317% Say U.S. Public Schools Provide World-Class Education
Confidence in the U.S. public school system’s ability to provide students a world-class education and teach traditional Western values continues to fall.
Sixty-three percent (63%) of Likely Voters still believe that “a world-class education is the single most important factor in determining whether our kids can compete for the best jobs and whether America can outcompete countries around the world.”  A new Rasmussen Reports national survey finds that just 21% disagree with this view expressed by President Obama in 2011. Another 16% 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 22-23, 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 1, 2013President Obama’s Full-Month Approval Rating Slips to 47% in June
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 had a challenging month of June, and his total Job Approval rating fell two points to 47%. That ties the president’s lowest approval rating since December 2011. The current rating is more in line with his approval during most of his first term in office.

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                            July 1, 2013Public Approval of Supreme Court Falls to All-Time Low
The U.S. Supreme Court finished its term with big decisions on voting rights, affirmative action and same-sex marriage. Following those rulings, public approval of the court has fallen to the lowest level ever recorded in more than nine years of polling.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 28% believe the Supreme Court is doing a good or an excellent job. At the same time, 30% rate its performance as poor. That’s the highest-ever poor rating. It’s also the first time ever that the poor ratings have topped the positive assessments. Thirty-nine percent (39%) give the court middling reviews and rate its performance as fair. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The Rasmussen Challenge is taking a break for the holiday week. Try your luck again next week, and win an iPad.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 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 1, 201348% Now Want Their Governor To Oppose Health Care Law
As the date for implementation draws near, support for state implementation of President Obama’s health care law is declining.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 41% of Likely U.S. Voters would like their governor to support implementation of the law, while 48% want their governor to oppose it. Eleven percent (11%) are not sure. (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 June 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 1, 201348% Now Want Their Governor To Oppose Health Care Law
As the date for implementation draws near, support for state implementation of President Obama’s health care law is declining.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 41% of Likely U.S. Voters would like their governor to support implementation of the law, while 48% want their governor to oppose it. Eleven percent (11%) are not sure. (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 June 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.