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                            May 16, 201364% Think It Would Be Bad If Only Government Had Guns
Voters still favor more gun control including a ban on semi-automatic and so-called assault-type weapons but continue to strongly oppose a complete ban on private gun ownership.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 49% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the United States needs stricter gun control laws. Forty-three percent (43%) disagree and oppose more gun control.  (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 May 13-14, 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.
May 16, 2013The Newsmaker Memo: an Interview With Ron Wyden, the Senate's Powerful Policy Wonk By Joe Conason
Having served in Congress for more than three decades -- and in the upper chamber since 1996 -- Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden has established a reputation as one of the Senate's more serious and diligent members. Over the years on Capitol Hill, he has watched the Republican Party veer constantly further rightward, and yet he continues to believe against all evidence that bipartisan legislative cooperation is possible -- even likely. His habitual reaching across the partisan chasm has generated much controversy, notably when he floated a Medicare reform plan with House Budget chair Paul Ryan.
May 16, 2013Benghazi and IRS Targeting: Politics by Other Means By Michael Barone
What do the Benghazi cover-up and the IRS scandal have in common? They were both about winning elections, under false pretenses.   

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                            May 16, 201350% Say Star College Athletes Deserve Royalties
A ruling is expected next month on a suit filed by a former college basketball star claiming that the NCAA should not profit from using the names and images of athletes without paying them, and 50% of Americans agree. But most Americans continue to think it’s unfair for top athletes to be accepted to colleges over more qualified students.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 50% of Adults believe top college athletes deserve royalties when the NCAA profits from using their names and images. Thirty percent (30%) don’t think those athletes deserve royalties, while 19% more 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 national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on May 13, 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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                            May 15, 201330% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction
Thirty percent (30%) 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, May 11.
Voter optimism in the nation’s current course is down one point from the previous week and little changed from a year ago. The latest findings are in line with voter attitudes since early March after President Obama and Congress failed to agree on a budget cutting plan and the so-called sequester cuts kicked in. Confidence in the country's direction jumped into the low 40s last November and remained in the mid- to high 30s through February.
(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 May 6-11, 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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                            May 15, 2013Obama's Positives on Deficit Reduction, Economic Fairness Are Down
President Obama draws his lowest ratings to date for his handling of issues related to deficit reduction and economic fairness.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 34% of Likely Voters believe the president is doing a good or excellent job dealing with deficit reduction. Forty-four percent (44%) say he is doing a poor job in this area. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Just 35% think the president is doing a good or excellent job when it comes to issues related to economic fairness. Forty percent (40%) feel he is doing a poor job on economic fairness matters.
(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 May 11, 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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                            May 15, 201357% Think College Coaches Shouldn’t Be Paid More Than Professors
Americans strongly believe the average major college football coach is paid too much and shouldn't make more than the school’s professors.  The average annual salary for football head coaches at major colleges is $1.64 million, but only 16% of American Adults think that is about right, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Seventy-three percent (73%) believe it is too much, while two percent (2%) feel these coaches are paid too little. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on May 13, 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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                            May 15, 201357% Want IRS Offenders Jailed or Fired
Most voters believe the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of Tea Party and other conservative groups was politically motivated and think most of those involved should be severely punished.
Just 16% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the IRS investigations of these groups were a coincidence, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-seven percent (57%) think the investigations were politically motivated. Twenty-seven percent (27%) 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 May 13-14, 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.
May 15, 2013True Grit By John Stossel
Are you a real man (or woman)? Do you have "grit"?
Compare yourself to the man on the $20 bill: Andrew Jackson, our seventh president.

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                            May 15, 201340% Think U.S. Elections Are Fair, 41% Do Not
Voters are now evenly divided when asked if elections in the United States are fair today, and a solid majority continues to believe that the U.S. government does not have the consent of the governed. But the Political Class strongly disagrees.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 40% of Likely U.S. Voters now consider elections fair to voters, a 17-point drop in confidence from shortly before Election Day last year. Just as many (41%) say American elections are not fair. Nineteen percent (19%) 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 Likely Voters was conducted on May 9-10, 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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                            May 14, 201384% Still Support English As Official U.S. Language
Most Americans still strongly support making English the nation’s official language and don't think they're prejudiced for feeling that way.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 84% of American Adults believe English should be the official language of the United States. Only 12% disagree.  (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 May 10-11, 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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                            May 14, 20138% Say Average Member of Congress Listens to Constituents Most
Voters continue to seriously doubt that their elected representatives are listening to them.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just eight percent (8%) of Likely Voters believe the average member of Congress listens to the voters he or she represents more than congressional party leaders. An overwhelming majority (80%) believes the average congressman listens to party leaders more. 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 national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 9-10, 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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                            May 14, 201349% Think Obama Good or Excellent Leader
In the wake of weeks of troubling national security news—the Boston marathon bombing, Syria’s escalating civil war and the Benghazi hearings, voters are no more confident in President Obama’s leadership than they were two months ago. But fewer now see him as too confrontational.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 49% of Likely U.S. Voters consider Obama a good or excellent leader. That's down from 55% at the start of the year, his highest positives since May 2009. Thirty-eight percent (38%) rate Obama poorly as a leader. These findings are unchanged from early March, right after the sequester spending cuts went into effect and are more in line with the president's leadership ratings in 2012 prior to Election Day. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 9-10, 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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                            May 14, 201325% Think U.S. Can Still Win in Afghanistan
Half of U.S. voters continue to favor an immediate withdrawal of all American forces from Afghanistan, as fewer voters than ever think the United States can really win there.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% of Likely U.S. Voters think the United States should immediate withdraw all its troops from Afghanistan. Just 32% oppose a complete withdrawal, while 18% more 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 May 11, 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.
May 14, 2013Democrats and the 'Ethics' of Max Baucus By Froma Harrop
Max Baucus' reputation as one of the most ethically challenged members of the U.S. Senate is well earned. The Montana Democrat's decision to retire in 2014 can't help but improve the chamber's sorry record of self-enrichment at taxpayers' expense. But Baucus has over a year left to do more mischief.    

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                            May 14, 2013If Border Is Secured, 38% Still Want to Decrease Legal Immigration
Most Americans want to decrease or leave unchanged the number of legal immigrants allowed into the United States even if the government secures the border to stop the flow of illegals.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 26% of American Adults think the number of immigrants allowed to enter the country legally should be increased if the government actually secures the border and prevents illegal immigration. But 38% believe the government should decrease the level of legal immigration if the border is really secured, while 24% feel the level should be left unchanged. 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 Adults was conducted on May 6-7, 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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                            May 13, 2013Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 40%, Republicans 38%
Democrats hold a two-point lead over Republicans on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the second week in a row, this time for the week ending May 11.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 40% 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.
(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 May 6-11, 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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                            May 13, 201381% Think Immigrants From Countries with Terrorist Ties Should Be Screened More Closely
Most Americans think the United States should welcome legal immigrants from around the world but believe those from countries with terrorist ties should be eyed more closely. They also think the United States should give preference to immigrants who are good for the economy.  
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of American Adults think the United States should treat all potential immigrants equally in thinking about immigration policy. But 29% feel the United States should allow more immigrants from some countries than from others.  Eighteen percent (18%) are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on May 6-7, 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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                            May 13, 201361% Favor Requiring Retailers to Publish Where Clothes Are Made
The horrific factory collapse in Bangladesh more than two weeks ago that left more than 1,100 people dead has put the human toll of producing cheap clothing and other products back in the minds of many. While fewer than half of Americans make an effort to only buy clothes made domestically, they support requirements for apparel companies to report where their clothes are made and details about working conditions in those countries.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 61% of U.S. Adults believe all apparel retailers should be required to report or display online where their products are manufactured and what labor conditions are like in those factories. Twenty-four percent (24%) oppose this requirement. 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 Adults was conducted on May 10-11, 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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                            May 13, 2013Voter Views of Benghazi Are Unchanged After House Hearings
Voter perceptions about the murder of the U.S. ambassador in Benghazi, Libya last year and how the Obama administration has explained it are basically unchanged despite last week’s high-profile congressional hearings on the incident.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 31% of Likely U.S. Voters rate the administration’s explanation of the events surrounding the murder of Ambassador Christopher Stevens as good or excellent. Forty-one percent (41%) think the administration has done a poor job explaining things. (To see survey question wording, click here.)