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                            December 4, 201260% Think Middle-Class Tax Increases Likely in Any Budget Deal
Most voters still think a middle-class tax hike is likely in any deal that President Obama and Congress reach to avoid the January 1 “fiscal cliff.” They view long-term spending cuts as much less likely.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 60% of Likely U.S. Voters believe middle-class taxes are also likely to go up if the president and Congress agree to a plan that raises taxes on wealthy Americans and cuts spending. Thirty-two percent (32%) see a middle-class tax hike as unlikely. This includes 31% who consider it Very Likely but just five percent (5%) who think it’s Not At All Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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(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 November 30-December 1, 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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                            December 3, 2012Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 47%, Republicans 36%
Democrats have now jumped to an 11-point lead over Republicans on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending December 2, 2012.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 47% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 36% would choose the Republican instead.
Win an IPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge. 
The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from November 26-December 2, 2012. 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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                            December 3, 201253% Worry About Toy Safety This Holiday Season
Concern about the safety of toys is at an all-time high this holiday season, but most Americans admit they have never purchased a defective toy.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of American Adults are at least somewhat concerned about the safety of most toys that are being sold this holiday season, including 23% who are Very Concerned. Forty-one percent (41%) don't share that concern, with 10% who are Not At All Concerned. (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 November 29-30, 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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                            December 3, 2012New High: 43% Expect Higher Unemployment Next Year
While opinions of the current job market have improved from the last several months, more Americans than ever expect a higher unemployment rate a year from now.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 43% of American Adults believe unemployment will be higher in a year's time, up 13 points from October and the highest level of pessimism measured in several years. Thirty percent (30%) expect unemployment to be lower a year from now, while 23% think it will be about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Win an IPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge. 
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 1-2, 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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                            December 3, 2012Voters Think Obama More Willing to Deal on ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Than GOP
As the “fiscal cliff’ draws nearer, voters are more confident that President Obama is willing to agree to a deal with both spending cuts and tax increases than Republicans in Congress are.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the president is willing to accept a deal that includes both his tax increases and significant cuts in government spending. Nearly as many (40%) think Obama will insist on tax increases only.  (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 November 30-December 1, 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.
December 3, 2012Men Find Careers in Collecting Disability By Michael Barone
Americans are very generous to people with disabilities. Since passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act in 1990, millions of public and private dollars have been spent on curb cuts, bus lifts and special elevators.

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                            December 3, 201248% Recognize Need to Cut Entitlements, Defense to Reduce Federal Deficit
Recognition is growing among voters that reducing the deficit will require cuts in both defense and entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that nearly half (48%) of Likely U.S. Voters now believe it is necessary to significantly reduce the cost of entitlement programs and military spending to reduce the long-term federal deficit. Thirty-two percent (32%) disagree about the necessity of any such cuts, while another 20% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Win an IPad: Take the 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.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 28-29, 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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                            December 2, 2012Football Is The Clear Favorite For Sports Fans
Baseball may be called America’s pastime, but the United States is clearly a football nation.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of sports fans finds that 53% say football is their favorite sport to follow. Baseball comes in a distant second with 16% support, while basketball is the favorite of 11%. Six percent (6%) of Americans prefer hockey, with no other sport including soccer, auto racing, golf and tennis reaching five percent (5%). (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Football is the top sport across the demographic board, with even more women (57%) than men (50%) saying it’s their favorite to follow.
Regardless of their preference, Americans tend to feel the highs more than the lows when it comes to sports. Fifty-eight percent (58%) of sports fans say they feel Very Happy when their favorite team wins a big game, while just six percent (6%) say they feel Very Depressed when their team loses a big one. In fact, 64% claim they don’t feel very depressed at all when their team loses a crucial matchup.
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.
This survey of 1,011 Sports Fans was conducted on November 27, 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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                            December 1, 201215% Talk About Sports Every Day
Americans as a whole are pretty casual about discussing and viewing sports, but most believe sports are good for young people.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 15% talk about sports with family and friends every day or nearly every day, while another 14% say they do so about once a week. Twenty-six percent (26%) say they talk sports occasionally. A sizable number of Americans (44%) say they rarely or never discuss sports with their family and friends. (To see 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 2,000 Adults was conducted on November 27, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error 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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                            December 1, 2012What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending December 1, 2012
How long will this current era of good feelings last?
President Obama, like most Election Day winners in years past, is enjoying a bounce in his job approval ratings in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll. 
For the second week in a row, 41% of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction. That’s up 25 points from a year ago and close to the highest level of optimism during the Obama presidency.

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                            November 30, 201251% Say They Have A Sweet Tooth
With the Hostess Twinkie making headlines, 51% of Americans admit to having a strong taste for sweets, and 19% say they eat sugary snacks every day. Twice as many (37%) say they're overweight, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
Forty percent (40%) say they don't have a sweet tooth, but another nine percent (9%) aren't 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 nationwide was conducted on November 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.
November 30, 2012Democrats Now Trusted More on Nine of 10 Key Issues
Prior to Election Day, voters trusted Republicans on seven-out-of-10 key issues.  Now, in the first survey following the presidential election, Democrats are trusted more on nine of these issues. 
However, voters still give the GOP a slight edge on the most important issue, the economy.  Forty-four percent (44%) of Likely U.S. Voters say they trust Republicans more to handle that issue, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.  But nearly as many (42%) place their trust in Democrats, and another 15% are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge?  Check the leaderboard.
Two national surveys of 1,000 Likely Voters each were conducted on November 26-27 and 28-29, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 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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                            November 30, 2012No Change: 51% See Deal to Avoid ‘Fiscal Cliff’ As Likely
Most voters continue to feel President Obama and Congress should prevent the pending “fiscal cliff” of big tax hikes and deep spending cuts from being reached, but they remain only cautiously confident that a deal is possible.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 61% of Likely U.S. Voters believe Congress and the president should stop the tax increases and spending cuts totaling more than $500 billion that are scheduled to go into effect on January 1. Only 20% disagree, while 19% 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 November 28-29, 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.
November 30, 2012Elder Lobby Should Back off on Medicare By Froma Harrop
AARP's shot over the bow on the fiscal cliff talks is most unpleasant. Perhaps you've seen the ad on TV. As seniors go about their day, a stern female voice says of Medicare and Social Security, "We earned them." She goes on, "If Washington tries to cram decisions about the future of these programs into a last-minute budget deal, we'll all pay the price." She left out "down your throat."
November 30, 20122014 Senate Preview: Can Republicans Finally Turn Potential Into Reality? By Kyle Kondik and Larry J. Sabato
As the 2012 election fades into the history books, we begin our first look at the 2014 contests for Senate, House and Governor. Let’s start with the Senate, which will be the site of an intense battle for control once again. Before looking ahead at the Republicans’ prospects to gain the six seats they need to win control of the Senate, it is first important -- though for Republicans, painful -- to look back at the past two Senate cycles.

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                            November 30, 2012President's First-term Gamble Will Determine Success of Second Term By Scott Rasmussen
One little noticed and quite remarkable aspect of Election 2012 is that Barack Obama won a majority of the popular vote for the second consecutive time. With the exception of Franklin D. Roosevelt's four-term run in the 1930s and '40s, it's the first time the Democrats have won a majority of the presidential vote in back-to-back elections since 1836.

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                            November 29, 201249ers Are Still Fan Favorites to Win Super Bowl
At the start of the National Football League season, the San Francisco 49ers were the fan favorites to win Super Bowl XLVII.  As the playoffs approach, fans still give the ‘Niners the edge to win it all, but it's close. 
Seventeen percent (17%) of Pro Football Fans believe the 49ers will win the Super Bowl, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.  That’s up slightly from 15% who felt that way in October. (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.
This survey of 600 Professional Football Fans was conducted on November 27, 2012 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.

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                            November 29, 201242% Give Obama Positive Marks on the Economy
Confidence in President Obama’s handling of the economy has fallen back to pre-Election Day levels, but support for how he’s doing on the national security front remains constant.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters now think the president is doing a good or excellent job handling economic issues. Just as many (41%) rate his performance in this area as poor. (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 November 26-27, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 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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                            November 29, 201257% Have A Favorable Opinion of Hostess Twinkies
Most Americans like Hostess Twinkies and are following the news about the company that makes them. They tend to blame a recalcitrant labor union for putting that company out of business.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 69% of American Adults, in fact, are following recent news reports about the Hostess baking company, including 31% who are following Very Closely. (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 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 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.
November 29, 2012The Tyranny of Good Intentions at U.S. Colleges By Michael Barone
In 1902, journalist Lincoln Steffens wrote a book called "The Shame of the Cities." At the time, Americans took pride in big cities, with their towering skyscrapers, productive factories and prominent cultural institutions.