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                            November 24, 2012Only 16% Think Today’s Children Will Be Better Off Than Their Parents
Views about the future for America's children and about economic opportunity in this country are hovering near all-time lows.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 16% of American Adults believe today’s children will be better off than their parents, the standard past generations have set as their goal. Sixty-five percent (65%) don’t think that goal will be reached. 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 survey of 2,000 Adults was conducted on November 15-16 and 19, 2012 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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                            November 23, 201215% of America Is Shopping Today, 11% Are Already Done
The holiday shopping season keeps starting earlier and earlier.
This year, 11% of Americans had finished the gift-buying before Black Friday, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That’s up from seven percent (7%) who finished shopping early a year ago. The day after Thanksgiving is often considered the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Given the holiday week, there will be no Rasmussen Challenge  this week. The contest will resume on Tuesday, November 27.
(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 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 20, 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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                            November 23, 201218% Plan To Travel This Holiday Weekend
The Thanksgiving weekend is one of the biggest travel times of the year, but for most Americans, it’s still a stay-at-home holiday.
Nearly one-out-of-five Adults (18%) are planning to travel away from home this Thanksgiving, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Seventy-seven percent (77%) are definitely not traveling, but five percent (5%) still haven’t made up their minds. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Given the holiday week, there will be no Rasmussen Challenge  this week. The contest will resume on Tuesday, November 27.
(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 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 20, 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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                            November 23, 2012Respecting Voters Matters More Than Policy By Scott Rasmussen
The Republican Party has won a majority of the popular vote just once in the last six elections. That dismal track record followed a party revival in the 1980s, when Ronald Reagan led the GOP to three straight popular vote majorities.
November 22, 2012Change? Learn? Compromise? Grow? Not These Republicans By Joe Conason
Hearing so much chatter about "change" in the Republican Party, the innocent voter might believe that the Republicans had learned important lessons from their stinging electoral defeat. On closer examination, however, the likelihood of real change appears nil because the party's leaders and thinkers can cite so many excuses to remain utterly the same.
November 22, 2012Dems Have Edge, but Presidency Still in Play By Michael Barone
A funny thing happened as I was looking at the political map of this year's presidential election: It began to look like the map of the presidential election of 2004.

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                            November 22, 201251% Regard Thanksgiving As One of Most Important Holidays
Fifty-one percent (51%) of Americans now consider Thanksgiving to be one of the nation’s most important holidays, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey.
As it has for years, Thanksgiving ranks just below Christmas and the Fourth of July in terms of top holidays. It rates above Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Easter. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Given the holiday week, there will be no Rasmussen Challenge  this week. The contest will resume on Tuesday, November 27.
(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 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 11-12, 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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                            November 21, 201241% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction
Forty-one percent (41%) 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, November 18.
That’s down a point from the previous week and down two from the week before, which marked the highest level of optimism during the Obama presidency. Still, the latest finding is up 17 points from the beginning of the year and up 24 points from a year ago.
(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 November 12-18, 2012. 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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                            November 21, 201246% Will Have Thanksgiving Dinner At Home
This Thanksgiving, it’s all about family, turkey and football.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of American Adults will be celebrating Thanksgiving at home, while 41% will spend the holiday at a relative’s house, up from last year. Eight percent (8%) will have Thanksgiving dinner at either a friend’s home or a restaurant, and four percent (4%) aren’t having Thanksgiving dinner at all. (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 two surveys of 1,000 Adults nationwide each were conducted on November 11-12 and November 20, 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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                            November 21, 201253% Prefer Less Regulation, More Competition For Financial System
While voter opposition to the government bailouts of Wall Street has softened a bit, a majority still thinks the U.S. financial system should be opened to more competition.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds that 53% say more competition and less regulation is better for the financial industry than more regulation and less competition. One in three (32%) takes the opposing view and say more regulation is needed. Another 15% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Given the holiday week, there will be no Rasmussen Challenge this week. The contest will resume on Tuesday, November 27.
The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 18-19, 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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                            November 21, 201266% Want Both Tax Hikes and Spending Cuts in Budget Deal
Voters are looking for a deal to reduce the budget deficit that will include more spending cuts than tax hikes. They expect a deal that will offer the reverse. And, voters are confident that the tax hikes will be real but aren’t so sure about the spending cuts.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 66% of voters nationwide favor a mix of tax hikes and spending cuts to help reduce the federal budget deficit.  Twenty-four percent (24%) want spending cuts only and 4% would prefer only tax hikes. (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 November 20, 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 21, 2012About That Fiscal Cliff By John Stossel
Yikes, we're headed toward a fiscal cliff! It will crush the economy! Or so the media and politicians tell us.

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                            November 21, 2012Elections Haven’t Changed Negative Views of Top Congressional Leaders
Despite the noise and the passions of this year’s elections, all four of the top congressional leaders from both parties are back and remain just as unpopular as they were before Election Day. The same goes for Vice President Joe Biden.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, the leader of the House Democrats, is still the most unpopular as she has been since her years as Speaker of the House. But she’s closely followed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and current House Speaker John Boehner. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell continues to be the least well-known. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Given the holiday week, there will be no Rasmussen Challenge  this week. The contest will resume on Tuesday, November 27.
(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 November 18-19, 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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                            November 20, 201233% Say U.S. Legal System Puts National Security Ahead of Individual Rights
One third (33%) of Likely U.S. Voters now believe the legal system in this country worries more about protecting national security rather than about individual rights. Twenty-five percent (25%) think the U.S. legal system worries too much about protecting individual rights instead, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That’s down five points from last month but generally in line with findings prior to that. Thirty percent (30%) think the balance is 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 national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 12-13, 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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                            November 20, 201250% Expect Weaker Economy In One Year
Americans are much more pessimistic about both the short- and long-term economic future following President Obama's reelection.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% of American Adults now believe the economy will be weaker in a year's time. That's a 27-point jump from October and the lowest finding since September of last year. Just 34% believe the U.S. economy will be stronger a year from now, down seven points from a month ago but more in line with findings earlier this year. Nine percent (9%) expect it to be about the same.  (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 2,000 Adults was conducted on November 15-16 & 19, 2012 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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                            November 20, 2012Voters Rate GOP More Partisan Than Democrats in Congress
Voters now consider Democrats in Congress more bipartisan than they have in several years and congressional Republicans as less so. However, most think both parties continue to behave in a partisan manner.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 31% of Likely U.S. Voters now believe congressional Democrats are acting on a bipartisan basis. By contrast, only 22% think the same of Republicans in Congress.
Similarly, while 61% feel congressional Republicans are acting like partisan Republicans, just 53% believe that to be true of Democrats in Congress. Roughly 16% are undecided when it comes to both parties. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Given the holiday week, there will be no Rasmussen Challenge this week. The contest will resume on Tuesday, November 27.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 16-17, 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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                            November 20, 201247% Say U.S. Should Stay Out of Escalating Gaza Situation
Voters tend to blame the Palestinians for the escalating violence in Gaza but also are slightly more inclined to think the United States should stay out of the situation rather than help Israel.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% of Likely U.S. Voters feel the Palestinians are more to blame for the escalating military conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Just 12% think the Israelis are more to blame, but a sizable 38% 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 November 18-19, 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 20, 2012Health Coverage a 'Gift' to Ourselves By Froma Harrop
One of the more curious "gifts" in Mitt Romney's list of ways Barack Obama allegedly bought off voters was letting young people up to the age of 26 stay on their parents' health plan. It was a gift, all right, a gift to America.

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                            November 20, 201246% See Congressional Democrats’ Agenda As Mainstream, 37% Say Same of GOP’s
As Congress enters a lame duck session, voters view the Democratic agenda as more mainstream than the Republican one.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 46% of Likely Voters believe it is more accurate to describe the agenda of Democrats in Congress as mainstream, while 41% see it as extreme. Another 13% 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 16-17, 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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                            November 19, 2012Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 45%, Republicans 40%
Democrats now lead Republicans by five points on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending November 18, 2012.
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 40% 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 November 12-18, 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.