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March 18, 2013

45% Want Their Governors To Help Implement Health Care Law, 45% Don’t

Voters are now evenly divided over whether they want their governor to help make President Obama’s health care law a reality in their state.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of Likely U.S. Voters would like their governor to support the implementation of the law in their state. But just as many (45%) would like their governor to oppose implementation. Eleven percent (11%) 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 March 16-17, 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.

March 17, 2013

41% Will Wear Green to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

Many Americans will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day today by wearing green or having a drink even though they don’t consider it an important holiday.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% of American Adults plan to wear green on St. Patrick’s Day, but nearly as many (39%) don’t intend to do so. One-in-five (20%) aren't sure yet. (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 March 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.

March 16, 2013

65% Say Arrival of Spring Lifts Their Spirits

Spring is just around the corner, and most Americans are looking forward to it.  Though slightly fewer Americans pick spring as their favorite season, they still have plenty of activities on the agenda for it.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 33% of American Adults name summer as their favorite season. Twenty-eight percent (28%) prefer fall, while just as many (27%) like spring the best. Winter remains in fourth place with six percent (6%) naming it as their favorite season. (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 was conducted on March 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

March 16, 2013

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending March 16, 2013

Beware of the new elites who are rewriting the rule book, so that special privilege takes the place of hard work, Scott Rasmussen warns in his latest weekly newspaper column.  “The United States is supposed to be a land of opportunity where everyone can pursue their dreams,” he writes. “But those on top today are busy rewriting the rules to limit entry into their club.”

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March 15, 2013

46% View Biden Favorably, 48% Don’t

Some things don’t seem to change. Unlike President Obama’s approval ratings which jumped after his reelection, Vice President Joe Biden’s favorables remain largely the same as they’ve been for the last four years.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of Likely U.S. Voters have a somewhat favorable opinion of Biden, while 48% regard him unfavorably. That includes 22% with a Very Favorable view of the vice president and 35% with a Very Unfavorable one. (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 March 12-13, 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.

March 15, 2013

Voters Are More Critical of Obama on National Security

Voter perceptions of how President Obama is handling national security have dropped to their lowest level since October. 

Forty-six percent (46%) of Likely U.S. Voters now give the president good or excellent marks for his handling of national security issues, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That's down five points from late last month. Thirty-three percent (33%) rate the president's performance in this area as poor. generally consistent with views since late 2010. (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 March 12-13, 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.

March 15, 2013

Reid, Boehner Are Disliked by One-Out-of-Two Voters

Half of voters don’t like the men in charge of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% of Likely U.S. Voters have an unfavorable opinion of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, while 49% feel that way about House Speaker John Boehner. This includes 32% with a Very Unfavorable view of Reid and 30% with a Very Unfavorable opinion of Boehner. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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March 15, 2013

The Silliness of Demographic Panic By Froma Harrop

If you drove to work today, did you worry about too few cars on the road? Do you wish more people were waiting in line at the public tennis courts? Are you eager to see new housing developments replace your favorite truck farm?

If your answer to all three questions is "no," you're like most people. And America's falling fertility rate would seem to have its benefits. But if you're scraping for new ways to undermine Social Security and Medicare, portraying this demographic reality as a major disaster offers new opportunity to stampede the public into turning against these entitlements.

March 15, 2013

Beware of the New Elites By Scott Rasmussen

James Carville famously kept the 1992 Clinton campaign on message with the simple refrain, "It's the economy, stupid!" That's just as true for politicians today as it was two decades ago.    

March 14, 2013

45% Expect Higher Interest Rates In A Year

More Americans say they are paying higher interest rates.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that one-in-five adults (20%) now say they are paying higher interest rates than they were a year ago. That's up three points from last month and the highest number since  September. Seventeen percent (17%) say they are paying lower rates, while 56% say their rates are about the same as 12 months ago. (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 March 11-12, 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.

March 14, 2013

68% of GOP Voters Have Favorable View of Jeb Bush

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and the Sunshine State’s newest senator, Marco Rubio, are both mentioned as possible 2016 Republican presidential candidates, and they’re popular choices right now as far as GOP voters are concerned. But Rubio has a slight advantage for now over Bush and another possible contender, Senator Rand Paul.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 68% of Likely Republican Voters have a favorable opinion of Bush, while 22% view him unfavorably. This includes 28% with a Very Favorable regard for the son of President George H.W. Bush and the brother of President George W. Bush. Only seven percent (7%) have a Very Unfavorable opinion of him. (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 March 12-13, 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.

March 14, 2013

GOP Voters Give Rand Paul Much Higher Marks Than McCain, Graham

Republican Senator Rand Paul drew the criticism of two senior GOP senators, John McCain and Lindsey Graham, for his recent filibuster forcing the Obama administration to say categorically it would not use drones to attack U.S. citizens in this country. But Republicans now have a much more favorable view of Paul than of former presidential candidate McCain.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 67% of Likely GOP Voters have a favorable opinion of the first-term Kentucky senator. That’s up nine points from 58% less than a month ago and includes 35% with a Very Favorable opinion. (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 Likely Voters was conducted on March 12-13, 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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March 14, 2013

Ryan's Blurred Vision: What the 'New' Republican Budget Reveals (and Conceals) By Joe Conason

Someone needs to tell Paul Ryan that his party -- and the economic platform of austerity and plutocracy he crafted for it -- lost a national election last year. Someone also needs to tell the Wisconsin Republican that he still chairs the House Budget Committee mainly thanks to gerrymandered redistricting.

Someone clearly needs to remind him of those realities because the "vision document" he proposed on Tuesday as the Republican federal budget is only a still more extreme version of the same notions (and the same evasions) that he and Mitt Romney tried to sell without success last fall.

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March 14, 2013

Cardinals Would Be Wise to Ignore Journalists' Advice By Michael Barone

The College of Cardinals met in conclave on Tuesday to begin the process of electing a new pope. The cardinals have been getting plenty of advice from American journalists.    

March 14, 2013

86% Are Paying Higher Grocery Bills Than A Year Ago

Most Americans remain worried about inflation, and an overwhelming number continue to say they are paying more for groceries compared to a year ago. Most believe they’ll be paying even more next year.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 86% of American Adults say they are paying more for groceries than they were a year ago. Just nine percent (9%) say they are paying less for groceries compared to last year. (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 March 11-12, 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.

March 13, 2013

29% Say U.S. Heading In Right Direction

Twenty-nine percent (29%) 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, March 10.

Voter optimism in the nation’s current course is up a point from the previous week but remains at a level not seen since August of last year. Confidence in the nation's course peaked at a high of 43% the week before Election Day but has gradually come down since then.

(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 March 4-10, 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.

March 13, 2013

46% Give Obama Poor Marks for Deficit Reduction

A plurality of voters continues to question President Obama’s handling of deficit reduction.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 38% of Likely U.S. Voters think the president is doing a good or excellent job handling issues related to reducing the federal budget deficit. But 46% rate Obama’s handling of these issues as poor. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Take the Rasmussen Challenge! Answers must be submitted by 11:59pm ET on Wednesday, March 13.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 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.

March 13, 2013

53% Are Now Confident in Nation’s Banks

Confidence in the U.S. banking system is up again this month.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of American Adults now are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the U.S. banking industry, but that includes just 10% who are Very Confident. Forty-three percent (43%) continue to lack confidence in the nation’s banks, with 11% who are Not At All Confident. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Win an IPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge! Entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST

(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 March 11-12, 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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March 13, 2013

Frack to the Future By John Stossel

Celebrities are now upset about fracking, the injection of chemicals into the ground to crack rocks to release oil and gas. With everyone saying they want alternatives to foreign oil, I'd think celebrities would love fracking.   

March 13, 2013

35% Think Traffic Cameras Reduce Speeding

A county judge in Ohio recently struck down the use of traffic cameras to catch speeders and other intersection violators in one village, citing them as a “scam the motorist cannot win.” Twenty-three states and Washington, D.C. currently use speeding or red light cameras or both, but Americans’ views on them remain decidedly mixed.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of American Adults think it is a good idea to use cameras at traffic intersections to catch speeders and those who run traffic lights. But just as many (46%) disagree and don't think it’s a good idea. (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 March 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.