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September 19, 2012

I Like Gary Johnson By John Stossel

All political candidates call themselves freedom-lovers, but they are not. Neither major party really opposes government control of the economy or of our personal lives. I'm a libertarian because I see the false choice offered by political left and right: Democrats talk about personal liberty; Republicans talk about economic freedom. But what they do once in power belies their words.   

September 19, 2012

55% of Independents Still See Presidential Race As Choice Between Lesser of Two Evils

Most unaffiliated voters are still unenthusiastic about the choice between President Obama and Mitt Romney this November. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of all Likely U.S. Voters are excited about the choice between the two men, but 37% say they will be simply voting for the lesser of two evils. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 15-16, 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.

September 18, 2012

40% Say Internet Best Way to Get News, 37% Say TV

More Americans turn to the world wide web to get their news nowadays, but nearly as many still think television news is the most reliable news source available.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 40% of American Adults think the Internet is the best way to get news and information in today’s world. Thirty-seven percent (37%) say television is best. Just nine percent (9%) believe the radio is the best way to get news and information, and even fewer (7%) still go with print newspapers. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on September 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.

September 18, 2012

81% Think Government Aid Recipients Should Be Required to Prove Legal Residency

Despite the controversy over requiring photo identification at the polls, voters overwhelmingly believe those who receive government services should be required first to show they are in this country legally. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 81% of Likely U.S. Voters think individuals must prove they are legal U.S. residents before receiving government services here. Only nine percent (9%) disagree with such a requirement. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May September 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.

September 18, 2012

Colorado: Romney 47%, Obama 45%

Mitt Romney has edged slightly ahead of President Obama in the battleground state of Colorado. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in Colorado finds Mitt Romney with 47% support, while Obama receives 45% of the vote.  Two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate, and six percent (6%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Colorado was conducted on September 17, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

September 18, 2012

50% Still Predict An Obama Win, 36% Romney

Despite the insistence by some in the media that the race is all but over, voters are a little less sure that President Obama will win in November.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% of Likely U.S. Voters still believe, regardless of who they want to win, that the president is most likely to win the election. Thirty-six percent (36%) see his Republican challenger Mitt Romney as more likely to emerge on top. Thirteen percent (13%) remain undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 15-16, 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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September 18, 2012

Buckle up for the Robot Revolution By Froma Harrop

Robots don't take bathroom breaks, and that's one reason why, all else being equal, they may make better factory workers than the human version. But all else is getting less equal. New generations of super "smart" robots are doing more and more complex tasks, their needle arms going into tiny spaces the most delicate human hand can't reach. And just as the machines leap forward in sophistication, their price is coming down.

September 18, 2012

20% Believe Targeted Government Programs Will Help Housing Market

The Federal Reserve Board announced last week that it will attempt to help the housing market by buying mortgages to keep interest rates at record lows. But only 20% of American Adults believe it is possible for targeted government programs to help the housing market.

Sixty-nine percent (69%) think the housing market will improve only when the overall economy improves, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Eleven percent (11%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on September 14-15, 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.

September 17, 2012

Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 44%, Democrats 43%

Republicans once again lead Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot, this time for the week ending September 17, 2012.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 43% would choose the Democrat instead.

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The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from September 10-16 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.

September 17, 2012

North Carolina Governor: McCrory (R) 51%, Dalton (D) 38%

Republican Pat McCrory has regained his double-digit advantage over Democratic Lieutenant Governor Walter Dalton in the race to be North Carolina’s next governor. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the state finds McCrory earning 51% of the vote, while Dalton picks up 38% support.  One percent (1%) prefers some other candidate, but 10% are still undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.

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The survey of 500 Likely Voters in North Carolina was conducted on September 13, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

September 17, 2012

Virginia Senate: Kaine (D) 47%, Allen (R) 45%

Democrat Tim Kaine has moved slightly ahead of Republican George Allen in Virginia’s neck-and-neck U.S. Senate race.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Virginia Voters finds Kaine with 47% support to Allen’s 45%. Two percent (2%) like another candidate in the race, and six percent (6%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Virginia was conducted on September 13, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

September 17, 2012

53% Favor Repeal of Health Care Law

A majority of voters still supports repeal of President Obama’s national health care law and believes it will increase the federal deficit and the cost of health care.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of Likely U.S. Voters favor repeal, while 43% are opposed. This includes 45% who Strongly Favor repeal of the health care measure and 33% who are Strongly Opposed. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 15-16, 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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September 17, 2012

The Consequences of Obama's Bungled Mideast Policy By Michael Barone

In Libya, U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three colleagues were murdered Tuesday. Earlier that day, protesters in Egypt stormed the U.S. embassy and tore down the American flag.

September 17, 2012

72% Put Freedom of Speech Ahead of Not Offending Other Cultures

Voters overwhelmingly rate protecting freedom of speech as more important than not offending other nations and cultures despite claims that the latest outbreak of anti-American violence in the Middle East is due to an amateur YouTube video that mocks Islam.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 72% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it is more important for the United States to guarantee freedom of speech. Only 15% consider it more important for the United States to make sure that nothing is done to offend other nations and cultures. Thirteen percent (13%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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Sign up for The Rasmussen Reader, now just $24.95 for a 12-month subscription. Offer good through October 1, 2012. 

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on September 13-14, 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.

September 16, 2012

47% Expect Higher Interest Rates One Year From Now

The Federal Reserve on Thursday announced it is extending its plan to keep interest rates low until 2015, but nearly half of Americans expect higher interest rates a year from now.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 47% of American Adults believe they will be paying higher interest rates one year from today. Just six percent (6%) expect lower interest rates in a year's time, while 34% believe they will be about the same. Thirteen percent (13%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on September 8-9, 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.

September 16, 2012

Florida Senate: Nelson (D) 47%, Mack (R) 40%

Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson still leads Republican Connie Mack in Florida's hotly contested U.S. Senate race.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the Sunshine State finds Nelson with 47% support to Mack’s 40%. Five percent (5%) prefer some other candidate, while eight percent (8%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Florida was conducted on September 12, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

September 15, 2012

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending September 15, 2012

The presidential race definitely had its ups and downs this past week. At the start of the week, President Obama coming off a successful national convention had bounced ahead of his Republican challenger Mitt Romney. By week’s end, the bounce was gone, and the race looked like the conventions had never happened in the daily Presidential Tracking Poll. Likely to complicate the picture was the killing of the first U.S. ambassador overseas since 1979 and increasingly angry anti-U.S. protests spreading through the Middle East. In Virginia and Ohio Obama leads by a point. In Florida, the president is up two. Romney has edged back into the lead in Missouri and is up six in North Carolina. 

September 15, 2012

Ohio Senate: Brown (D) 49%, Mandel (R) 41%

Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown earns his highest level of support yet against Republican challenger Josh Mandel in Ohio’s U.S. Senate race.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Voters in Ohio shows Brown with 49% of the vote to Mandel’s 41%.  Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, and seven percent (7%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Ohio was conducted on September 12, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

September 14, 2012

Only 25% Know How Much Teachers Really Make

Americans tend to think public school teachers are not paid enough until they find out how much they actually are paid.

Forty-five percent (45%) of American Adults, when initially asked, say public school teachers are paid too little, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. This is relatively unchanged from February but down 12 points from 57% in May 2008. One-in-three (33%) think teachers are paid about the right amount, while 14% say they earn too much. (To see survey questions wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on September 10-11, 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.

September 14, 2012

Virginia: Obama 49%, Romney 48%

Mitt Romney and President Obama are still running neck-and-neck in the key battleground state of Virginia.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the state finds Obama earning 49% support, while Romney picks up 48% of the vote.  One percent (1%) prefers some other candidate, and two percent (2%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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Sign up for The Rasmussen Reader, now just $24.95 for a 12-month subscription. Offer good through October 1, 2012.

The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Virginia was conducted on September 13, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.