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August 9, 2012The 'Missing Evidence' in Romney's Tax Records by Joe Conason
Harry Reid has provoked outrage among liberals as well as conservatives, who seem to believe he has violated propriety by repeating gossip about Mitt Romney's taxes. The Senate leader says someone connected with Romney told him that the Republican candidate paid no income taxes for a period of 10 years. Offended by Reid's audacity, commentators on the right have indicted him for "McCarthyism," while others on the left have accused him of inventing the whole story.

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                            August 9, 201249% Say Federal Government Shouldn’t Hire More People
While the U.S. unemployment rate inched up in July, more Americans than ever think it will hurt the nation’s economy if the federal government hires more people to compensate. At the same time, the number of adults who feel unemployment benefits should be extended indefinitely is at an all-time low.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 49% of American Adults now think if the federal government hires more people, it will be bad for the economy, up from 43% in early June and the highest level measured since regular tracking began in late October 2010. Thirty-three percent (33%) say it will be a good economic move if the government hires more people, while 12% believe it will have no impact.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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                            August 9, 201258% Say Bombing Hiroshima, Nagasaki Was Good Decision
Sixty-seven years ago today, the U.S. military dropped a second atomic bomb on Japan, this time on the city of Nagasaki. Three days earlier, Hiroshima had been the target. Most Americans continue to feel the devastating bombings that killed thousands of Japanese civilians were a good idea and saved American lives. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% of American Adults think it was a good decision to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II. Just 19% say it was a bad decision. Twenty-three percent (23%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on August 7-8, 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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                            August 9, 201287% Oppose Letting Government Officials Play Politics In the Marketplace
When the president of Chick-fil-A spoke out in support of traditional marriage in a recent interview, the mayors of Boston, Chicago and San Francisco angrily responded by saying the fast-food chain wasn’t welcome in their cities. But voters overwhelmingly believe those mayors should butt out.
Eighty-seven percent (87%) of Likely U.S. Voters say government officials should not be allowed to prohibit a business from opening if they disagree with the political views of the business owner. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only three percent (3%) think government officials should have the power to stop businesses because they disagree politically with the owners. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
August 9, 2012Conservatives Outsource Moralizing to Liberals by Froma Harrop
It's a given in many conservative circles that the rise of single-parent families is the biggest cause of increasing economic inequality and that liberals are to blame. The first "given" is correct. The second "given" is entirely in conservative heads -- though a means to play politics without doing the heavy lifting.
August 9, 2012Platinum Service Members Get a New, Enhanced Look at Presidential Tracking
Rasmussen Reports is now providing new in-depth presidential tracking data exclusively for our Platinum Service members.While topline data of who’s winning and by how much is available to the public, Platinum Members can take a much deeper dive into the numbers with daily demographic updates and a host of additional information. The Platinum data includes daily updates on how closely various demographic groups are following the election. This is a key indicator of potential turnout. Additionally, the data measures the level of commitment offered to both candidates. Who could still change their mind? And, the data shows daily results “with leaners.” How does the race look when those who are uncommitted to either candidate are pushed to say which way they are leaning.
August 9, 2012More Scared of History Than Destined To Repeat It by Michael Barone
Traumas suffered by a society generations ago can still have a negative effect centuries later.
August 9, 2012Virginia Senate: Allen (R) 46%, Kaine (D) 46%
George Allen and Tim Kaine remain deadlocked in Virginia’s U.S. Senate race.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Virginia Voters finds Republican Allen and Democrat Kaine each earning 46% support. Two percent (2%) like another candidate in the race, and six percent (6%) 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 500 Likely Voters in Virginia was conducted on August 7, 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.
August 8, 201227% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction
Twenty-seven percent (27%) 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, August 5.
That's down two points from 29% the week before and the lowest finding since late June.

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                            August 8, 2012Americans Dramatically Underestimate Cost of Employer Payroll Taxes
Voters believe America is overtaxed even though most Americans seriously underestimate the amount of taxes they actually pay.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that only 54% of American Adults recognize that employers pay additional taxes on top of the wages paid to an employee. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
August 8, 2012Virginia:  Obama 48%, Romney 46%
President Obama and Mitt Romney continue to run within two percentage points of each other in the key battleground state of Virginia. 
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the Old Dominion finds Obama with 48% support, while Romney picks up 46% of the vote. Two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate, and three percent (3%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Virginia was conducted on August 7, 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.

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                            August 8, 201261% Hold Favorable Opinion of Chick-fil-A
Ever since the president of Chick-fil-A volunteered his definition of marriage, the fast food chain has been the center of attention for friends and foes. While most voters view Chick-fil-A favorably, most don’t plan to change their eating habits because of the controversy.
Just 13% of Likely U.S. Voters are likely to participate in a boycott of Chick-fil-A restaurants, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Seventy-seven percent (77%) do not plan to boycott the Chick-fil-A restaurants because of the controversy. Ten percent (10%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
August 8, 2012Wars To End War by John Stossel
On his recent trip abroad, Mitt Romney observed an American taboo by not criticizing President Obama's military policy. But before his trip, he made his position clear. Obama has "exposed the military to cuts that no one can justify," Romney said.

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                            August 8, 201227% Favor Extending School Year to All 12 Months
Roughly one-in-four American Adults (27%) continue to favor extending the school year to a 12-month calendar, but 66% are opposed, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
Among adults who have children at home who attend elementary or secondary schools, 30% support year-round schooling, and 58% are opposed. (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 August 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.
August 8, 2012What America Thinks, Nationally Syndicated TV Show, to Launch One Month from Today
The nationally syndicated half-hour weekly television show will be launched on more than 50 television stations, headlined by WCBS in New York and KCBS in Los Angeles. Additionally, beginning next week, all affiliated stations will receive daily news updates from Scott Rasmussen to be used as part of local newscasts. The updates will highlight the latest polling data on current events, business topics and Election 2012.

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                            August 7, 2012Voters Are Less Insistent That Immigrants Adopt U.S. Culture
Most voters continue to believe that people who move to the United States should adopt American cultures, but that number has reached a new low this month. Two-thirds of Likely U.S. Voters (66%) now say people who move to America should adopt American culture and language, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That’s down from 71% last month. Nineteen percent (19%) say immigrants should maintain the culture, language and heritage of their home country instead, consistent with surveying for much of this year. Nearly as many (15%) now are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 2-3, 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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                            August 7, 201244% Say Jobs Market Worse Than A Year Ago
Confidence in the U.S. job market has fallen again, with the highest number of Americans in 10 months describing the employment situation as worse than it was a year ago.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 24% of American Adults believe the job market is better than a year ago. Forty-four percent (44%) say that market is worse now, up 15 points from early June when only 29% felt that way. Thirty percent (30%) describe it as about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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                            August 7, 2012Colorado: Romney, Obama Tied At 47% Each
Mitt Romney and President Obama continue to run even in Colorado.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the state finds both men earning 47% support.  Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, while two percent (2%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Colorado was conducted on August 6, 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.

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                            August 7, 201256% Think Loan Guarantees for Solyndra Were A Bad Idea
Most voters don’t think the federal government should have invested in the failed alternative energy firm Solyndra which ended up costing taxpayers more than a half-billion dollars. But most also think it’s business as usual for government officials to help companies they like.
Just 16% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it was a good idea for the government to provide loan guarantees for Solyndra, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-six percent (56%) disagree and say it was not a good idea for the government to help fund the company this way. Twenty-eight percent (28%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.
August 7, 2012The Grand Old Party's Breaking Up by Froma Harrop
When traditional Republicans tell their tea party wing that they have to negotiate with Democrats, the radicals' frequent response is: No, they don't. One side has to win. But before that fistfight at the edge of the falls can take place, one side has to win within the Republican Party. Civil wars are not pretty.