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                            July 21, 201247% Say It's Too Easy To Get Food Stamps
Nearly half of Americans now think it's too easy to get food stamps, but a majority agrees that tough economic times are driving the demand for them.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 47% of American Adults believe it is too easy to get food stamps in this country. That number has been trending up from 40% in surveys since December 2010. Eighteen percent (18%) think it is too hard to get food stamps, in line with previous surveys. One-in-four (24%) think the level of eligibility is about right, but another 11% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 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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                            July 21, 2012What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls -- For The Week Ending July 21, 2012
Central to the race between President Obama and Mitt Romney is the question of how big a role the government should play in the economy.
Voters strongly believe that it’s important for the government to create an environment that encourages economic growth and ensures economic fairness, but growth is seen as the higher priority. Most believe Romney champions growth, while Obama is more focused on fairness.

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                            July 20, 201254% Expect More Partisanship in Washington
Just over half of voters now expect politics in the nation’s capital to become more partisan, the lowest finding in well over a year.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% of Likely U.S. Voters expect more partisanship in Washington, D.C., over the next year. That’s down from 61% last month and the lowest finding since January 2011.  
Nineteen percent (19%) expect politics in the capital to be more cooperative over the next year, the highest finding since March 2011. Twenty-seven percent (27%), however, are not sure what to expect. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 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.
July 20, 2012Must We Go Here Again? Birthers, Neo-birthers and Right-wing Sleaze By Joe Conason
As the Obama years unfold, observers who lived through the Clinton era sometimes have the eerie feeling that they have been here before -- particularly when directing their gaze toward the far right. The roiling paranoia and hatred that marred American politics when Bill and Hillary Clinton were in the White House has resurfaced in attacks on Barack and Michelle Obama, who like the Clintons have been maligned repeatedly as communist, subversive, Satanic and, above all, illegitimate.

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                            July 20, 2012Pennsylvania: Obama 48%, Romney 44%
President Obama continues to run slightly ahead of Mitt Romney in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the Keystone State finds Obama earning 48% of the vote, while Romney receives 44% support.  Four percent (4%) prefer some other candidate, and another five percent (5%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
This Pennsylvania survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted on July 18, 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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                            July 20, 2012Confidence in Housing Values Falls to Lows for the Year
Confidence in the short- and long-term housing market among homeowners has fallen to the lowest level of 2012.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Homeowners shows that just 18% expect their home’s value to go up over the next year, down four points from June. Twenty-five percent (25%) expect home values to go down over the next year, while 51% say they will remain about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The national survey of 732 Adult Homeowners was conducted on July 18-19, 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.
July 20, 2012Ohio Senate: Brown (D) 46%, Mandel (R) 42%
Incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown still holds a modest lead over Republican challenger Josh Mandel in Ohio’s U.S. Senate race.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Ohio Voters shows Brown with 46% support to Mandel’s 42%. Four percent (4%) prefer another candidate in the race, and eight percent (8%) 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.
This Ohio survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted on July 18, 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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                            July 20, 2012Bain Attacks Fail to Shake Up Presidential Race By Scott Rasmussen
Over the past few weeks, President Obama and his campaign team have launched a furious attack on Mitt Romney's record as head of Bain Capital, a highly successful venture capital firm.

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                            July 19, 201249% Say Current Government Programs Increase Level of Poverty in U.S.
Nearly half of all Americans believe the government overspends on anti-poverty programs and continue to feel those programs actually increase the level of poverty in this country. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 47% of American adults think the government spends too much on poverty programs. That's up nine points from 38% in April of last year. Thirty percent (30%) feel the government spends too little fighting poverty, while 15% say the amount spent is about right. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 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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                            July 19, 2012Most Americans Have Had Blood Pressure, Cholesterol Checked In Past Six Months
More Americans have had their blood pressure checked in the past six months than their cholesterol, and roughly a third have been told those levels are high.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 83% of American Adults have had their blood pressure checked in the last six months, while 61% have done the same with their cholesterol.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 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.
July 19, 2012Among Uncommitted Voters, Obama Job Approval Is At 29%
Polls over the past month have consistently shown a very close general election race between President Obama and Mitt Romney. The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll has shown Obama’s support between 44% and 46% every day for weeks. During that same time frame, Romney’s support has stayed between 44% and 47%.
While some of those voters could ultimately change their minds, the winner could very well be determined by the eight percent (8%) to 10% of voters who routinely refuse to commit to either of the major party candidates. About half of them prefer a third-party option, and the other half are simply undecided.
The survey of 653 Uncommitted Likely Voters was conducted July 2-15, 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.
July 19, 2012Ohio: Obama 47%, Romney 45%
The presidential race remains tight in the key battleground state of Ohio where President Obama has inched slightly ahead of Mitt Romney.
A new Rasmussen Reports survey of Likely Voters in the Buckeye State shows Obama with 47% of the vote to Romney’s 45%. Five percent (5%) prefer some other candidate, and four percent (4%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Ohio was conducted on July 18, 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.

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                            July 19, 201262% Put Economic Growth Ahead of Economic Fairness
Voters view economic growth as much more important than economic fairness and think Mitt Romney favors growth while President Obama is more focused on fairness.
Sixty-two percent (62%) of Likely U.S. Voters consider encouraging economic growth as a more important role for the government than ensuring economic fairness. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 30% of voters believe it’s more important for the government to ensure economic fairness. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
July 19, 2012If You Like Local Government...By Froma Harrop
A rebounding economy will not be enough to pull state governments out of their fiscal mess, says a new report from the State Budget Crisis Task Force. While health and other costs continue to grow, important sources of revenues are shrinking, the group led by former Fed Chairman Paul Volcker and former New York Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch noted. One of those sources is sales taxes. Some states rely on them heavily for revenues. (Only four don't have sales taxes -- Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon.)
July 19, 2012Obama Believes Success Is a Gift From Government by Michael Barone
Perhaps the rain made the teleprompter unreadable. That's one thought I had on pondering Barack Obama's comments to a rain-soaked rally in Roanoke, Va., last Friday.
July 19, 2012Virginia Senate: Kaine (D) 46%, Allen (R) 45%
Following President Obama’s visit to the state last Friday and Saturday with Democratic Senate candidate Tim Kaine by his side, the Virginia Senate race remains locked tight.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Virginia Voters finds Kaine with 46% support to Republican George Allen’s 45%. Five percent (5%) favor some other candidate, and another five percent (5%) 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 July 16-17, 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.
July 18, 201228% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction
Twenty-eight percent (28%) 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, July 15.
That's down four points from 32% the week before which marked the highest level of optimism since early March.
The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports July 9-15, 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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                            July 18, 201266% Rate Their Own Health As Good Or Excellent
Most Americans continue to give their own health positive ratings, but a sizable number say their doctor has recommended a lifestyle change for them in the past year.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 66% of American Adults rate their own health as good or excellent these days, while only nine percent (9%) say they're in poor health.  (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 July 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.
July 18, 2012Virginia: Obama 47%, Romney 46%
President Obama and Mitt Romney are still neck-and-neck in the important battleground state of Virginia.
The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Voters shows Obama picking up 47% of the vote to Romney’s 46%. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate in the race, and three percent (3%) more are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Virginia was conducted on July 16-17, 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.

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                            July 18, 201283% Favor Work Requirement for Welfare Recipients
Most Americans think there are too many people on welfare who should not be getting it and believe overwhelmingly that those who do receive welfare benefits should be required to work.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 83% of American Adults favor a work requirement as a condition for receiving welfare aid. Just seven percent (7%) oppose such a requirement, while 10% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 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.