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                            November 27, 201247% Have Started Their Holiday Shopping
It looks like the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales may have pushed Americans into being a little more generous in their gift giving this year.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 47% of American Adults have now started their holiday shopping. Fifty percent (50%) still have not. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Win an IPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge. 
(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 nationwide was conducted on November 25-26, 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 27, 2012How to Kill Social Security, With a Smile By Froma Harrop
Conservatives never much liked Social Security. It's a wildly popular government program that's totally solvent until 2033. It will be easily fixable and by then may not need fixing at all. Doesn't quite fit with the government-can't-do-anything-right talking point.

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                            November 27, 201265% Favor Across-the-Board Spending Cuts
Voters continue to like the idea of across-the-board cuts in federal government spending and are notably less enthusiastic if the defense budget is exempted.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 65% of Likely U.S. Voters think thoughtful spending cuts should be considered in every program of the federal government as the nation searches for solutions to the budget crisis. Just 20% disagree, although another 15% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Win an IPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge. 
(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 25, 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 26, 2012Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 45%, Republicans 40%
Democrats continue to lead Republicans by five points on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the second week in a row, this time for the week ending November 25, 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.
Win an IPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge. 
The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from November 19-21 and on November 25, 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.

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                            November 26, 201250% Expect Health Care System To Get Worse Over Next Two Years
While a sizable number of U.S. voters believe today’s health care system is in good shape, half expect it to get worse in the coming years. The partisan differences on the issue are significant.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% of Likely Voters rate the U.S. health care system as good or excellent, including just nine percent (9%) who give it an excellent rating. Nineteen percent (19%) rate the current health care system as poor. (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 25, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage point 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 26, 201248% Think New Tax Money Will Go to New Programs, Not Deficit Reduction
Voters are a little less suspicious of how new tax revenues may be used. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that a plurality (48%) of Likely U.S. Voters continues to believe that if Congress and the president raise taxes to reduce the federal deficit, they are likely to use the money for new government programs instead. Thirty-eight percent (38%) disagree and believe new tax money raised to reduce the deficit will be used for that purpose. Fourteen percent (14%) 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 25, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage point with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
November 26, 2012States Choose Own Paths With One-party Governments By Michael Barone
In Washington, Americans have two-party government, with a Democratic president and Senate and a Republican House. We had it before November's election and will have it again for the next two years.
Looking back from 2014, we will have had two-party government for most of the preceding two decades, for six years of Bill Clinton's presidency, three and a half years of George W. Bush's and four years of Barack Obama's.
But in most of the 50 states, American voters seem to have opted for something very much like one-party government.
Starting next month, Americans in 25 states will have Republican governors and Republicans in control of both houses of the state legislatures. They aren't all small states, either. They include about 53 percent of the nation's population.

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                            November 26, 201244% Say U.S. Winning War on Terror
Confidence that the United States is winning the war on terror is down to its lowest level in over a year.  Voters also continue to strongly believe America should not send troops overseas unless there is a major national security concern. 
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely Voters believe the United States is winning the war on terror, while 22% think the terrorists are winning.  Another 24% say neither side has the advantage.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Win an IPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 20, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage point 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 25, 201252% Say Buying A Home Family’s Best Investment
Most Americans think buying a home is still a family's best investment, but they don’t think now’s a good time to sell.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of American Adults say buying a home is the best investment a family can make. Twenty-six percent (26%) disagree, while 22% 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 American Adults nationwide was conducted on November 17-18, 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.
November 24, 2012Bobo and a Bigfoot Skeptic, Over Drinks By Froma Harrop
Forgive me, Bobo, but I do not believe in Bigfoot. Nevertheless, it was a delight spending a Saturday afternoon with you -- the sasquatch hunter from Animal Planet's "Finding Bigfoot" -- in, of all places, a midtown Manhattan bar. Most pleasant was your welcoming embrace of one rejecting the existence of the apelike hominid you say inhabits the forests of North America.

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                            November 24, 2012What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - For The Week Ending November 24, 2012
Americans have a grimmer view of the economy since President Obama was elected, although it hasn’t made a dent in their holiday shopping. Many seem more accepting, too, of higher taxes in the future.
Fifty percent (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. Thirty-six percent (36%) predict the economy will be weaker five years from now, the highest level of pessimism in nearly four years.
The increase in pessimism comes from Republicans and those not affiliated with either major political party. Just before President Obama was reelected, Republicans were evenly divided as to whether the economy would be better or worse a year from now. Today, only 11% of Republicans believe the economy will be stronger in a year.  An overwhelming 74% in the GOP believe it will be worse.

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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.