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                            October 5, 2012Virginia: Romney 49%, Obama 48%
Virginia remains a nail-biter in the first post-debate survey of the key battleground state, with Mitt Romney edging slightly ahead.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Virginia Voters, taken last night, shows Romney earning 49% support to Obama’s 48%. Three percent (3%) remain undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge?  Check the leaderboard.
The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Virginia was conducted on October 4, 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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October 5, 2012When The Whole Map Was In Play By Rhodes Cook
Throughout this year’s presidential campaign, the competitive portion of the electoral map has been limited to about 12 or 13 states. There are the nine that flipped from Republican George W. Bush in 2004 to Democrat Barack Obama in 2008, plus four or so others -- Michigan, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin come quickly to mind -- that voted Democratic the last two presidential elections but narrowly so in 2004.

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                            October 5, 2012Obama May Need a Reagan Comeback By Scott Rasmussen
The first presidential debate of 2012 is now behind us. The reviews suggest that many were surprised at how well Mitt Romney did and how weakly President Obama performed.

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                            October 4, 201237% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction
Thirty-seven percent (37%) 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, September 30.
That’s up a point from 36% the week before and matches the highest level of optimism since late June 2009, reached early last month.
From July 25 through December 11 of last year, voter confidence in the nation's current course resembled levels measured in the final months of the George W. Bush administration, remaining in the narrow range of 14% to 19%. That finding began climbing in early January of this year to a high of 34% in the second week of February and then regularly tracked in the high 20s to low 30s until the week of September 3-9.
(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 September 24-30, 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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                            October 4, 2012Washington Senate: Cantwell (D) 57%, Baumgartner (R) 37%
Democratic incumbent Maria Cantwell holds a commanding lead over Republican challenger Michael Baumgartner in Washington State’s U.S. Senate race.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Washington Voters finds Cantwell earning 57% support, while Baumgartner, a state senator, draws 37% of the vote. One percent (1%) prefer some other candidate, and 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.
This Washington survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted on September 26, 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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                            October 4, 2012North Carolina Governor: McCrory (R) 54%, Dalton (D) 38%
Former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory has taken his biggest lead yet over his Democratic rival, Lieutenant Governor Walter Dalton, in North Carolina’s gubernatorial race.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely North Carolina voters shows McCrory, a Republican, with 54% support to Dalton’s 38%. One percent (1%) prefers another candidate in the race, and seven percent (7%) are undecided. (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 500 Likely Voters in North Carolina was conducted on October 2, 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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                            October 4, 201248% Know Someone Who’s Quit Looking for Work in Bad Job Market
Confidence in the U.S. job market remains near record lows for the year.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 21% of American Adults think the job market is better than it was a year ago. That’s down three points from early August and the lowest finding since February. Forty-one percent (41%) think the job market is worse than it was this time last year, down slightly from the previous survey but only the second time this year that pessimism has climbed into the 40s.
Thirty-six percent (36%) say the employment picture is about the same. (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 October 2-3, 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.
October 4, 2012At the House of Kennedy, Arnold Shrugs By Froma Harrop
Leslie Stahl's face evinces shock as Arnold Schwarzenegger talks about cheating on his wife, Maria Kennedy Shriver, on a CBS "60 Minutes" interview. The former bodybuilder and California governor was sorry that "I inflicted tremendous pain on Maria" -- but obviously not very. There was no show of like or dislike for the wife, but the most infuriating response of all -- indifference.   
October 4, 2012Romney Wins Debate, But How Much Does It Matter By Geoffrey Skelley, Kyle Kondik and Larry J. Sabato
It’s pretty obvious who turned in a stronger performance in the first presidential debate last night. And it certainly wasn’t the incumbent. This may have been Mitt Romney’s best debate ever, and it almost certainly was Barack Obama’s worst. The question is, will it matter and, if so, how much will it matter?

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                            October 4, 2012Missouri: Romney 49%, Obama 46%
Mitt Romney still holds a modest lead over President Obama in Missouri.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Missouri Voters, taken just before Wednesday night’s first presidential debate, shows Romney with 49% support to Obama’s 46%. Two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate, and three percent (3%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard.
This Missouri survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted on October 2, 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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                            October 3, 201265% Think Media Reports More on Negative Campaigning Than on Issues
Most Americans already think there are more negative campaign advertisements on television this year, but they also feel the media focuses more on negative campaigning. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 65% of American Adults believe the media reports more on negative campaigning than on issues raised by candidates. Just 18% think the media reports on the issues more, but just as many (17%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Win an iPad: The Rasmussen Challenge! This week's entries will be accepted until 11:59 pm ET tonight.
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on September 26-27, 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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                            October 3, 2012Missouri Senate: McCaskill (D) 51%, Akin (R) 45%
The deadline has passed for embattled Congressman Todd Akin to withdraw from Missouri’s U.S. Senate race, and incumbent Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill has now crossed the 50% mark for the first time.
The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Missouri Likely Voters shows McCaskill with 51% of the vote to Akin’s 45%. One percent (1%) prefers some other candidate, and three percent (3%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Win an iPad: The Rasmussen Challenge! This week's entries will be accepted until 11:59 pm ET tonight.
(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 Missouri survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted on October 2, 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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                            October 3, 2012Missouri Senate: McCaskill (D) 51%, Akin (R) 45%
The deadline has passed for embattled Congressman Todd Akin to withdraw from Missouri’s U.S. Senate race, and incumbent Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill has now crossed the 50% mark for the first time.
The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Missouri Likely Voters shows McCaskill with 51% of the vote to Akin’s 45%. One percent (1%) prefers some other candidate, and three percent (3%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Win an iPad: The Rasmussen Challenge! This week's entries will be accepted until 11:59 pm ET tonight.
(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 Missouri survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted on October 2, 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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                            October 3, 2012North Carolina: Romney 51%, Obama 47%
The presidential race in North Carolina is tighter this month, but Mitt Romney still earns over 50% of the vote in the key battleground state.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely North Carolina Voters finds Romney with 51% support to President Obama’s 47%.  One percent (1%) prefers some other candidate, while another one percent (1%) is still undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Win an iPad: The Rasmussen Challenge! This week's entries will be accepted until 11:59 pm ET tonight.
The survey of 500 Likely Voters in North Carolina was conducted on October 2, 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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                            October 3, 201253% See Election As Referendum on Obama’s Agenda
Most voters view this year’s election as a referendum on the Obama presidency rather than one on his Republican challenger’s plans for the future. But independent voters don’t believe that as strongly as GOP voters and Democrats do.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of Likely U.S. Voters consider this election as a referendum on President Obama’s agenda. Only 25% regard it as more about Mitt Romney’s agenda, but nearly as many voters (21%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Win an IPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge. This week's entries will be accepted until 11:59pm ET tonight.
(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 survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on October 1-2, 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.
October 3, 2012We Fund Dependency By John Stossel
"There are no jobs!" That is what people told me outside a government "jobs center" in New York City.
To check this out, I sent four researchers around the area. They quickly found 40 job openings. Twenty-four were entry-level positions. One restaurant owner told me he would hire 12 people if workers would just apply.

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                            October 3, 2012Just 17% View Debates as Very Important to How They Will Vote
Voters are attaching less significance to the outcome of tonight’s first presidential debate compared to the kick-off debate four years ago.
Eighty-seven percent (87%) of Likely U.S. Voters say they are likely to watch the presidential debates this year, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That includes 65% who are Very Likely to watch, but that’s down nine points from 74% in September 2008.
Still, just 12% say they are not very or Not At All Likely to watch the debates this year. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Win an iPad: The Rasmussen Challenge! This week's entries will be accepted until 11:59pm ET tonight.
(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 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on September 29-30, 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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                            October 2, 201256% Say Schools Should Teach Both Sex Ed and Abstinence
When it comes to sex education in schools, the majority agrees that teaching both sex education and abstinence-only education is the best route for students.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 17% of American Adults think schools should only teach sex education, while 24% believe they should teach only abstinence education.  Fifty-six percent (56%) think schools should teach both. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Win an iPad: 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.
This survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on September 28-29, 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.
October 2, 2012September Employment Index Rebounds Slightly From Recent Low
After falling to a 10-month low in August, the Rasmussen Employment Index rebounded slightly in September. At 76.6, the Employment Index is up five points from a month ago  but still down four points from July. With the exception of the last month, this is the lowest level of confidence measured since October of last year.
Generally speaking, an increase in the Rasmussen Employment Index suggests the upcoming government reports on job creation will be stronger than the prior month’s report.
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 8,975 working Americans was conducted in September 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 1 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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                            October 2, 2012Obama’s Monthly Approval Rating Is Up A Point in September
When tracking President Obama’s job approval on a daily basis, people sometimes get so caught up in the day-to-day fluctuations that they miss the bigger picture. To look at the longer-term trends, Rasmussen Reports compiles the numbers on a full-month basis, and the results can be seen in the graphics below.
For the month of September, the president's Total Job Approval Rating inched up a point to 49% from 48% in August. Since the beginning of 2012, that finding has remained in the narrow range of 47% to 49%.