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November 15, 201246% Say Drunk Driving Laws Not Tough Enough
A sizable number of Americans still don't believe drunk driving laws are tough enough, but adults in this country are narrowly divided over how sentences for those crimes should be determined.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 46% of Americans believe current drunk driving laws are not tough enough, but 39% think they are about right. Only nine percent (9%) feel those laws are too tough. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
How did you do in this week's Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard.
The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 9-10, 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 14, 201242% Say U.S. Heading In Right Direction
Forty-two percent (42%) 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 11.
That’s down a point from the previous week which marked the highest level of optimism during the Obama presidency. Still, the latest finding is up 18 points from the beginning of the year and up 24 points from a year ago.
Take the Rasmussen Challenge! Answers must be submitted by 11:59pm ET tonight. 
The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen November 5-11, 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 14, 201230% Say Supreme Court Doing Good or Excellent Job
Views of the U.S. Supreme Court's performance are little changed, but fewer voters now believe justices nominated by President Obama are too liberal. 
Thirty percent (30%) of Likely Voters rate the job the Supreme Court is doing as good or excellent, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.  Twenty-four percent (24%) consider the high court’s performance 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 national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 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.

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                            November 14, 201251% Think Deal To Avoid ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Likely by January 1
President Obama will hold a press conference today to push his deficit-cutting plan as lawmakers in Washington battle over ways to prevent the massive tax hikes and spending cuts scheduled for January 1.  Given the partisan bickering, a bare majority of voters thinks a deal to avoid going over the so-called “fiscal cliff” is likely to emerge before then.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of Likely U.S. Voters now believe it is likely that Congress and the president will agree on a plan to stop the tax increases and spending cuts before the first of the year. Forty-two percent (42%) think a deal is unlikely to emerge. These findings include only 15% who feel a deal is Very Likely and just as many (14%) who say it’s Not At All Likely. (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 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.
November 14, 2012Did Freedom Win? By John Stossel
Democrats won big last week. So government will continue to grow. Individual freedom will yield.
At least some people with records of supporting liberty were elected: Sen. Jeff Flake in Arizona and U.S. Reps. Justin Amash and Kerry Bentivolio in Michigan and Thomas Massie in Kentucky.
Also, Washington and Colorado voted to allow any adult to use marijuana. (But users beware. Your newfound freedom may be short-lived thanks to that extraordinary human being in the White House -- you know, the one who smoked pot when he was in school. Despite promising that he wouldn't, he has cracked down on pot dispensaries far more often than President Bush did.)

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                            November 14, 201254% Are Pro-Choice, 38% Pro-Life
More voters than ever now identify themselves as pro-choice when it comes to abortion, and most rate the issue as important to how they vote.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that 54% describe themselves as pro-choice on the issue of abortion, while 38% say they are pro-life. (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.
This survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 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.

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                            November 13, 20127% Think U.S. Is Winning War on Drugs
Americans overwhelmingly believe the war on drugs is a failure, but there’s little support for spending more on it to win.
Only seven percent (7%) of American Adults think the United States is winning the war on drugs, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Eighty-two percent (82%) say the country is not winning the fight against illegal drugs. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure. (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 9-10, 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 13, 201210% Rate Congress’ Job Performance As Good or Excellent
Following the election, most voters still believe that Congress is doing a poor job. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 10% of Likely Voters rate Congress’ job performance as good or excellent, while 61% say they are doing a poor job.  (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 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.

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                            November 13, 201253% Favor Bush Tax Cuts For All But The Wealthy
Most voters favor continuing the so-called Bush tax cuts but not for higher-income Americans.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% of Likely U.S. Voters prefer extending the Bush administration tax cuts for all Americans. But 53% favor continuing those tax cuts for everyone except the wealthy. (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 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.
November 13, 2012Polls That Make No Sense By Froma Harrop
Here's a question from a recent national exit poll: "Which is closer to your view? Government should do more. (Or) government is doing too much." More voters said "too much" than said "not enough." Political analysts picked up that response and ran with it for days.

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                            November 13, 201247% Fear Government Won’t Do Enough to Help Economy
Even though the same people are in charge following last week’s election, voters are now more concerned than they were for most of the year that the government won’t do enough to help fix the struggling economy.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 47% of Likely Voters believe the government won’t do enough in reacting to the nation’s economic problems. Thirty-nine percent (39%) fear the government will do too much. Fourteen percent (14%) more 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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 10-11, 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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                            November 12, 201276% Concerned About Inflation, 48% Very Concerned
Most Americans remain concerned about inflation but are beginning to express a little more trust in the Federal Reserve Board’s ability to control it.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 76% of American Adults are at least somewhat concerned about inflation, including 48% who are Very Concerned.  Twenty-two percent (22%) are Not Very or Not at All Concerned.  (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 American Adults nationwide was conducted on November 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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                            November 12, 201245% Think Marijuana Should be Legalized, 45% Disagree
Colorado and Washington state legalized recreational marijuana use last Tuesday, and several other states have legalized medical marijuana use. But, nationwide, Americans are still divided on whether or not to legalize it. 
Forty-five percent (45%) of American adults say marijuana should be legalized, but just as many (45%) say no, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Ten percent (10%) are not sure whether it should be legal. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 9-10, 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 12, 2012As Fiscal Cliff Looms, Voters Want to Extend Tax Cuts Past 2012
There’s been a lot of talk around the so-called “fiscal cliff”, the result of a potential combination of tax increases and automatic cuts in government spending scheduled to begin on January 1. Most voters believe Congress and the president should work to extend the tax cuts set to expire at the end of this year, but don’t think they should allow the automatic spending cuts to take effect at that time.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 60% of Likely Voters believe the government should extend the variety of tax cuts, including those implemented during the George W. Bush administration, past the end of the year. Just 28% believe Congress and the president should let those tax cuts expire. Another 12% 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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 8-9, 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 12, 2012Obama Wins by Going Negative and Turning Out Base By Michael Barone
Lukewarm. That's the feeling I get from the election numbers.
Turnout was apparently down, at least as a percentage of eligible voters. The president was re-elected by a reduced margin. The challenger didn't inspire the turnout surge he needed.

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                            November 12, 201251% Think Auto Bailouts Were Good for the United States
Most voters view the auto industry bailouts positively until they learn that the federal government will lose money because of them.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of Likely Voters say, looking back, the bailouts of the auto industry were good for the United States.  Thirty-eight percent (38%) disagree and feel they were bad for the country, while 12% are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Win an iPad: The Rasmussen Challenge! This week's entries will be accepted until 11:59pm ET on Wednesday, October 14.
(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 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.

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                            November 11, 2012Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 45%, Republicans 42%
Democrats now lead Republicans by three points on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending November 11, 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 another 42% would choose the Republican instead.
(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 Reports from November 5-11, 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 11, 201245% Say America’s Best Days Are in the Past, 43% Say They Still Lie Ahead
As Barack Obama prepares to serve a second term as President, American voters are closely divided as to whether the nation’s best days are behind us or still to come. Forty-five percent (45%) of Likely U.S. Voters feel that America’s best days are in the past, but nearly as many (43%) think they are in the future, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure. (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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 7, 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 11, 20129% of Working Americans Consider Themselves Poor
The number of working Americans who classify themselves as poor has fallen to its lowest level in more than three years.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Employed Americans shows that a majority (65%) believe they are in the middle class, while another 21% classify themselves as upper middle class. Nine percent (9%) say they are poor, while just five percent (5%) consider themselves wealthy. (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 625 Employed Adults was conducted on November 5-6, 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.

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                            November 10, 201245% Confident In Stability of U.S. Banking Industry
Confidence in the stability of the U.S. banking system has fallen back below 50%, but most Americans are still not afraid of losing the money they have in the bank due to a failure. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of American Adults are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the U.S. banking industry today, but only eight percent (8%) are Very Confident.  Fifty percent (50%) lack confidence, with 14% who are Not At All Confident.  (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 1,000 Adults was conducted on November 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.