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May 9, 201231% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction
For the second week in a row, 31% of Likely U.S. Voters say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, May 6.
That's unchanged since last week, which was the highest finding since mid-March.
The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports April 30-May 6, 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.
May 9, 201258% Say D.C. Politics Will Grow More Partisan Over Next Year
Most voters nationwide continue to believe that politics in the nation’s capital will grow more partisan during the next year, but the number that feels that way ties the lowest measured in over a year. Voters also view congressional Republicans as acting more bipartisan than they have in years.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters shows that 58% believe politics in Washington will become more partisan over the next year. Seventeen percent (17%) believe D.C. politics will become more cooperative, and 25% more are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
This national survey of 1,000 U.S. Likely Voters was conducted on May 6-7, 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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                            May 9, 201258% Say D.C. Politics Will Grow More Partisan Over Next Year
Most voters nationwide continue to believe that politics in the nation’s capital will grow more partisan during the next year, but the number that feels that way ties the lowest measured in over a year. Voters also view congressional Republicans as acting more bipartisan than they have in years.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters shows that 58% believe politics in Washington will become more partisan over the next year. Seventeen percent (17%) believe D.C. politics will become more cooperative, and 25% more are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
This national survey of 1,000 U.S. Likely Voters was conducted on May 6-7, 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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                            May 9, 201248% Think It’s Possible For Anyone Seeking Work To Find A Job
While the unemployment rate continues to hover just above 8%, roughly half of Americans still believes it’s possible for anyone with a desire to work to find a job.  But they aren’t so sure just anyone can work hard and get rich. 
Forty-eight percent (48%) of American Adults say it’s possible for anyone who wants to work to find a job, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.  Forty-one percent (41%) disagree, while 12% 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 Adults was conducted on May 5-6, 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.
May 9, 2012Radio Update: Ron Paul Draws Support From Both Obama and Romney As Third Party Candidate
Listen to the latest edition of The Rasmussen Report with noted pollster Scott Rasmussen. Stations interested in adding “The Rasmussen Report” features to their lineup should contact Willis Damalt at the WOR Radio Network at 212-798-8376 or via email at wdamalt@worradionet.com.

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                            May 9, 201261% Believe Europe Needs to Cut Government Spending to Save Economy
Newly elected leaders in France and Greece have signaled that austerity efforts in their countries may be coming to an end, but as far as Americans are concerned, that’s a move in the wrong direction. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 61% of American Adults believe cuts in government spending would do more to improve the economic and financial situation in France and Greece than increases in that spending. Just 20% think more government spending is the better way to go. Eighteen percent (18%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Americans nationwide was conducted on May 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.
May 9, 2012Creating a Risk-Free World By John Stossel
A child leaving home alone for the first time takes a risk. So does the entrepreneur who opens a new business. I no more want government to prevent us from doing these things than I want it to keep us in padded cells.
May 9, 2012More Stations Sign Up for WHAT AMERICA THINKS With Scott Rasmussen
Telco Productions announced KCBS (CBS), Los Angeles, WADL (IND), Detroit and KPHO (CBS), Phoenix and seven Gray Television stations have joined the growing line-up its half-hour weekly show, What America Thinks with Scott Rasmussen.

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                            May 9, 2012Massachusetts: Obama 56%, Romney 35%
Mitt Romney has called Massachusetts home, but he now trails President Obama by the widest margin yet in an Election 2012 matchup there.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Massachusetts Voters shows Obama leading Romney by 21 points – 56% to 35%. Six percent (6%) prefer some other candidate, while two percent (2%) remain 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 Massachusetts survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted May 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.
May 9, 2012Radio Update: Massachusetts Senate Race Still Tied
Listen to the latest edition of The Rasmussen Report with noted pollster Scott Rasmussen. Stations interested in adding “The Rasmussen Report” features to their lineup should contact Willis Damalt at the WOR Radio Network at 212-798-8376 or via email at wdamalt@worradionet.com.

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                            May 8, 2012New Low:  41% See Stock Market Recovery In At Least Three Years
Americans have mixed feelings on whether a 1930s-like depression is likely to occur,  but fewer adults than ever believe it will take three years  or more for the stock market to recover.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% of American Adults say the United States is at least somewhat likely to enter an economic depression similar to the one during the 1930s in the next few years.  Forty-seven percent (47%) don’t see a 1930s-like economic depression as likely in the near future.  These figures include 21% who say a depression is Very Likely and 12% who believe it’s Not At All Likely.  (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 Adults was conducted on May 5-6, 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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                            May 8, 2012Number Expecting Less Pay A Year From Now Is Down to 11%
Just 11% of American workers expect to be earning less money a year from now, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That's down only slightly from 13% in March but is the lowest finding in regular tracking since May 2012.
Forty-two percent (42%) predict they'll be earning more money a year from today, down just a point from March’s all-time high and up dramatically from a low of 30% in January. Thirty-six percent (36% ) think they will be making about the same amount.  Eleven percent (11%) 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 614 Employed Adults was conducted on May 3-4, 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. 
May 8, 2012Radio Update: Belief That Next Generation Will Be Better Off is at All-Time Low
Listen to the latest edition of The Rasmussen Report with noted pollster Scott Rasmussen on the WOR Radio Network. Stations interested in adding “The Rasmussen Report” features to their lineup should contact Willis Damalt at the WOR Radio Network at 212-798-8376 or via email at wdamalt@worradionet.com.

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                            May 8, 2012Massachusetts Senate: Brown (R) 45%, Warren (D) 45%
Despite the ongoing controversy about Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren’s past claims of Native American heritage in professional circles, she and Republican incumbent Scott Brown remain tied in Massachusetts’ U.S. Senate race. 
The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Voters shows both Brown and Warren picking up 45% of the vote. Two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate, and eight percent (8%) more are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Massachusetts was conducted on May 7, 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.
May 8, 2012Three-Way Race: Romney 44%, Obama 39%, Ron Paul 13%
Texas Congressman Ron Paul appears more interested in influencing the direction of the Republican Party than in running as an independent presidential candidate. But perhaps Democrats should be careful what they wish for: Even if Mitt Romney’s remaining GOP challenger should run as a third party candidate, new Rasmussen Reports surveying finds Romney the winner of a three-way race.
The latest national telephone survey shows that 25% of Likely U.S. Voters think Paul should run as a third party candidate. Sixty-one percent (61%) disagree, but 13% more are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 6-7, 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.
May 8, 2012Throwing American Tradition in the Cultural Mixmaster By Froma Harrop
The overnight rating for the Kentucky Derby telecast has slipped again, hitting a six-year low. This was despite NBC's best efforts to fill the hours with such celebrities as "Two and a Half Men" star Ashton Kutcher and Debra Messing from "Smash." Or was it because of them? A romantic 138-year tradition grown from the bluegrass soil and Southern gentility becomes a blob of homogenized commercial promotion.

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                            May 8, 201282% Favor Creation of Stand-Alone Social Security Trust Fund
Voters continue to believe overwhelmingly that the federal government should restore the Social Security trust fund as it was originally intended and leave it alone.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 82% of Likely U.S. Voters think the government would provide more security for retirees by making sure the trust fund is protected and adequately funded. Just five percent (5%) say it would be better to get rid of the trust fund and have the federal government pay all promised benefits to retirees out of the annual operating budget. Twelve percent (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 national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 4-5, 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.
May 8, 2012Radio Update: Americans Evenly Divided On Whether Muslim World Sees United States as Enemy
Listen to the latest edition of The Rasmussen Report with noted pollster Scott Rasmussen on the WOR Radio Network. Stations interested in adding “The Rasmussen Report” features to their lineup should contact Willis Damalt at the WOR Radio Network at 212-798-8376 or via email at wdamalt@worradionet.com.
May 8, 2012Radio Update: Americans Want Strict Limits On Foreign Military Interventions
Listen to the latest edition of The Rasmussen Report with noted pollster Scott Rasmussen on the WOR Radio Network. Stations interested in adding “The Rasmussen Report” features to their lineup should contact Willis Damalt at the WOR Radio Network at 212-798-8376 or via email at wdamalt@worradionet.com.

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                            May 7, 2012Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 44%, Democrats 41%
Republicans hold a three-point lead on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the third week in a row, this time for the week ending Sunday, May 6. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 41% would choose the Democrat instead. This is nearly identical to last week’s findings and those the week before.
The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from April 30-May 6, 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.