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                            March 13, 201335% Think Traffic Cameras Reduce Speeding
A county judge in Ohio recently struck down the use of traffic cameras to catch speeders and other intersection violators in one village, citing them as a “scam the motorist cannot win.” Twenty-three states and Washington, D.C. currently use speeding or red light cameras or both, but Americans’ views on them remain decidedly mixed.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of American Adults think it is a good idea to use cameras at traffic intersections to catch speeders and those who run traffic lights. But just as many (46%) disagree and don't think it’s a good idea. (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 March 9-10, 2013 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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                            March 12, 201335% Think Obama Too Confrontational
Following the political battle over the March 1 sequester spending cuts, President Obama's positive ratings for leadership have fallen back to pre-election levels, and more voters than ever regard him as too confrontational.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 49% of Likely U.S. Voters now consider the president a good or excellent leader. That's down from 53% last month and 55% at the start of the year which were his highest positives since May 2009.  Thirty-eight percent (38%) rate Obama as a poor leader. The new findings are more in line with the president's leadership ratings in 2012 prior to Election Day. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Take the Rasmussen Challenge! Answers must be submitted by 11:59pm ET on Wednesday, March 13.
(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 March 8-9, 2013 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.
March 12, 201363% of Working Americans Consider Themselves Middle Class
Most working Americans continue to classify themselves as middle class, but the number of working poor remains at a near four year low.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 63% of Employed Adults consider themselves middle class. Twenty-one percent (21%) see themselves as upper middle class, while just three percent (3%) view themselves as wealthy. Eight percent (8%) regard themselves as the working 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 640 Employed Adults was conducted on March 7-8, 2013 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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                            March 12, 2013Most Americans Reject Bloomberg Ban on Big Soft Drinks
A state Supreme Court judge has stopped New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s ban on the sale of large sugary drinks, and Americans couldn’t agree more.
Rasmussen Reports polling found that only nine percent (9%) of American Adults believed the government has the constitutional authority to prevent people from buying sugary drinks when Bloomberg announced his ban last May. Eighty-five percent (85%) disagreed  and said the government does not have that authority.

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                            March 12, 20139% Think North Korean Nuclear Attack on U.S. Very Likely
Most voters think a North Korean nuclear strike on the United States is unlikely, and less than half favor the use of U.S. military force to stop North Korea from using nuclear weapons. But they do support helping South Korea if its neighbor to the north attacks.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 38% of Likely U.S. Voters think it’s at least somewhat likely that North Korea will use a nuclear weapon to attack the United States, but 55% view such an attack as unlikely. This includes only nine percent (9%) who say it’s Very Likely and 13% who regard it as Not At All Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Win an IPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 10-11, 2013 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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                            March 12, 201362% Think U.S. Economy Fair to Blacks, Hispanics
Most voters continue to believe the U.S. economy is fair to women, blacks and Hispanics but are now evenly divided when asked if it’s fair to lower-income Americans. However, they still think all four are treated better than the middle class.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 60% of Likely U.S. Voters think the economy is at least somewhat fair to women, but that includes only 15% who say it’s Very Fair. Thirty-four percent (34%) believe it’s unfair to women, with seven percent (7%) who feel it is Not At All Fair. (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 March 6-7, 2013 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.
March 12, 2013Harvard Profs Steamed at Opened Emails By Froma Harrop
"Harvard Search of E-Mail Stuns Its Faculty Members," the headline says. University officials rifled through the messages of resident deans to learn who passed on a confidential communication about a student cheating scandal to the media. The profs are steamed at this alleged invasion of their privacy.
Too bad, but hey. The wounded response has many outsiders scratching their heads. Most of us have a reasonable expectation of no privacy whatsoever.
There's also the recent example of former CIA Director David Petraeus having private emails to his lover/biographer intercepted. The two tried to cover their tracks by setting up an online service account and using fake names. The FBI found them anyway, leading Politico to ask the obvious question, "If the nation's top spy can't hide his personal communications from law enforcement -- who can?"
March 11, 2013Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 43%, Republicans 40%
Democrats continue to hold a three-point lead over Republicans on the Generic Congressional Ballot, this time for the week ending March 10.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 43% 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.
(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 March 4-10, 2013. 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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                            March 11, 201336% Think Radiation From Japanese Nuclear Disaster Hurt the U.S.
It’s been two years since an earthquake and tsunami triggered an explosion at Japan’s Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, and more than a third of Americans think radiation from that accident is likely to have done significant harm to the United States. Still, most Americans believe nuclear power plants at home are safe.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 36% of American Adults believe it is at least somewhat likely that radiation from the Fukushima nuclear power plant did significant harm to the United States. However, that includes just nine percent (9%) who think that scenario is Very Likely. Fifty percent (50%) of adults say it’s not likely the radiation did any harm, including 17% who say it’s Not At All Likely. Sixteen percent (16%) 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 nationwide was conducted on March 9-10, 2013 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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                            March 11, 201337% Think Current Employer Is Best Chance for Advancement
Fewer working Americans than ever now see staying put at their current company as the best way to get ahead in their career, but most are still not searching for a new job. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 37% of Employed Adults think the best opportunity for career advancement is to stay within their current employer. This figure is down from 47% in early January and is the lowest level measured since regular tracking began in mid-July 2009. (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 640 Employed Adults was conducted on March 7-8, 2013 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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                            March 11, 201312% Like Job Senate Is Doing, 19% Say Same of House
Over half of voters think both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives are doing a poor job, but nearly as many also prefer having them run by different political parties the way Congress is now. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 12% of Likely U.S. Voters think the U.S. Senate is doing a good or excellent job. Fifty-three percent (53%) rate the Senate’s performance as poor.
Nineteen percent (19%) of voters believe the House is doing a good or excellent job, while 51% view its performance as poor. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Win an IPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 8-9, 2013 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.
March 11, 2013Obama Flails as Republicans Stand Firm on Sequester By Michael Barone
They're flailing. That's the impression I get from watching Barack Obama and his White House over the past week.
Things haven't gone as they expected. The House Republicans were supposed to cave in on the sequester, as they did on the fiscal cliff at the beginning of the year.
They would be so desperate to avoid the sequester's mandatory defense cuts, the theory went, that they would agree to higher taxes (through closing loopholes) on high earners.
March 11, 201345% Favor President's Health Care Law, Most Want More Consumer Choice
Voters continue to give the president's health care law tepid reviews and believe overwhelmingly that individuals should have the power to pick the kind of coverage they want. 
Forty-five percent (45%) view it favorably, while 48% share an unfavorable opinion of it. This includes 18% with a Very Favorable view and 33% with a Very Unfavorable one. These attitudes have held steady since last November's election.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 36% of Likely U.S. Voters think the government should require every health insurance company and health insurance plan to cover the exact same set of medical procedures. Thirty-four percent (34%) disagree and oppose such requirements. Thirty-one percent (31%) 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 March 8-9, 2013 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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                            March 10, 2013Obama Earns Low Marks on Taxes and Spending
Voters are more critical of President Obama’s handling of issues related to taxes and remain unhappy with how he's dealing with spending.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 39% of Likely U.S. Voters now think the president is doing a good or excellent job in the tax area. That's down five points from 44% last month. Forty-two percent (42%), on the other hand, think he is doing a poor job, up from 39% in February. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
How did you do in the new Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leader board to find out. 
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 6-7, 2013 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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                            March 10, 201339% Think Government Should Help Fight Childhood Obesity
Most Americans continue to see childhood obesity in the country as a serious problem, but more are now open to government involvement in this area.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 88% of American Adults say childhood obesity is at least a somewhat serious problem in the United States today, including 49% who see it as a Very Serious issue.  Only eight percent (8%) see childhood obesity as not very or Not at All Serious.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on March 5-6, 2013 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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                            March 9, 2013Fewer See the Purpose of Daylight Saving Time
Americans will be springing forward an hour tonight for Daylight Saving Time (DST), but fewer think this year that it's worth the hassle or even an effective way to save energy.
Only 37% think DST is worth the hassle, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That's down from 45% last year. Forty-five percent (45%) don’t think the clock-changing ritual is worth it, but 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 1,000 Adults was conducted on March 5-6, 2013 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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                            March 9, 2013What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending March 8, 2013
Despite record stock market gains and a slightly improved jobs picture this week, Americans still express a lot of uncertainty about the economy and the future in general.
Like long-term economic confidence a month ago, short-term confidence in the U.S. economy is now at a new low. Just 25% of Americans think the economy will be stronger a year from today.
At week’s end, just 14% of consumers rated the U.S. economy as good or excellent, while 46% deemed it poor. Among investors, 18% scored the economy as good or excellent. Forty percent (40%) rated it poor. 
Americans don’t have much hope for the stock and housing markets either. Only 20% think the stock market will be higher a year from now. Most (54%) still believe it will take more than three years for the housing industry to fully recover from the downturn that began in 2008.

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                            March 8, 2013Just 23% Think Feds Should Regulate What School Kids Eat
The federal government has introduced new regulations that put caps on serving sizes and set calorie limits for school lunches, but most American don’t think that’s any of the feds’ business.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 23% of American Adults believe the federal government should set nutritional standards for schools. Thirty-two percent (32%) think nutritional standards should be set by parent-teacher groups, while 24% feel it’s the responsibility of state governments. Thirteen percent (13%) think local governments should set those standards. (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 was conducted on February 25-26, 2013 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.
March 8, 201335% Think U.S. Economy Fair to Middle Class
Fewer voters than ever now think the U.S. economy is fair to the middle class. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 35% of Likely Voters believe the economy is at least somewhat fair to middle-class Americans, but that includes only six percent (6%) who think it’s Very Fair.  Sixty-two percent (62%) think the economy is not fair to the middle class, with 20% who feel it’s Not At All Fair.  (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 March 6-7, 2013 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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                            March 8, 20136% View Hugo Chavez Favorably
Very few voters have a favorable opinion of Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez who died earlier this week, but they’re also not very optimistic that U.S. relations with Venezuela will get any better.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just six percent (6%) of Likely U.S. Voters share a favorable opinion of Chavez. Sixty-seven percent (67%) view the late Venezuelan leader unfavorably, while 27% are not sure. (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 Likely Voters was conducted on March 6-7, 2013 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.