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July 18, 201228% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction
Twenty-eight percent (28%) 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, July 15.
That's down four points from 32% the week before which marked the highest level of optimism since early March.
The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports July 9-15, 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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                            July 18, 201266% Rate Their Own Health As Good Or Excellent
Most Americans continue to give their own health positive ratings, but a sizable number say their doctor has recommended a lifestyle change for them in the past year.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 66% of American Adults rate their own health as good or excellent these days, while only nine percent (9%) say they're in poor health.  (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 July 14-15, 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.
July 18, 2012Virginia: Obama 47%, Romney 46%
President Obama and Mitt Romney are still neck-and-neck in the important battleground state of Virginia.
The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Voters shows Obama picking up 47% of the vote to Romney’s 46%. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate in the race, and three percent (3%) more are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Virginia was conducted on July 16-17, 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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                            July 18, 201283% Favor Work Requirement for Welfare Recipients
Most Americans think there are too many people on welfare who should not be getting it and believe overwhelmingly that those who do receive welfare benefits should be required to work.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 83% of American Adults favor a work requirement as a condition for receiving welfare aid. Just seven percent (7%) oppose such a requirement, while 10% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 16-17, 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.
July 18, 2012First Jobs By John Stossel
What was your first job? I stuck pieces of plastic and metal together at an Evanston, Ill., assembly line. We produced photocopiers for a company called American Photocopy.

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                            July 18, 201257% Say Venture Capital Firms Better Job Creators Than Government Programs
The Obama campaign’s attack on Mitt Romney’s business record hasn’t changed the belief that venture capital firms like the one Romney worked for are better job creators than government programs like the ones championed by the president.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 57% of Likely U.S. Voters believe venture capital companies are better at creating jobs than government programs are. Just 27% think government programs are a better way to create jobs. Seventeen percent (17%) aren’t 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 July 13-14, 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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                            July 17, 201252% Say Most U.S. Workers Are Dishonest to Get Ahead
Most Americans think dishonesty in the workplace is a common path to career advancement.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of American Adults believe most workers in this country do something dishonest to get ahead at some point in their career. Twenty-eight percent (28%) disagree, but 20% more 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 July 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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                            July 17, 201230% Owe More Money Than They Did Last Year
Nearly half of young Americans now say they owe more money than they did last year.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 30% of all American Adults say they owe more money than they did a year ago, while nearly as many (29%) say they owe less.  Thirty-eight percent (38%) say their level of debt is about the same. That's consistent with findings for the last couple years. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on July 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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                            July 17, 201243% Say Auto Bailouts Were Good for U.S., 44% Disagree
Voters continue to hold a much more positive view of the government bailouts of the automobile industry than they do of the ones given to the financial sector.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters shows that 43% say the government bailouts of the auto industry were good for the United States, while 44% say they were bad for the country. Thirteen percent (13%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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                            July 17, 2012Rice is Still No. 1 on Short List of Romney Veep Possibilities
Condi Rice remains the most popular among those Mitt Romney is reportedly considering as a vice presidential running mate.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 65% of Likely U.S. Voters share at least a somewhat favorable view of former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, while just 24% view her unfavorably. This includes 29% with a Very Favorable opinion of her and six percent (6%) with a Very Unfavorable one. Twelve percent (12%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 15-16, 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.
July 17, 2012Are Some Republicans Ready to Deal on Taxes? by Froma Harrop
Nowadays, few politicians will stray from party orthodoxy without also taking unfair whacks at the opposition. Sen. Tom Coburn, Republican from Oklahoma, is braver and more principled than most. But even he felt obliged to take partisan cover in his most recent blast at activist Grover Norquist, enforcer of the absurd pledge never to let anyone's taxes rise ever.

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                            July 17, 201242% Think Raising Taxes on $250,000-Plus Incomes Will Help Economy
A plurality of voters nationwide believes that raising taxes on those who earn more than $250,000 a year would help the economy, but there are sharp partisan differences of opinion.
Overall, 42% of Likely U.S. Voters think that raising taxes on those upper income Americans would benefit the economy. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 30% believe such a tax hike would hurt the economy. Nineteen percent (19%) say it would have no impact (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 July 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.
July 16, 2012Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 43%, Democrats 40%
Republicans lead Democrats by three points on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the second week in a row, this time for the week ending Sunday, July 15.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 40% would choose the Democrat instead.
The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from July 9-15, 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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                            July 16, 201242% Say They Cheated on a Test or Exam in School
New York City's school system is the latest to be hit with a major cheating scandal, but Americans nationwide believe most students cheat at least one time in school. A sizable number admits to cheating themselves.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 70% believe most students cheat at least once in school. Just 12% disagree with that assessment, but 17% more are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 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.
July 16, 201241% See Romney’s Business Record As a Positive, 41% Disagree
Voters are now evenly divided over whether Mitt Romney’s business experience is a plus or a minus, but they still consider him more ethical than President Obama.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 41% of Likely U.S. Voters now think Romney’s track record in business is primarily a reason to vote for him, while just as many (41%) consider it chiefly a reason to vote against him. A sizable 18% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
July 16, 201254% Think Health Care Law Will Drive Up Costs; 52% Favor Repeal
Most voters continue to believe President Obama’s health care law will drive up the cost of health care and increase the federal deficit. Most still favor repeal of the law, too. 
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 52% of Likely U.S. Votes at least somewhat favor repeal of the health care law, with 41% who are Strongly Favor it. Forty-two percent (42%) are at least somewhat opposed to repeal, with 32% who are Strongly Opposed. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely U.S. Voters was conducted on July 13-14, 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.
July 16, 2012Like Charter Schools, Britain's Academies Aim High by Michael Barone
1776 is a number with great resonance for Americans, but not one you expect to be featured on a British government website.

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                            July 16, 201266% Believe U.S. Has Too Much Government Power, Too Little Freedom
From the beginning of the nation, Americans have recognized a necessary tension between giving power to government and maintaining individual freedom. The Federalist Papers, written to advocate ratification of the Constitution, noted that when creating a government “the people must cede to it some of their natural rights in order to vest it with requisite powers.”
Today, however, 66% of Likely U.S. Voters believe that there is too much government power and too little individual freedom. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just eight percent (8%) believe the opposite to be true. Twenty-two percent (22%) think the balance is about right.  (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 July 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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                            July 15, 201266% Are Happy With Their Lives
Most Americans are happy with their lives and don't think money made them that way. But the majority also think rich people earned what they have by working for it.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 20% of American Adults are not happy with how their lives are going. But two-out-of-three (66%) disagree and are happy with their lives. Thirteen percent (13%) 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 July 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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                            July 15, 2012North Dakota Governor:  Dalrymple (R) 61%, Taylor (D) 26%
In Rasmussen Reports’ first look at the North Dakota gubernatorial race, Republican incumbent Jack Dalrymple holds a commanding lead over his Democratic challenger. 
A new telephone survey of Likely North Dakota Voters finds Dalrymple earning 61% of the vote to Ryan Taylor's 26%.  One percent (1%) prefers some other candidate, and 11% 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 400 Likely Voters in North Dakota was conducted on July 10-11, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 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.