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May 30, 201231% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction
Thirty-one percent (31%) 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, May 27.
This finding is up one point from the previous week and three points from the week before that.
The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports May 21-27, 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 30, 2012Rasmussen Employment Index Reaches Highest Level In Over Four Years
The Rasmussen Employment Index jumped eight points in May to 88.3, the highest finding since January 2008. The Employment Index is up eight points from the beginning of the year  and is up 11 points from this time last year.  In February, the Employment Index was at 87.7, the highest level in nearly three and a half years. The survey of 8,804 working Americans was conducted in May 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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                            May 30, 201274% Say Labeling Needed for Foods with Genetically Modified Ingredients
Most Americans admit they don't know much about genetically modified ingredients in food, or GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms), but they think any foods that contain them should be labelled to let consumers know.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds that just 25% of Adults say they know a lot about genetically modified ingredients. A plurality (46%) says they know a little about these ingredients. But 28% say they know not much or nothing at all about them. (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 May 27-28, 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 30, 2012Ohio Senate: Brown (D) 47%, Mandel (R) 42%
Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown now holds a five-point lead over Republican challenger Josh Mandel in his reelection bid in Ohio.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the Buckeye State shows Brown with 47% support to Mandel’s 42%. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, and seven percent (7%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
This Ohio survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted on May 29, 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.

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                            May 30, 201257% Think Big Banks Have Too Much Influence Over Fed
Most voters believe that big banks have too much influence over the Federal Reserve and think those who can benefit from its actions should be barred from serving on the Federal Reserve Board.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 57% of Likely U.S. Voters believe big banks and other major financial institutions have too much insider influence over the actions of the Federal Reserve. Only 16% disagree, with 27% more who are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 24-25, 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 30, 2012Improving Life for Workers By John Stossel
It seems intuitive that a free market would lead to a "race to the bottom." In a global marketplace, profit-chasing employers will cut costs by paying workers less and less, and shipping jobs to China.
May 30, 201248% Agree With Romney on Issues, 46% Say Same of Obama
President Obama and Mitt Romney run neck-and-neck when voters are asked if they agree or disagree with the candidates on the issues.
Forty-eight percent (48%) of Likely U.S. Voters personally agree with Romney, while 46% agree with the president, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
These figures include 38% who agree with the Republican challenger on most important issues and 10% who agree with him on just about everything. Obama’s total is made up of 32% who agree with him on most important issues and 14% who agree on nearly everything. (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 May 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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                            May 29, 201238% Say Drinking Coffee Good For Health
A recent study found that drinking coffee is beneficial to your health, but many Americans already believed that to be true. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 38% of Adult Americans, in fact, think drinking coffee is good for your health, while just 18% feel it’s a bad move health wise.  Another 38% think drinking java has no impact on their health.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on May 27-28, 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 29, 201238% View Federal Reserve Favorably, 49% Do Not
Reviews for Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and the Fed itself have improved from late last year, but both remain more disliked than liked.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters shows that 36% view Bernanke at least somewhat favorably, while 41% view him unfavorably. These findings include seven percent (7%) who share a Very Favorable opinion of the Fed chairman and 18% with a Very Unfavorable one. Twenty-two percent (22%) of voters don’t offer any opinion of Bernanke. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 24-25, 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 29, 201246% See Obama-Romney Race as Choice of Lesser of Two Evils
Most voters see serious differences of opinion between President Obama and Mitt Romney, but Democrats are a lot more excited about their candidate than Republicans are about theirs.
Fifty-six percent (56%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the president and the likely Republican presidential nominee disagree on most important issues, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Another 25% say they disagree on just about everything. Only six percent (6%) believe the two candidates agree on most important issues, with two percent (2%) more who say they agree on just about everything. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 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.
May 29, 2012The 'Geezers' Are Right This Time By Froma Harrop
Alan Simpson let loose at a group of Californians who charged in a brochure that he and Erskine Bowles were "using the deficit to gut our Social Security." The former Republican senator from Wyoming sent the California Association of Retired Americans a characteristically colorful response, which I quote: "What a wretched group of seniors you must be to use the faces of the very people (the young) that we are trying to save, while the 'greedy geezers' like you use them as a tool and a front for your nefarious bunch of crap."

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                            May 29, 201244% Plan to Take A Summer Vacation This Year
Summer is still Americans’ favorite time to take a vacation, and the number who plan a vacation this summer is up slightly to its highest level in several years.
A new Rasmussen reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of American Adults are planning a summer vacation this year. Fifty percent (50%) are not, but six percent (6%) aren’t sure yet. (To see 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 25-26, 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 28, 2012Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 42%, Democrats 39%
Republicans lead Democrats by three points on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending Sunday, May 27.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 39% would choose the Democrat instead. Republicans led by four the week before, 43% to 39%.
The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from May 21-27, 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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                            May 28, 201255% Support Repeal of Obama’s Health Care Plan
Most voters still want to repeal President Obama’s national health care law as they have consistently in regular surveys since it was passed by Congress over two years ago.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 55% of Likely U.S. Voters at least somewhat favor repeal of the health care law while 39% are at least somewhat opposed.
Those figures include 43% who Strongly Favor repeal and 25% who are Strongly Opposed. (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 May 26-27, 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.
May 28, 2012Obama's Bain Attacks Could Backfire By Michael Barone
The ham-handed Barack Obama campaign attack ads on Mitt Romney's former firm Bain Capital have drawn a lot of ire from other Democrats.

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                            May 28, 201249% Consider Memorial Day One of the Most Important Holidays
Nearly half of Americans continue to rank Memorial Day as one of the nation’s most important holidays.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just five percent (5%) of American Adults consider it one of the least important holidays, but 44% see it as somewhere in between. (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 U.S. Adults was conducted on May 23-24, 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 27, 201245% Have Close Friend or Relative Who Died Serving Country
As Americans this Memorial Day weekend remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, many adults nationwide will be remembering someone they knew personally. A sizable number also personally know someone who is currently serving in Afghanistan.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 45% have a close friend or relative who has given his or her life while serving in the military. Forty percent (40%) have close friends or relatives currently serving in Afghanistan. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on May 23-24, 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 27, 201255% Favor Welcoming Immigration Policy
Most voters continue to support a welcoming immigration policy but still feel the focus of immigration reform should be on gaining control of the border. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 55% of Likely U.S. Voters agree that the goal of immigration policy should be to keep out only national security threats, criminals and those who come to the United States to live off its welfare system. Twenty-nine percent (29%) disagree, while 16% are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 22-23, 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 26, 2012Americans Support Health Insurance Discounts for Healthy Lifestyles
Americans believe those who strive to live a healthy lifestyle should be rewarded for it with discounts on their health insurance. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 72% of Adults think health insurance companies should be allowed to offer discounts to non-smokers. Just 17% disagree, while 11% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.) The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on May 21-22, 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 26, 2012What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls  -- The Week Ending May 26, 2012
The Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer for many Americans, and it’s a good time to take stock of where the nation’s at.
First, there’s the size of government. Sixty-four percent (64%) of Likely U.S. Voters prefer a government with fewer services and lower taxes over one with more services and higher taxes. That's consistent with findings in regular surveys for years. Just 25% prefer a government with more services and higher taxes.