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June 1, 2012Partisan Trends: Republicans 35.7%, Democrats 33.8%,  Unaffiliateds 30.5%
The number of Democrats and Republicans in the United States increased slightly in May, with voters in President Obama’s party now at their highest level this year. During May, 35.7% of Americans considered themselves Republicans.  That’s up from 35.1% in April, the lowest level measured since November of last year.
Rasmussen Reports tracks this information based on telephone interviews with approximately 15,000 adults per month since November 2002. The margin of error for the full sample is less than one percentage point, with a 95% level of confidence.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            June 1, 201263% Think Current System Discourages Third Party Candidates
Most voters agree that the election system is stacked against third-party candidates and think the rules should be changed to level the playing field.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 63% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the current electoral setup discourages third party challenges. Just 24% disagree and say the system is not gamed to discourage third party runs. 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 Likely Voters was conducted on May 30-31, 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.
June 1, 2012Why Cory Booker Got Bain Capital So Wrong By Joe Conason
Cory Booker's emotional televised plea to "stop attacking private equity" may have been the single greatest service he could perform for the Romney campaign. His immediate attempt to revise his remarks on behalf of President Obama, for whom he is supposed to act as a surrogate, only highlighted his earlier insistence that the harsh campaign criticism of Bain Capital, which he specifically defended, is "nauseating."

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            June 1, 2012Team Obama Finds Romney Hard Target to Hit By Scott Rasmussen
The Obama campaign's early attempts to attack Mitt Romney's record at Bain Capital or present him as too extreme to be president have not worked out all that well so far. The early stumbles have created a flurry of commentaries wondering what's wrong with the team that performed so flawlessly in Election 2008.
May 31, 201250% Trust Republicans More on Economy
For the first time in five-and-a-half years of regular tracking, half of voters now trust Republicans more than Democrats when it comes to the economy, the issue they rate by far as most important to how they will vote. Voters now trust Republicans more on five of the 10 major issues regularly tracked by Rasmussen Reports, Democrats more on two, and they're tied on three.
Two national surveys of 1,000 Likely Voters each were conducted on May 24-25 & 28-29, 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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                            May 31, 201284% Think It’s Difficult For Young People To Find Summer Jobs
The unemployment rate for youths is nearly three times higher than it is among all Americans nationwide.  With summer right around the corner, adults feel it’s important for young people to find work, but they are also aware that it may not be that easy. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 94% of American Adults think it’s at least somewhat important for young people to have jobs during the summer when they are out of school, including 72% who view it as Very Important.  Only five percent (5%) say it’s not very or Not At All Important for these young people to work. (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 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.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            May 31, 201215% Say Government Should Determine Pricing for Internet Use
Most Internet providers charge a flat rate to customers regardless of how long they are online or how much material they download. But the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission is now proposing usage-based Internet pricing. 
Just 15% of Likely U.S. Voters think the government should decide whether those who use the Internet more should pay more. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 74% think individual companies that provide Internet service should be allowed to decide pricing for themselves. Twelve percent (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 national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 28-29, 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 31, 2012Obama Campaign May Be Fooling Itself By Michael Barone
"Axelrod is endeavoring not to panic." So reads a sentence in John Heilemann's exhaustive article on Barack Obama's campaign in this week's New York magazine.
May 31, 2012Dumb Money for Dummies By Froma Harrop
In the beginning, there was pump and dump. In the dot-com bubble of the late '90s, the stock-analyzing arms of investment banks would pump up a new stock's price with rave reviews.
May 31, 2012Ohio: Romney 46%, Obama 44%
Mitt Romney has inched ahead of President Obama in Ohio, taking the lead in the key battleground state after the president has led there for several months.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Ohio Voters shows Romney with 46% support to Obama’s 44%. Six percent (6%) like some other candidate, and five percent (5%) remain 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.
May 31, 2012Only 19% See Obama, Romney As Best Possible Presidential Candidates
Mitt Romney may have clinched the Republican nomination this week, but most voters aren't happy with the choices they now face in this year’s presidential election.
Just 19% of Likely U.S. Voters believe Romney and President Obama are the two best people running for the presidency. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 64% don’t believe they're the best possible nominees. Seventeen percent (17%) 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 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 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.