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May 5, 2012

Radio Update: People See Politics As A Legalized Extortion Racket

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 5, 2012

40% Say Obama’s Views Extreme, 35% Say Same of Romney

It’s close to a 50-50 nation when voters are asked if the views of President Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney are mainstream or extreme. Fifty percent (50%) of Likely U.S. Voters describe the president’s views as mainstream, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-one percent (51%) say the same of Romney’s views.

Forty percent (40%) think it’s more accurate to describe Obama’s views as extreme, while 35% describe Romney’s views that way. Ten percent (10%) and 14% respectively are undecided about the views of the president and his GOP opponent. (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 national survey of 1,000 U.S. Likely Voters was conducted on May 2-3, 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 5, 2012

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls For The Week Ending May 5, 2012

President Obama officially launches his reelection campaign today with appearances in  Ohio and Virginia, states critical to his reelection, and recent polling shows both are in play. But overall, it’s been another so-so week for the president, with his well-received plan for winding down the war in Afghanistan offset by another anemic jobs report.

The president continues to holds a slight lead over likely GOP nominee Mitt Romney in combined polling of the key swing states of Florida, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia. During 2008, Obama picked up 52% of the vote in these states to Republican nominee John McCain's 48%. The so-called Core Four states have 75 Electoral College votes, and if the president wins even two of these states, it will be just about impossible for the GOP candidate to win the White House.

But as Scott Rasmussen explains in a Rasmussen Report radio update, Romney needs to win all of the Core Four states. Scott is now doing three Rasmussen Report radio updates every weekday, syndicated nationally by the WOR Radio Network.

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May 5, 2012

Romney Must Choose By Froma Harrop

You have to wonder why some gay advocates -- like a few believers in birth control, global warming and evolution -- remain loyal Republicans even as the right wing drags their party back to the beginning of the 20th century, if not the 19th. While governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney planted himself mostly in the future.

May 4, 2012

53% Think Recent Graduates Will Have 'Very Difficult' Time Finding A Job

One-in-four Americans has someone in the family who is graduating from high school or college this spring, and adults nationwide overwhelmingly believe it will be tough for those graduates to find a job in the current economy.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 89% of American Adults believe it will be at least somewhat difficult for recent graduates to find a job in today’s economy. That finding includes 53% who predict it will be Very Difficult for them to get hired. Only seven percent (7%) think it will be not very or Not At All Difficult for recent grads to find employment. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on April 29-30, 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 4, 2012

8% Give Congress Good or Excellent Marks

Voters continue to voice an overwhelmingly negative assessment of Congress’ performance.

Just eight percent (8%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the national legislature is doing a good or excellent job, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Sixty-four percent (64%) rate Congress' job performance as poor. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on May 2-3, 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 4, 2012

Radio Update: Jobs Reports Could Decide Election 2012

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 4, 2012

Montana: Romney 51%, Obama 44%

Mitt Romney has crossed the 50% mark now against President Obama in Montana. 

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the Treasure State finds the likely Republican presidential nominee with 51% support to Obama’s 44%.  Three percent (3%) favor some other candidate in the race, while one percent (1%) 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.

This Montana survey of 450 Likely Voters was conducted on May 2, 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.

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May 4, 2012

Radio Update: Optimism Growing About War on Terror

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 4, 2012

Most Favor Afghanistan Withdrawal by 2014 But Fear U.S. Will Stay Too Long

Most voters favor President Obama’s plan to withdraw all U.S. combat troops from Afghanistan by 2014 but worry that the United States will not withdraw from its longest-running war quickly enough. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of Likely U.S. Voters support the president’s plan for withdrawal by 2014 with some troops left behind for training purposes and to help protect the democratically elected government of Afghanistan. Thirty-one percent (31%) oppose the plan the president announced in Afghanistan this week, while 13% are not sure about it. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on May 2-3, 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 4, 2012

Trench Warfare Won't Resolve Anything in This Year's Elections By Scott Rasmussen

One hundred years ago, the European powers were hurtling down a path leading to World War I. Trench warfare became the dominant image of that war, as both sides dug in and the battle lines barely moved. Many called it the "War to End All Wars," but in the end it merely set the stage for World War II.

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May 3, 2012

Radio Update: On National Day of Prayer, Separation of Church and State Remains a Core Belief

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 3, 2012

Radio Update: Most Americans See Bribery As The Norm in Business

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 3, 2012

37% Say Internet's Been Good for American Culture, 27% Disagree

Americans continue to regain some of the confidence they had in the Internet as a force for good, but many are still dubious about its impact on culture, journalism and politics.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 37% of American Adults think the Internet’s impact on culture in this country has been a good one. Twenty-seven percent (27%) think it has been bad for the country, while 28% say it is neither.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on April 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 3, 2012

Montana Senate: Rehberg (R) 53%, Tester (D) 43%

Republican Congressman Denny Rehberg holds his largest lead yet over Democratic incumbent Jon Tester in Montana’s U.S. Senate race.

A new statewide telephone survey of Likely Voters shows Rehberg ahead of Tester 53% to 43%. Two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate, and another two percent (2%) 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.

This Montana survey of 450 Likely Voters was conducted on May 2, 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.

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May 3, 2012

Radio Update: Consumers Cautious, Not Confident

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 3, 2012

71% Say Bribery Common For Companies In Other Countries

Walmart’s Mexico subsidiary is under federal investigation for allegedly paying $24 million in bribes to speed approval of permits and licenses for new stores. But this fraudulent business practice comes as no surprise to most Americans. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 71% of American Adults think bribery is at least somewhat common for companies doing business in other countries, including 37% who believe it is Very Common.  Just 11% don’t think bribery in other countries is common, with two percent (2%) who say it’s Not At All Common. However, 18% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on April 29-30, 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 3, 2012

68% Support Government-Recognized National Day of Prayer

Congress 60 years ago established the National Day of Prayer, celebrated throughout the nation today, and 68% of American Adults favor federal government recognition of the special day.

Twenty-four percent (24%) of Americans are opposed to the government recognizing a National Day of Prayer, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The national survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted May 1-2, 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 3, 2012

Obama's Chicago Politics: Thuggery Not Civility By Michael Barone

It has been reported that the Obama campaign this year, as in 2008, has disabled or chosen not to use AVS in screening contributions made by credit card. That doesn't sound very important. But it's evidence of a modus operandi that strikes me as thuggish.

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May 3, 2012

51% Think U.S., Allies Winning War on Terror

On the one-year anniversary of Osama bin Laden’s death, just over half of voters believe the United States and its allies are winning the war on terror, but they’re slightly less sure the country is safer today than it was before his terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds 46% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the United States is safer today than it was before 9/11. Twenty-nine percent (29%) disagree while 26% 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 April 30-May 1, 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.