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December 17, 2011What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending December 17, 2011
It was a newsy week - with the Iraq war coming to a quiet close, the Obama administration’s fight against state anti-immigration efforts going to the U.S. Supreme Court and Newt Gingrich’s runaway train seeming to slow in the Republican presidential race.
The majority of U.S. voters believe Iraq is better off than when dictator Saddam Hussein was in power, but they're not so sure the war-torn country will become peaceful and democratic anytime soon. One thing for sure: If civil war breaks out in Iraq, voters strongly believe U.S. troops should not get involved.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday announced it will decide whether the law Arizona adopted last year to fight illegal immigration violates the Constitution as the U.S. Justice Department contends. But a new survey finds that most voters still support a similar immigration law for their own state. Seventy-three percent (73%) agree that government officials are not doing enough to stop illegal immigration, and 63% think a state should have the right to enforce immigration laws if it believes the federal government is not enforcing them.
Voters continue to believe strongly that the federal government’s actions are encouraging illegal immigration as the Justice Department ended the week announcing bias charges against a popular Arizona sheriff for his anti-immigration efforts.

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                            December 16, 2011Most Voters Still Feel Tax Cuts, Spending Cuts Help The Economy
Most voters continue to believe that the economy would be better off if both taxes and government spending were reduced, but if taxes are increased, voters still lean toward raising them only on the rich.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of Likely U.S. Voters think tax cuts help the economy. That’s in the low end of findings that have ranged from 51% to 63% in monthly surveys since July 2008.  Twenty-one percent (21%) say tax cuts hurt the economy, while 15% say they have no impact. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure.
December 16, 2011Election 2012: Romney 43%, Obama 42%
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney who now has edged to the front of the Republican pack in Iowa remains slightly ahead of President Obama for the second week in a row. He remains the only GOP presidential hopeful to lead Obama in more than one survey to date.  The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters finds Romney earning 43% support to Obama’s 42%, meaning that the two men remain neck-and-neck as they have been in surveys for months.
The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 14-15, 2011 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 methodolog

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                            December 16, 201163% Oppose Return of U.S. Troops to Iraq
As U.S. troops formally leave Iraq bringing the nearly nine-year-old war to a close, the majority of U.S. voters believe that country is better off than when dictator Saddam Hussein was in power, but they're not so sure Iraq will become a peaceful, democratic nation anytime soon. If civil war breaks out in Iraq, voters strongly believe U.S. troops should not get involved.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that 61% believe the Iraqi people are better off today compared to when Hussein was in power.
(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 December 14-15, 2011 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.
December 16, 2011The Republican Closet That Won't Stay Closed By Joe Conason
If these are the last weeks of Rick Perry's ridiculous presidential campaign, his desperation is turning him into a nasty clown indeed. By publicly attacking the gays and lesbians who have chosen to serve their country in uniform, the Texas governor seems to have gained ground in Iowa.

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                            December 16, 201160% Think Federal Government Encourages Illegal Immigration
Voters continue to believe strongly that the federal government’s actions are encouraging illegal immigration even as the Obama administration announces bias charges against a popular Arizona sheriff for his anti-immigration efforts. Also this week, the U.S. Supreme Court sped up its review of the Justice Department’s legal challenge of state laws aimed at stopping illegal immigration.

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                            December 15, 2011Voters View Holder More Negatively Amid Calls For Resignation
Amidst a House resolution calling for his resignation following a botched operation to investigate Mexican drug cartels, Attorney General Eric Holder’s unfavorable marks are at the highest level measured. But more than a third of voters still have no opinion of him.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that only 19% share at least a somewhat favorable opinion of Holder while 43% view him unfavorably.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 10-11, 2011 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.
December 15, 2011Iowa: Romney 23%, Gingrich 20%, Paul 18%, Perry 10%
For the fifth straight survey, the GOP field has a new frontrunner in Iowa.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Iowa Republican Caucus Participants shows former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney with 23% of the vote, only slightly ahead of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich who has 20%. Texas Congressman Ron Paul is right behind with 18% of the vote. Texas Governor Rick Perry earns 10% support, with no other candidate grabbing double-digits.

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                            December 15, 201140% Giving Less to Charity This Year
While two-out-of-five Adults say they are giving less to charity than they did last year, they are more confident that the money they donate will be used effectively. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of U.S. Adults shows that 46% say they are giving about the same amount to charity now as they were a year ago, but 40% say they are giving less.
This national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 9-10, 2011 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.
December 15, 2011Romney Bets on Old Rules as Newt Moves Under Radar By Michael Barone
MANCHESTER, N.H. -- "We're not going to lose in New Hampshire." So says Mitt Romney's state coordinator, Jason McBride.
Stuart Stevens, the Romney campaign's TV ad-maker, expresses similar confidence. Asked if Romney might finish second in New Hampshire, his answer is an unhesitating "no."

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                            December 15, 201144% Confident in U.S. Banking Industry, 48% Are Not
While confidence in the nation’s banking industry is up from last month, roughly one-in-three Americans are still worried they will lose their money as a result of a bank failure.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of American Adults are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the U.S. banking industry today, including eight percent (8%) who are Very Confident.
(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 nationwide was conducted on December 11-12, 2011 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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                            December 15, 2011Iowa: Romney 23%, Gingrich 20%, Paul 18%
For the fifth straight survey, the GOP field has a new frontrunner in Iowa.  (video)
December 15, 2011Driving Under the Influence of Cellphones By Froma Harrop
Moving at a stately 30 miles an hour, the woman drove her tank-like vehicle right through the stop sign and almost through me as I crossed the street. Like the psychiatrist assigning mental illness at the mere sound of crazy shouting, I didn't have to look at the motorist. I just knew from her behavior that she was yakking on a cellphone. Sure enough, she was.
December 14, 201119% Say U.S. Heading In Right Direction
Nineteen percent (19%) 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, December 11.  That’s the highest level of optimism measured in nearly three months.  
The latest finding is up two points from last week but is down four points from this time last year.
The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports December 5-11, 2011. 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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                            December 14, 201145% Say Democrats, Republicans in Congress Are Extreme
A plurality of voters now thinks the agendas of both major political parties in Congress are equally extreme. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the agenda of congressional Republicans is extreme, and the identical number (45%) say the same of congressional Democrats. Thirty-seven percent (37%) think the GOP agenda is mainstream, while 38% feel that's true of the agenda followed by Democrats in Congress.
December 14, 2011Election 2012:  Obama 49%, Gingrich 39%
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich now trails President Obama by double digits, his second straight weekly decline since becoming the GOP frontrunner. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters finds Obama earning 49% of the vote, while Gingrich receives 39% support.
The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 12-13, 2011 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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                            December 14, 201152% Support Arizona-Like Immigration Law in Their State
The U.S. Supreme Court Monday announced it will decide whether the Arizona immigration law passed last year violates the Constitution, and a new survey finds that half of voters still support a similar immigration law for their own state.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that 52% favor passage of an immigration law similar to Arizona’s in their state. Thirty-four percent (34%) oppose such a law in their state, while 15% more 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 national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 12-13, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points ith a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
December 14, 2011Newt's Past and Future Leadership By Tony Blankley
Almost all political commentators agree on one thing. The Republican presidential campaign is unlike any we have experienced. It is not a campaign of steady trends and continuities, but rather of emotional reversals and discontinuities. Perhaps this is so because the last 3 to 4 years have been a shocking time of discontinuities and reversals for America.
December 14, 2011Scott Rasmussen Talks New Hampshire Republican Primary on Fox News
Scott talks to Alisyn Camerota about the New Hampshire Primary and Donald Trump's decision to withdraw as moderator of a Republican debate.

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                            December 14, 2011New Hampshire: Little Interest in Palin or Daniels Entering Race for GOP Nomination
With three weeks to go before the Iowa caucuses officially launch the 2012 election season, many analysts have suggested that there is still time for someone new to enter the race for the GOP nomination.  While there may still be time, there is currently little enthusiasm for a couple of the bigger names to jump into the field.