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November 17, 2011

Iowa: Gingrich 32%, Romney 19%, Cain 13%

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has already picked up steam among Republican primary voters nationwide, and now he jumps to the front of the GOP pack among caucus-goers in Iowa.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Iowa Republican caucus-goers shows Gingrich with 32% followed by former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney at 19%. Georgia businessman Herman Cain, who led in Iowa last month, drops to third with 13% of the vote. Texas Congressman Ron Paul draws 10% of the vote in Iowa, while Texas Governor Rick Perry and Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann each grab six percent (6%).

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November 17, 2011

Obama 45%, Bachmann 33%

President Obama continues to lead Congresswoman Michele Bachmann by double-digits in a hypothetical 2012 Election matchup. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters finds Obama earning 45% of the vote, while Bachmann receives 33% support.

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on November 15-16, 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.

November 17, 2011

69% Say Federal Government Lacks Authority To Force Purchase of Health Insurance

As the Supreme Court considers the constitutionality of the health care law, American voters overwhelming reject the notion that the federal government has the authority to force anyone to buy health insurance.

(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 U.S. Voters was conducted on November 15-16, 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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November 17, 2011

Clean Energy Worth the Political Muck By Froma Harrop

Princely U.S. government subsidies have made developing wind, solar and other clean energy nearly risk-free to investors -- and that's bad. But the price of this domestically produced power has tumbled, thanks in part to such aid. That helps clean energy compete with the fossil kind, which is definitely good.

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November 17, 2011

Scott Rasmussen Explains to Megyn Kelly Why Obama is Considered 'Slight Underdog' in 2012 Race

Scott Rasmussen Explains to Megyn Kelly Why Obama is Considered 'Slight Underdog' in 2012 Race

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November 17, 2011

Obama Has a Knack for Ticking off America's Friends By Michael Barone

The election of Barack Obama, we were told, would bring new respect and friendship for America in the world.

November 17, 2011

59% Say Government Bailouts Were Bad For America

More voters than ever look back negatively on the government bailouts of banks, auto companies and insurance companies. They remain divided as to what role they’d like the government to play in the struggling economy.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. voters shows that 59% believe the government bailouts of the auto industry and financial sector were bad for the country.

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November 16, 2011

18% Say U.S. Heading In Right Direction

Eighteen percent (18%) 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, November 13.    

The latest finding is up a point from a week ago and three points from a month ago, but is down eight points from this time last year.

The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports November 7-13, 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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November 16, 2011

Michigan: President Tied With Generic Republican

As President Obama seeks re-election, a couple of traditionally Democratic states may be more competitive than usual.

In 2008, the president won Michigan’s Electoral College votes by sixteen percentage points but most Michigan voters now disapprove of the way he’s handled his tenure in the White House. Just 47% of Likely Voters in the state approve of the way that the president is performing his job, while 52% disapprove, according to new Rasmussen Reports polling data.

November 16, 2011

60% Put Border Control Ahead of Legalizing Undocumented Workers

Most voters continue to believe immigration policy should focus first on border control.  At the same time, they favor a welcoming immigration policy that excludes criminals and other threats to society. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 60% of Likely Voters believe it is more important to gain control of the border than to  legalize the status of undocumented workers already living in the United States.

November 16, 2011

27% Want President to Act Alone on Jobs, 63% Say Work With Congress

President Obama this week announced his $1 billion taxpayer-funded plan to increase the health care workforce through new programs and grants. The effort is to counteract the stalemate in Congress over his previous jobs bill proposal. A modest plurality of voters nationwide opposes the health care jobs plan, and most think the president should wait to reach an agreement with Congress before enacting any jobs plan.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 36% favor the president’s program to “develop innovative new health care programs with special emphasis on hiring, training and deploying new health care workers.”

The survey of 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on November 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.

November 16, 2011

Voters Want Taxes Simpler but Not Flat

Support is strong for replacing the entire income tax code with something simpler with lower rates. Many believe a reformed tax code would help the economy, but a flat tax is not what most voters want to see.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that 77% think it’s at least somewhat important to replace the entire federal tax code with something simpler. Only 17% say it’s not important, while five percent (5%) are not sure. Those figures include 44% who say it’s Very Important and just four percent (4%) who say it’s Not at All Important.

(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. Likely Voters each were conducted on November 13-14, 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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November 16, 2011

An Important New Book By Tony Blankley

A just released book, "Bowing to Beijing" by Brett M. Decker and William C. Triplett II, will change forever the way you think about China -- even if, like me, you already have the deepest worries about the Chinese threat. As I opened the book, I was expecting to find many useful examples of Chinese military and industrial efforts to get the better of the United States and the West.

November 16, 2011

90% Say They're Paying More For Groceries Compared To A Year Ago

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke insists that the Federal Reserve is keeping inflation down, but Americans overwhelmingly say they are paying more for groceries these days and expect to pay even more in a year's time.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of U.S. Adults shows that 81% are at least somewhat concerned about inflation, including 47% who are Very Concerned. 

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November 15, 2011

Election 2012: Obama 45%, Generic Republican 44%

After trailing in nearly four months of weekly surveys, President Obama is now essentially tied with a generic Republican candidate in a hypothetical Election 2012 matchup for the week ending Sunday, November 13.  The president earns his highest level of support in nearly six months. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds Obama earning 45% support, while the generic Republican picks up 44% of the vote.

The survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted November 7-13, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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November 15, 2011

Election 2012: Generic Republican 46%, Obama 43%

A generic Republican candidate has moved slightly ahead of President Obama again in a hypothetical Election 2012 matchup for the week ending Sunday, November 20, highlighting how close the race remains. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds the generic Republican earning 46% support to Obama's 43%.  Four percent (4%) prefer some other candidate, and seven percent (7%) are undecided.

(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 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted November 14-20, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

November 15, 2011

Confidence in U.S. Banks Dips to New Low

For the second straight month, Americans are less confident than ever in the nation’s banking industry.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of U.S. Adults shows that just 34% are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the U.S. banking industry, including only five percent (5%) who are Very Confident.

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November 15, 2011

Election 2012: Obama 46%, Cain 36%

Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain still trails President Obama by double digits in the latest Election 2012 matchup of the two men.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds the president with 46% support, while Cain earns 36%.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on November 13-14, 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.

November 15, 2011

81% Express Concern That Europe’s Financial Problems Will Drag Down U.S. Economy

Most Americans still expect at least one of the financially troubled countries in Europe to default on its debt and worry that Europe’s bad economy will ultimately have a major negative impact on the United States.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 64% of American Adults believe it is at least somewhat likely that one of the economically troubled European countries like Greece, Ireland, Portugal or Spain will default on its debt in the next five years, but that’s down from 73% a month ago.

(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 Americans nationwide was conducted on November 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.

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November 15, 2011

The Angst in Giving Thanks By Froma Harrop

Americans typically eat over 1,000 meals a year. But for many, Thanksgiving dinner seems to be the one that, like a magnet, gathers the iron shavings of every food anxiety. Why should that be? You'd think that this feast with family and friends would be accepted for what it is -- an innocent once-a-year gorge. In a country where disciplined eating is sadly lacking, why pile on the one time we traditionally throw caution to the wind?