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November 15, 2011

58% Expect More Partisanship in Washington, D.C.

Most voters continue to believe that politics in the nation’s capital will grow even more partisan, although the number is down slightly from earlier in the year.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that 58% believe politics in Washington, D.C. will grow more partisan over the next year.

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November 14, 2011

Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 41%, Democrats 41%

For the first time in nearly two-and-a-half years, Democrats and Republicans are tied on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending Sunday, November 13.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election was held now, while the identical number (41%) would choose the Democrat instead.

November 14, 2011

Generic Republican Leads Obama in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is a must win state for President Obama’s reelection bid, but early polling shows the state might be competitive.

Just 48% of Likely Voters in the state approve of the way that the president is performing his job, while 51% disapprove, according to new Rasmussen Reports polling data. Those figures include 19% who Strongly Approve and 39% who Strongly Disapprove, giving the president an Approval Index rating of -20.

The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Pennsylvania was derived from nightly presidential tracking poll surveys conducted October 22-November 13, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 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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November 14, 2011

Election 2012: Obama 50%, Gingrich 38%

President Obama has opened a wider gap over Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich, even as the former House Speaker seems to be enjoying a bounce in support nationally among Republican primary voters.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters finds Obama earning 50% support to Gingrich’s 38%.

November 14, 2011

38% Favor Military Action If Diplomacy Fails to Stop Iran's Nuclear Program

Voters are strongly convinced that Iran will develop nuclear weapons in the near future and are pessimistic about diplomatic efforts to prevent this from happening. But they're narrowly divided over whether U.S. military force should be used if diplomacy fails to dissuade Iran from its course.

Thirty-eight percent (38%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe the United States should use military force to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons if diplomatic efforts fail.

The survey of 1,000 U.S. Likely Voters each were conducted on November 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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November 14, 2011

New Low: 50% Expect Costs To Rise Under Health Care Law

Most voters still favor repeal of the national care law, but concern about its impact on the federal deficit and the cost of health care are down to new lows.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that 55% at least somewhat favor repeal of the health care law, with 42% who Strongly Favor it. Thirty-seven percent (37%) at least somewhat oppose repeal, with 26% who are Strongly Opposed.

(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 November 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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November 14, 2011

Tea Partiers, Like Peaceniks, Upset Political Order By Michael Barone

It irritates members of both groups when I note the similarities of the tea party movement that swept the nation in the 2010 election and the peace movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s.

November 14, 2011

30% Have Favorable Opinion of Paterno, 51% Unfavorable

One-out-of-two Americans agree with Penn State’s decision to fire longtime football coach Joe Paterno following the disclosure of child sex abuse allegations against one of his former assistant coaches, but most don’t think the team should be denied a chance to play in a bowl game if it’s eligible.

However, a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 30% of Adults now hold at least a somewhat favorable opinion of Paterno, the 84-year-old football legend who has been coaching at Pennsylvania State University since 1966.

November 13, 2011

Listen Live at 3:06pm ET! Scott Hosts New Episode of The Rasmussen Report

Scott Rasmussen will host the Rasmussen Report on radio at 3:06 p.m. Eastern today. The show airs live on WLS 890AM in Chicago, 105.9 FM and 630AM WMAL in Washington, DC, and online everywhere. 

November 13, 2011

60% Favor Considering Spending Cuts in Every Government Program

Most Americans continue to believe everything should be on the table when it comes to federal spending cuts.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 60% of Likely Voters say thoughtful spending cuts should be considered in every program of the federal government as the nation searches for solutions to the federal budget crises.

November 13, 2011

72% Have Grown Children Living With Them Or Knows Someone Who Does

Americans nationwide overwhelmingly agree that it’s more common for grown children to live with their parents these days, and they don’t think that’s a good thing.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 86% believe it is more common for grown children to live with their parents compared to 20 years ago.

November 12, 2011

64% Favor Jailing Sex Offenders Indefinitely If Necessary

As new disclosures emerge from the scandal at Penn State University, most Americans feel the criminal justice system is not aggressive enough in fighting child sex abuse and think that convicted offenders should be jailed indefinitely if officials feel they might strike again.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 87% of American Adults believe that child sex abuse is at least a somewhat serious problem in the country today, with 57% who say it’s a Very Serious issue. Just nine percent (9%) don’t consider child sex abuse a serious problem, including two percent (2%) who say it’s Not At All Serious.

(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 November 8-9, 2010 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 12, 2011

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending November 12, 2011

Poll after poll shows former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney to be the Republican presidential contender voters are most comfortable with and the GOP hopeful who continues to run most competitively with President Obama. But that's not enough for a lot of Republican voters.

Just this past week, new surveying found that Romney is the GOP candidate viewed most favorably by all voters. This parallels other recent findings that voters see Romney as the GOP hopeful most qualified to be president and the candidate for the White House closest to the mainstream in a group that includes Obama.

The president and Romney remain in a dead heat in their latest hypothetical Election 2012 matchup. Georgia businessman Herman Cain lost ground to Obama this past week, now trailing him 48% to 37%. The week before, Cain trailed 43% to 38%.New numbers will be released for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich on Monday.

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November 12, 2011

Scott Rasmussen Discusses Latest GOP Candidate Favorable Ratings

Scott Rasmussen Discusses Latest GOP Candidate Favorable Ratings

November 11, 2011

Missouri 2012: Romney 45%, Obama 42%

So goes Missouri, so goes the nation. No state has supported the winner in more presidential elections than the Show Me State, and right now Mitt Romney is the only Republican presidential hopeful who leads President Obama among Missouri voters.

The first Rasmussen Reports Election 2012 survey of Likely Missouri Voters finds Romney with 45% support to the president’s 42%.

November 11, 2011

Obama Trails Generic Republican in Ohio

Most voters in the important swing state of Ohio disapprove of the way President Obama is handling his job, and an overwhelming majority believe the nation has gotten off on the wrong track.

(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 500 Likely Voters in Ohio was derived from nightly presidential tracking poll surveys conducted October 17-November 8, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 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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November 11, 2011

Election 2012: Obama 43%, Romney 42%

President Obama and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney remain in a dead heat in the latest Election 2012 hypothetical matchup.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows Obama picking up 43% of the vote,  while Romney draws support from 42%. Eight percent (8%) prefer some other candidate, and seven percent (7%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Romney and the president have been neck-and-neck for nearly two months, separated by two points or less in a series of surveys.

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 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.

November 11, 2011

Just 25% Have Favorable Opinion of Rick Perry

Of the top contenders for the Republican presidential nomination, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is viewed most favorably by all voters, while Texas Governor Rick Perry is the least liked. Among Republican voters, Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich still earn mostly positive reviews, while Perry and Ron Paul do not.  

Following his devastating debate freeze, just 25% of voters nationwide now have a favorable opinion of Perry.

(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 November 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.

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November 11, 2011

Mindless -- But Always Talking Loud By Joe Conason

At a time when nations that tax, spend, regulate and invest more consistently outstrip the United States in many measures of progress, leading Republicans speak only of smashing government and ending vital programs. In this constantly escalating rhetorical game, it became inevitable that one of them would eventually expose the emptiness of this vainglorious display. And it was unsurprising that the ultimate faker would turn to be Rick Perry.

November 11, 2011

86% Give U.S. Military Positive Marks

As the nation marks Veterans Day today, voters nationwide continue to strongly praise the performance of the U.S. military.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters shows that 86% rate the military's performance as good or excellent, including a majority (58%) who thinks the military is doing an excellent job.