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October 24, 2011

61% Favor Simpler Tax Code, But Have Doubts About Flat Tax Plans

Voters want a simpler and fairer tax system but give generally negative reviews to flat tax proposals.

Sixty-one percent (61%) of Likely U.S. Voters agree, however, that it’s a good idea to get rid of the existing income tax code and replace it with something simpler. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 16% disagree with the idea of a simpler tax code, while 23% are not sure.

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October 24, 2011

Scott Rasmussen on Fox News - October 21, 2011

Scott discusses the rise of Herman Cain in the GOP Primary race with Bill Hemmer.

October 24, 2011

41% Say Their Views Closer to Tea Party’s Than to Wall Street Protesters’

The Occupy Wall Street protesters have been compared by some with the Tea Party protests that erupted more than two years ago in reaction to Washington’s big government spending plans. Americans are evenly divided in their opinions of those currently protesting against Wall Street but tend to see their own views as more in line with those of the Tea Party.

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October 24, 2011

Cult of Global Warming Is Losing Influence By Michael Barone

Religious faith is a source of strength in many people's lives. But religious faith when taken too far can prove ludicrous -- or disastrous.

On Oct. 22, 1844, thousand of Millerites, having sold all their possessions, climbed to the top of hills in Upstate New York to await the return of Jesus and the end of the world. They suffered "the great disappointment" when it didn't happen.

October 23, 2011

71% Say Volunteering Serves Community More Than Entering Politics

Americans still overwhelmingly believe that volunteering is more important than getting involved in politics in terms of serving their community, and most have done some kind of volunteer work within the past month.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 71% believe doing volunteer work for a church, community organization or charitable group is more important in terms of serving the community than getting involved in politics. Only 14% believe getting involved in politics better serves the place they live. Another 14% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

October 23, 2011

27% Say They’re Conservative On Both Fiscal and Social Issues

The bad economy, a change in presidents, bailouts, health care, the Tea Party and now another presidential cycle, you name it. Still, the basic fiscal and social ideologies of U.S. voters remain largely unchanged.

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October 22, 2011

41% Now Agree With Obama’s Decision To Take Military Action in Libya

Polls show a bounce in support for President Obama’s policy in Libya following the death of the country’s longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi, but most voters still don’t expect the new Libyan government to become an ally of the United States.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey, taken following news reports of Gadhafi’s death, finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters now rate the Obama administration’s response to the situation in Libya as good or excellent, up 12 points from a week ago.

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October 22, 2011

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending October 22, 2011

Not much hope and a strong desire for change – it sounds like 2008 all over again. Will Herman Cain ride that wave into the White House like Barack Obama before him?

Just 15% of Likely U.S. Voters now say the country is heading in the right direction, down 15 points from this time last year. Since the third week in July, the number of voters who are confident in the nation’s current course has resembled levels measured in the final months of the Bush administration.

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October 22, 2011

What Romney's Religion Reveals About His Politics By Joe Conason

Recent expressions of political and religious prejudice against Mormons and the Church of Latter-Day Saints have offered Mitt Romney a chance to play the bullied underdog -- and to explain, as he did with clarity and dignity during the Vegas debate, the meaning of the constitutional prohibition against any religious test for public office.

October 21, 2011

North Korea, Iran Top List of U.S. Enemies

While Canada and Great Britain are still seen as America’s top allies, most Americans also continue to think of Iran and North Korea as the nation’s worst enemies.

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October 21, 2011

Voters Still See Economy As Top Issue

When it comes to voting decisions, the economy is still far and away the most important issue on voters’ minds, while the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and national security remain at the bottom of the list of issues regularly tracked by Rasmussen Reports.

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October 21, 2011

Voters Still See Economy As Top Issue

When it comes to voting decisions, the economy is still far and away the most important issue on voters’ minds, while the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and national security remain at the bottom of the list of issues regularly tracked by Rasmussen Reports.

October 21, 2011

Public Has Mixed Views of Return to Gold Standard

An increasing number of Republican presidential candidates are now talking about returning the U.S. monetary system to the gold standard, but voters send mixed signals about such a move. Most like the idea, though, when they’re told it would reduce government control of the economy.

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October 21, 2011

Scott Rasmussen on Fox News - October 15, 2011

Scott Rasmussen discusses the latest national 2012 Republican Primary poll.

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October 21, 2011

Fortress Red, Fortress Blue: The Partisan Bedrock Of The New House By Kyle Kondik

Franklin Delano Roosevelt once said that "There is nothing I love as much as a good fight." If so, he would've hated where the House is headed for the next decade, because by and large it likely won't have all that many good fights.

October 21, 2011

34% Have Favorable Opinion of the Fed

Most voters don’t like the Federal Reserve, the nation’s central banking system, which at least one presidential candidate would like to abolish.

October 20, 2011

59% Rate Their Own Lives As Good Or Excellent

Although the nation is facing hard economic times, most Americans still regard their own life positively.   

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of American Adults rate their own lives today as good or excellent, including 22% who say their life is excellent.  Just nine percent (9%) rate their lives today as poor.  (To see survey question wording, click here).

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October 20, 2011

Obama 44% Perry 36%

Following a fiery debate Tuesday night, Texas Governor Rick Perry now trails President Obama by eight points in the latest 2012 hypothetical matchup.

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October 20, 2011

Iowa: Cain 28% Romney 21% Paul 10%

Reflecting national trends, businessman Herman Cain has now jumped to the front of the Republican pack in Iowa.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Iowa caucus-goers shows that Cain is in front with 28% followed by former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney at 21%. Congressman Ron Paul is a distant third at 10% followed by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich at 9%, Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann at 8%, and Texas Governor Rick Perry at 7%. The sixth place finish for Perry is a sharp decline from early September when Perry was the frontrunner both nationally and in Iowa. (To see survey question wording, click here).

Former Senator Rick Santorum picks up 4% of the vote and former Governor Jon Huntsman is at 2%. Another 4% would prefer some other candidate and 8% are not sure.

Only one-third of the caucus-goers (32%) are certain of their vote and don’t expect to change their mind. Among these voters, 30% prefer Cain, 22% Romney, and 17% Paul.

Among those absolutely certain they will show up and participate in the caucus, Cain leads Romney 31% to 18%. Many have criticized the Cain campaign for not having a strong organization in Iowa which is seen as essential to turning out the vote. According to such conventional analysis, Cain might be at risk of raising expectations too high and then underperforming.

(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 800 Likely Iowa Republican Caucus Participants was conducted on October 19, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 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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October 20, 2011

Iowa: Cain 28% Romney 21% Paul 10%

Reflecting national trends, businessman Herman Cain has now jumped to the front of the Republican pack in Iowa.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Iowa caucus-goers shows that Cain is in front with 28% followed by former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney at 21%. Congressman Ron Paul is a distant third at 10% followed by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich at 9%, Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann at 8%, and Texas Governor Rick Perry at 7%. The sixth place finish for Perry is a sharp decline from early September when Perry was the frontrunner both nationally and in Iowa. (To see survey question wording, click here).

Former Senator Rick Santorum picks up 4% of the vote and former Governor Jon Huntsman is at 2%. Another 4% would prefer some other candidate and 8% are not sure.

Only one-third of the caucus-goers (32%) are certain of their vote and don’t expect to change their mind. Among these voters, 30% prefer Cain, 22% Romney, and 17% Paul.

Among those absolutely certain they will show up and participate in the caucus, Cain leads Romney 31% to 18%. Many have criticized the Cain campaign for not having a strong organization in Iowa which is seen as essential to turning out the vote. According to such conventional analysis, Cain might be at risk of raising expectations too high and then underperforming.

(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 800 Likely Iowa Republican Caucus Participants was conducted on October 19, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.