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                            February 15, 2012Fewer See Major Depression Coming, Still Pessimistic About Housing, Stock Markets
With more Americans expecting a stronger economy next year, they are also less inclined to believe a 1930s-like depression is in the cards. Still, most don’t expect the housing or stock markets to make a full recovery anytime soon.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 40% still believe the United States is at least somewhat likely to enter an economic depression similar to the one during the 1930s in the next few years. This finding includes 15% who think it's Very Likely. The overall finding is down from 52% in November and is the lowest recorded in three years of regular tracking. 
Forty-eight percent (48%) don’t see a 1930s-like economic depression as likely in the near future, but just nine percent (9%) say it’s Not At All Likely to happen. Eleven percent (11%) aren’t 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 Adults was conducted on February 11-12, 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.
February 15, 201234% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction
Thirty-four percent (34%) of Likely U.S. Voters say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, February 12.
The latest finding is up five points from a week ago and the highest level of optimism since April 2010. From July 25 through December 11 of last year, the number of voters who were confident in the nation's current course resembled levels measured in the final months of the Bush administration, with voter confidence remaining in the narrow range of 14% to 19%. But that finding has climbed steadily since then.
The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports February 6-12, 2012. 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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                            February 14, 201259% Have Favorable Opinion of Social Security
Most voters continue to have a favorable opinion of Social Security, but they also don't believe the government retirement system will pay all their promised benefits. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of Likely Voters share at least a somewhat favorable opinion of Social Security, but one-in three (35%) have an unfavorable view of it. These figures include 25% who have a Very Favorable impression of Social Security and eight percent (8%) who view it Very Unfavorably.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 10-11, 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. 
February 14, 2012Michigan GOP Primary: Santorum 35%, Romney 32%
Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, following his wins last week in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri, has now jumped ahead of Mitt Romney in Michigan's Republican Primary race.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Republican Primary Voters in Michigan shows Santorum with 35% of the vote to Romney’s 32%. Well behind are Texas Congressman Ron Paul with 13% and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich with 11%. Only one percent (1%) prefers some other candidate in the race, while eight percent (8%) 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 Michigan survey of 750 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on February 13, 2012 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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                            February 14, 201257% Believe Violence in Movies Leads to Violence in Society
Most adults continue to feel that violence in movies is reflected in real life and believe movies have a negative impact on society.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 57% of American Adults think violent movies lead to more violence in society, although that's down five points from 62% a year ago. Just 26% do not believe violent movies encourage violence in real life, but 17% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on February 3-4, 2012 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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                            February 14, 201259% of Catholics Disapprove of Obama’s Job Performance
Catholics strongly disapprove of the job President Obama is doing as the debate continues over his administration’s new policy forcing Catholic institutions to pay for contraception they morally oppose. While the president’s overall job approval ratings have improved over the past couple of months, they have remained steady among Catholics.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of likely Catholic voters nationwide at least somewhat disapprove of the president’s job performance, while 40% at least somewhat approve. But the passion’s on the side of those who don’t like the job he’s doing: 44% Strongly Disapprove versus 19% who Strongly Approve.
The survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted February 6-12, 2012 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.
February 14, 2012French Model for American Parents By Froma Harrop
One item in the annals of American exceptionalism is how exceptionally badly behaved American children are. We who hang around international airports often marvel at how European toddlers wait calmly while their American cohorts run down the halls or lie sprawled on the floor in a screaming tantrum.
February 14, 2012Florida Senate: Mack (R) 41%, Nelson (D) 41%
Republican Congressman Connie Mack now runs dead even with incumbent Democratic Senator Bill Nelson in Florida’s 2012 U.S. Senate race. But Nelson outdistances two other potential GOP challengers, former Senator George LeMieux and businessman Mike McCalister.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Florida Voters finds Mack and Nelson earning 41% support each. Five percent (5%) like some other candidate in the race, and 12% remain undecided at this early stage. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 
In Rasmussen Reports’ first survey of the Florida Senate race last November, Mack, a congressman from the Fort Myers/Naples area, posted a modest 43% to 39% lead over Nelson, a member of the Senate since 2000 when he won the election to fill the seat vacated by Mack’s father.
Nelson posts at 45% to 35% lead over LeMieux, who then-Governor Charlie Crist named to the Senate in September 2009 to complete the term of Senator Mel Martinez who resigned from office early. LeMieux chose not to seek a full Senate term in the 2010 elections because of Crist’s decision to run. Crist was defeated by Marco Rubio. Given a Nelson-LeMieux matchup, five percent (5%) of Florida voters again prefer some other candidate, and 15% are undecided.
Nelson holds a narrower lead – 43% to 37% - over McCalister, a political newcomer. Five percent (5%) favor some other candidate in the contest, and 15% are undecided.
This Florida survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted on February 13, 2012 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.
February 13, 2012Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 43%, Democrats 41%
For the second week in a row, Republicans hold a two-point lead over Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot, this time for the week ending Sunday, Feb. 12. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 41% would choose the Democrat instead.
The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from February 6-12, 2012. 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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                            February 13, 2012Obama’s Budget Shows $928 Billion Increase in Spending Over Five Years
President Obama’s new budget proposal calls for annual federal government spending to increase by $192 billion in 2012 and $928 billion by 2017.  The budget documents show federal spending of $3,603 billion for 2011 growing to $3,795 billion in 2012 and $4,531 billion in 2017.

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                            February 13, 2012Most Ohio Voters View Social Security, Medicare Favorably
Ohio voters, compared to voters nationwide, have a more favorable opinion of Social Security but view Medicare about the same.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in Ohio finds that 65% have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of Social Security, including 31% who have a Very Favorable opinion of it.  Thirty percent (30%) have an unfavorable impression of the government retirement system, with eight percent (8%) who have a Very Unfavorable opinion of it.  (To see survey question working, 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 500 Likely Voters in Ohio was conducted on February 8, 2012 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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                            February 13, 201237% Expect Stronger U.S. Economy A Year From Now
For the first time in over two years, the number of Americans who believe the economy will be stronger one year from now is slightly higher than the number who expect it to be weaker.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of U.S. Adults shows that 37% believe the economy will be stronger in one year, up 10 points from November's all-time low of 27%. This finding is the highest measured since September 2010.
Thirty-five percent (35%) expect the U.S. economy to be weaker a year from now, down from 48% last month and the lowest level of pessimism since September 2009. Nineteen percent (19%) predict the economy will be about the same in a year's time. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on February 11-12, 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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                            February 13, 2012Voters Are Gung-Ho for Use of Drones But Not Over the United States
Voters strongly approve of President Obama's decision to use unmanned drones to go after terrorists, but they're much less excited about the use of such aircraft for surveillance on the home front.
The president recently acknowledged that the United States has a secret drone program for killing al-Qaeda and Taliban terrorists, and the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just nine percent (9%) of Likely U.S. Voters oppose such a program.  Seventy-six percent (76%) approve of the use of the unmanned aircraft to kill terrorists. Fifteen percent (15%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 10-11, 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.
February 13, 2012Romney Appeals to White Collars, Santorum to Blue By Michael Barone
Rick Santorum won big victories in three small contests in the Republican presidential race last Tuesday. In doing so, he reshaped the oft-reshaped nomination battle once again. But he has not installed himself as the favorite, and neither he nor Mitt Romney has established himself as the candidate who can do best in the general election.

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                            February 13, 2012Most Voters Still Think Bailouts Bad for America
Amidst reports that the car industry is experiencing a modest rebound in sales, support for the government bailouts is at its highest level in three years of regular tracking, although most voters still think they were a bad idea. 
Thirty-two percent (32%) of Likely U.S. Voters now believe the bailouts of banks, auto companies and insurance companies were good for the United States. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% view the bailouts as bad for the country, while 17% remain 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 nationwide was conducted on February 10-11, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            February 12, 201252% Say GOP Agenda In Congress Is Extreme
While positive ratings for Congress remain at an all-time low, more voters than ever see the Republican agenda in Congress as extreme.  
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 35% of Likely Voters say it would be more accurate to describe the agenda of Republicans in Congress as mainstream, while 52% feel extreme is a more accurate description.  Thirteen percent (13%) are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on February 8-9, 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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                            February 12, 2012Voters Grow More Aware of Defense Secretary Panetta
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who recently announced significant cuts to the defense budget and plans for the United States to end its combat role in Afghanistan earlier than scheduled, is a bit more recognizable to voters these days. So far, this increased awareness has mostly worked in his favor.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that 39% view Panetta at least somewhat favorably, up 10 points from December. Thirty-four percent (34%) now view the former Central Intelligence Agency director unfavorably, up only slightly from the last survey. These findings include Very Favorable marks from 14% and Very Unfavorable reviews from 12%.
Twenty-seven percent (27%) of voters still don’t know enough about Panetta to offer an opinion, but that’s down from 38% in December.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
February 11, 201250% Approve of Obama in Ohio, 44% Say Same of Kasich
Voters in the key battleground state of Ohio have decidedly mixed feelings about Republican Governor John Kasich and President Obama these days.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely Ohio Voters at least somewhat approve of the job Kasich is doing after his first year as governor, while 50% at least somewhat disapprove. But the emotion’s on the side of the governor’s opponents: The overall findings include 17% who Strongly Approve of his job performance versus 32% who Strongly Disapprove. (To see survey question wording, click here and 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 500 Likely Voters in Ohio was conducted on February 8, 2012 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.
February 11, 2012What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending February 10, 2012
Here we go again. Another Republican surges up out of the pack to challenge Mitt Romney’s grip on the party’s presidential nomination. Meanwhile, President Obama appears to have helped his rivals with a bad political call forcing Catholic institutions to go against their basic beliefs and pay for contraception.
In a survey taken Monday evening, Romney reclaimed the lead in the national race for the Republican presidential nomination, jumping ahead of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich 34% to 27%. Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum earned 18% of the vote, and Texas Congressman Ron Paul ran last with 11%.
Then the following day Santorum won the trifecta, sweeping caucuses in Minnesota and Colorado and a non-binding primary in Missouri. His numbers nationally and in other states began to move, reinforcing that Romney has yet to seal the deal with many Republican voters. Still, 75% of those voters predicted early in the week that Romney will be the ultimate nominee, but it will be interesting to see if Romney holds on to the leads he has in the next primary states of  Arizona and Michigan.
February 11, 2012White Nationalists Share Spotlight With GOP at CPAC By Joe Conason
If the Conservative Political Action Conference can be expected to accomplish anything more than angry bellowing, it is to reliably embarrass every decent and sane conservative in America. Sometimes the problem is a conspiratorial extremist co-sponsor, like the John Birch Society; sometimes the problem is a certifiable kook giving the keynote address, like Glenn Beck; and sometimes the problem is just vicious bullying of gay conservatives, who have been officially expelled from the conference.