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February 7, 2012National GOP: Romney 34%, Gingrich 27%, Santorum 18%, Paul 11%
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney now holds a seven-point lead over Newt Gingrich to reclaim the lead in the national race for the Republican presidential nomination.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Republican Primary Voters shows Romney with 34% support to Gingrich’s 27%.  Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania gets 18% of the vote, and Texas Congressman Ron Paul runs last with 11%. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate in the race, and seven percent (7%) 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 Republican Primary Voters was conducted on February 6, 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 7, 201252% Lack Confidence In Stability of U.S. Banking System
Most Americans remain unsure about the state of banks in this country.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of American Adults are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the U.S. banking industry today, but that includes just 10% who are Very Confident.  Most adults (52%), in fact, lack confidence in the country’s banking system, with 15% who are Not At All Confident in it.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on February 5-6, 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 7, 201267% Favor Ending U.S. Combat Role in Afghanistan by Next Year
Voters strongly favor the Obama administration’s plan to wrap up U.S. combat action in Afghanistan by the middle of next year, and most think there’s a good chance the plan will succeed as proposed. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 67% of Likely U.S. Voters favor ending the U.S. combat military mission in Afghanistan by the middle of next year. Just 22% are opposed to ending combat actions by then. Eleven percent (11%) are not 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 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on February 2-3, 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 7, 2012What Komen Affair Means for November By Froma Harrop
The blowup at Susan G. Komen for the Cure set off a political alarm that Republicans dare not ignore. The leading breast cancer group, Komen tried playing Republican-base politics by cutting its funding to Planned Parenthood for breast-health services. The sisterhood and its allies exploded, and Komen reversed course with abject apologies.

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                            February 7, 201259% Say Election Rules 'Rigged' To Help Congressional Incumbents
Fewer than half of voters nationwide still believe elections are generally fair. Most think the system is rigged to benefit incumbents in Congress.The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. voters shows that 48% believe elections are fair to voters, but nearly as many (42%) disagree. Ten percent (10%) are not 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 Likely Voters was conducted on February 2-3, 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 6, 2012Generic Congressional Ballot:  Republicans 43%, Democrats 41%
Republicans have regained the lead over Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending Sunday, Feb. 5. 
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 January 30-February 5, 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 6, 201223% Support Ongoing Federal Support For Long-Term Unemployed
More Americans than ever think the federal government should do nothing when it comes to those who are unemployed for an extended period of time.  At the same time, the number of adults who believe in ongoing government support for the unemployed is at its lowest level yet.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that just 14% believe the government should hire unemployed people who can’t find work for an extended period of time, while only nine percent (9%) favor extending unemployment benefits indefinitely. Rejecting a permanent role for the government, 30% still believe the government should help the long term unemployed by paying for their retraining. Thirty-seven percent (37%) believe the government should do nothing at all for those individuals, while another 10% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on February 1-2, 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 6, 2012If Israel Attacks Iran, 48% Want U.S. to Help Israel
Voters nationwide remain firmly convinced that Iran is likely to develop a nuclear weapon in the near future, and if so, will use it against Israel. At the same time, most also think an Israeli attack on Iran is likely to happen within the next year.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that 83% believe it is at least somewhat likely Iran will develop a nuclear weapon in the near future, including 50% who say that is Very Likely to happen. Only 11% say it’s Not Very or Not At All Likely Iran will develop a nuclear weapon soon. (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 Likely Voters was conducted on February 4-5, 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 6, 2012Box-checking Obama in a Liberal Cocoon By Michael Barone
It's unusual when a reporter sympathetic to a politician writes a story that makes his subject look bad. But Ryan Lizza of The New Yorker has now done this twice.
The first time was in an article last April on Obama's foreign policy in which he quoted a "top aide" (National Security Adviser Tom Donilon? It sounds like him) saying that the president was "leading from behind" on Libya. Not what most Americans expect their presidents to do.
Now, in an article based on leaked White House memos marked up by Obama, Lizza has done it again.
February 6, 201254% Favor Repeal of Health Care Law, 43% Say It Will Be Bad For U.S.
While a majority of U.S. voters continues to favor repeal of the national health care law, the number who believes it will be good for the country is at an all-time high. 
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% of Likely Voters at least somewhat favor repeal of the health care law, while 41% oppose repeal.  These figures include 39% who Strongly Favor repeal and 27% who Strongly Oppose it.  (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 Likely Voters was conducted on February 4-5, 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 6, 2012In Arizona, Obama Approval at 41%
Many Democrats have high hopes for the Southwest in Election 2012 and some even think that President Obama even has a decent shot to move Arizona from Republican to Democrat in the Electoral College column this November. However, the president may have an uphill fight to achieve that goal as most voters in the Grand Canyon State disapprove of the way he’s done his job.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone poll found that just 41% of Likely Voters in Arizona approve of the way President Obama has performed his role. Fifty-six percent (56%) disapprove. Those figures are significantly lower than the president’s national ratings. They include 28% who Strongly Approve and 48% who Strongly Disapprove. (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 Arizona survey of 1,230 Likely Voters was conducted on February 1, 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 5, 2012Game Day: 63% Will Watch Super Bowl, Most Will Be At Home
It’s finally here: the much-anticipated Super Bowl rematch between the New York Giants and New England Patriots, and most Americans will be watching.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 63% plan on watching the Super Bowl XLVI today, while 31% are not. (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 1,807 Adults Who Will Watch the Super Bowl was conducted on January 30, 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 4, 2012What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls For The Week Ending February 4, 2012
Mitt Romney’s victory in Florida put him back on top as the clear frontrunner in the race for the GOP nomination. Rasmussen Reports and others had accurately projected Romney’s victory in advance but the fact that he got more votes than Gingrich and Santorum combined still caught many observers off guard.
Romney is expected to win big in Nevada today and has leads in the next two primary states—Michigan and Arizona. A commentary by Larry Sabato and his colleagues, however, suggests, that the race for the Republican nomination is unlikely to end any time soon. Michael Barone adds that Romney Faces Tough Opponents in a Long War.
Rasmussen Reports has begun daily tracking of the possible Obama-Romney match-up and is updating numbers for other GOP candidates on a rotating basis.

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                            February 4, 2012Viewers Evenly Divided On Super Bowl XLVI Winner
While Super Bowl viewers think the New England Patriots are better than the New York Giants in everything but defense, a slight plurality believe the Giants will win.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Super Bowl Viewers think the Giants will beat the Patriots in Sunday’s championship game.  Forty percent (40%), however, think the Patriots will win Super Bowl XLVI.  Another 15% are not 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 817 Super Bowl Viewers was conducted on January 30, 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 4, 2012Video: Among Uncommitted Voters, Obama Job Approval at 20%
Scott Rasmussen analyzes how those voters who have not yet chosen a candidate to vote for could be the key to the upcoming election.  He looks at how these voters rate the job performance of the President.
February 4, 2012Unemployment and the Presidential Race By Geoffrey Skelley
Back in September, the Crystal Ball examined the possible electoral impact of state-by-state unemployment figures because, after all, presidents are elected in 51 individual battles (50 states plus Washington, D.C.)

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                            February 3, 2012Super Bowl Viewers Don’t Think Madonna’s Good Choice For Halftime Show
Most Americans who plan on watching the Super Bowl this Sunday say they’ll watch the halftime show, but they aren’t thrilled about the performer.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 29% of Adults Who Will Watch the Super Bowl think Madonna is a good choice for the game’s half time show. Fifty-seven percent disagree, while 14% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 817 Adults Who Will Watch the Super Bowl was conducted on January 30, 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 3, 201277% Know Someone Out of Work and Looking For A Job
The unemployment rate dipped slightly to 8.3 percent in January, but most Americans continue to know someone who is out of work and searching for a job.   One-in-four adults believes the unemployment rate will be higher a year from today. 
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 77% of American Adults say they know someone who is out of work and looking for a job.  That finding is down slightly from December’s all-time high of 82%, but is generally in-line with findings since early March 2010. (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 1-2, 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 3, 201238% Say Next President Very Likely To Be Republican, 5% Say Not At All Likely
More voters think President Obama is governing in a partisan fashion than have felt that way in over a year of regular surveying. Voters are more confident, too, that the next president is likely to be a Republican than at any time in Obama's presidency to date.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 33% of Likely U.S. Voters now think the president is governing in a bipartisan fashion. Fifty-two percent (52%) say he is acting like a partisan Democrat, up four points from November and the highest finding since early December 2010. Sixteen percent (16%) 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 national survey of 1,000 U.S. Likely Voters was conducted on January 31-February 1, 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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                            February 3, 201250% Say Candidate Can Win Without Criticizing Opponent
Voters have slightly more faith in the power of positive campaigning than they did four years ago during the last presidential campaign cycle.
Fifty percent (50%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe it is possible for a candidate to win an election without criticizing his or her opponent. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 37% think it’s not possible to win that way, and 13% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 31-February 1, 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.