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                            March 17, 20128% Rate St. Patrick’s Day As An Important Holiday
More Americans than ever consider St. Patrick’s Day one of the nation’s least important holidays, but a sizable number still plan to wear green. One-in four will have an alcoholic drink to celebrate. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults finds that just eight percent (8%) feel St. Patrick’s Day is one of the nation’s most important holidays.  Fifty-seven percent (57%) consider the holiday one of the least important, while another 32% say it’s somewhere in between.  (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 March 14-15, 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. 
March 17, 2012What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending March 16, 2012
The delegate hunt continues as Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum battle it out for the Republican presidential nomination. Following Santorum’s wins in the Alabama and Mississippi primaries, the former Massachusetts governor leads the former Pennsylvania by 37% to 28% among Republican voters nationally. That nine point advantage is down slightly from 12 points a week ago and 16 points two weeks ago.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich now picks up 17% support, while Texas Congressman Ron Paul earns 10% of the vote.
Next on the schedule is the Illinois primary on Tuesday. Romney leads Santorum there 41% to 32%, but given that 32% of voters still could change their minds, this represents a potential opportunity for Santorum.  Most Gingrich supporters (55%) say they could change their vote, and they overwhelmingly prefer Santorum over Romney in a two-man race.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            March 16, 201248% in Florida View Rubio Favorably
New Florida Senator Marco Rubio has frequently been mentioned as a possible Republican vice presidential candidate, but voters in his home state have mixed feelings now about the national political newcomer.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in Florida finds that 48% have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of the Republican freshman senator, while 41% view him at least somewhat unfavorably. This includes 35% with a Very Favorable view of Rubio and 26% with a Very Unfavorable one. Twelve percent (12%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
This Florida survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted on March 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.
March 16, 2012Obama Trails Santorum, Leads Romney in Core Four States (FL, NC, OH, VA)
President Obama now trails former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum by four points in a hypothetical 2012 matchup in combined polling of key swing states Florida, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia. The president continues to hold a modest lead in those states.
Santorum leads the president 48% to 44% in the so-called Core Four states. Five percent (5%) prefer some other candidate in this matchup, and two percent (2%) are undecided. This marks a shift from last week, when the president was slightly ahead of Santorum.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Obama remains ahead of Romney 46% to 42%, showing no change from last week. Six percent (6%) prefer some other candidate in this matchup, and six percent (6%) 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 500 Likely Voters in Florida, Ohio, North Carolina and Virginia was conducted on March 10-15, 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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                            March 16, 2012National Poll: Romney 37%, Santorum 28%, Gingrich 17%, Paul 10%
The gap between former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum is only slightly narrower following the latter’s primary wins in Alabama and Mississippi on Tuesday. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Republican Primary voters shows Romney with 37% of the vote to Santorum’s 28%. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich picks up 17% support while Texas Congressman Ron Paul grabs 10% of the vote. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate and five percent (5%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The national survey of 1,000 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on March 15, 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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                            March 16, 2012Illinois: Romney 41% Santorum 32% Gingrich 14%
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has the lead in Illinois but lots of voters are still trying to decide in the final days before the state’s GOP Primary.
The first Rasmussen Reports poll in the state shows Romney at 41% and Rick Santorum at 32%. Trailing further back are Newt Gingrich at 14% and Ron Paul at seven percent (7%).  (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 Illinois survey of 750 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on March 15, 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.
March 16, 2012What Are We Doing in Afghanistan? By Joe Conason
For everyone who originally supported the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan to oust the Taliban, the question today is how what was once a righteous mission can end in anything but ruin. Blaming the Bush administration's neglect and incompetence for the critical failures of the first several years is fair enough, but it is not easy to argue, let alone prove, that the Obama administration has improved upon the mess it inherited.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            March 16, 2012To Create Jobs, Voters Want to Cut While Washington Wants to Spend
Scott Rasmussen looks at one of the fundamental gaps between the American people and their elected politicians: the perceptions of the relationship between economic growth, job creation and government spending. In official Washington, Keynesian economics still rules, and it is simply accepted as fact that cutting government spending will hurt the economy. Politicians also assume that increasing government spending and growing deficits will lead to job creation.
March 16, 2012Missouri Senate:  McCaskill Behind Top Republican Challengers
Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill now trails all four of the leading GOP hopefuls in Missouri’s U.S. Senate race.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in Missouri shows the Democratic incumbent earning between 41% and 43% of the vote when matched against four potential GOP opponents. She trails the Republican challengers by margins ranging from four to ten percentage points.
This Missouri survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted on March 14-15, 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.
March 16, 2012Romney Set to Dominate Race Through April By Kyle Kondik, Larry J. Sabato, and Geoffrey Skelley
Three of the four candidates for the Republican presidential nomination -- Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul -- might soon agree with T.S. Eliot: for them, April may indeed be “the cruelest month.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            March 15, 201248% Blame Bad Economy on Bush Recession, 46% Blame Obama's Policies
More voters are putting the blame on President Obama's policies when it comes to today's still-struggling economy.  The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters shows that 48% still place more blame on the economic recession that began under President George W. Bush, but that ties the lowest finding in nearly three years of tracking. Now, nearly as many (46%) say the current president's policies are more to blame, the highest finding since August 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.
Two separate surveys of 1,000 Likely Voters each were conducted on March 7-8 and 13-14, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error for each survey 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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                            March 15, 201258% Favor Taxing All At The Same Percentage Rate
Most Americans continue to think the middle class pays more than its share in taxes and favor a system where everyone pays the same percentage of their income.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% of American Adults now support an across-the-board income tax percentage. Support for a simplified system like this has been growing from 44% in April 2009 to 55% this time last year. Thirty-one percent (31%) oppose a system where everyone pays the same percentage in taxes. Eleven percent (11%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on March 12-13, 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.
March 15, 2012Arizona 2012: Obama Trails Romney, Ties Santorum
President Obama lost to Senator John McCain in the Republican’s home state of Arizona 54% to 45% in 2008, and the president now trails GOP front-runner Mitt Romney by double-digits in a hypothetical 2012 matchup.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Arizona Voters shows the former Massachusetts governor with 51% support against Obama’s 40%. Seven percent (7%) prefer some other candidate, and two percent (2%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
This Arizona survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted on March 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.
March 15, 201256% Oppose Justice Department’s Blocking of Texas Voter ID Law
The Obama administration has blocked Texas’ new law requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls, saying it would suppress Hispanic voter turnout, and the United Nations is now investigating the fairness of such laws in Texas and other states. But voters in this country still overwhelmingly support voter ID laws and don’t think they discriminate.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 72% of Likely U.S. Voters believe voters should be required to show photo identification such as a driver’s license before being allowed to vote.  That’s in line with findings from December but remains down slightly from the 75% to 82% of voters who have supported a photo ID voting requirement in surveys since June 2006. Only 22% are opposed to the photo ID requirement. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 13-14, 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.
March 15, 2012Pundits Gasp as Economy Dents Obama's Poll Numbers By Michael Barone
You can almost hear the note of surprise in their voices when you read the Washington Post and New York Times reporters' stories on their papers' latest political polls.
March 15, 2012Rising Gas Prices Don't Hurt Like They Used To By Froma Harrop
Here's why I'm not panicked about rising gasoline prices, as many headlines suggest we all should be. It's a personal story. Let me start at the beginning.
The automotive love of my life was my first. It was a 1979 Pontiac Grand Prix, already 10 years old when it drove to my door on that mild spring day. A cloudy ocean color, the mid-size car had a V6 engine, and boy, did it move. A whole lot of hood stood between me and the car ahead.
March 15, 2012Florida 2012: Obama Now Edges Romney and Santorum
President Obama now runs just barely ahead of both Republican front-runners in the key electoral state of Florida.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Florida Voters finds Obama leading former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney 46% to 43%. Seven percent (7%) like some other candidate, and four percent (4%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
In a face-off with former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, Obama posts a 45% to 43% lead. Eight percent (8%) favor someone else in the race, while four percent (4%) again remain 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 500 Likely Voters in Florida was conducted on March 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.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            March 14, 201232% Say U.S. Heading In Right Direction
Thirty-two percent (32%) 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, March 11.
The latest finding is up two points from the previous survey but is down from a recent high of 34% measured in early February.
(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 telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports March 5-11, 2012. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage point 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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                            March 14, 2012Just 35% Are Confident Medicare Will Pay All Promised Benefits
Barely one-third of voters are confident that they will receive all of the Medicare benefits that they are entitled to, and a plurality still supports raising the future Medicare eligibility age to help cover the cost of benefits.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 35% of Likely U.S. Voters are at least somewhat confident that Medicare will pay all its promised benefits to them in their lifetime. This includes just 11% who are Very Confident. Sixty percent (60%), on the other hand, are not confident that they will receive all promised benefits, with 27% who are Not At All Confident. These findings show little change from  November, when regular tracking on the question began. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 9-10, 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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                            March 14, 201254% Still Haven’t Filed Their Income Taxes
The pace of filing has slowed a bit, and a lot more taxpayers are thinking about getting an extension beyond the April 15 deadline.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% of Americans now say they’ve filed their income taxes this year, up 10 points from three weeks ago. However,  51% had filed by this time last year.
Most taxpayers (54%) have not filed yet this year. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on March 12-13, 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.