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                            January 25, 20122012 Presidential Election Matchups
Rasmussen Reports is now tracking the four named Republicans remaining in the race in regular matchups with the President Obama.  Rasmussen Reports will match up Obama with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, the current leaders in the contest for the GOP presidential nomination, every day. These numbers will be reported on a three day rolling average.  We will test former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum and Texas Congressman Ron Paul against the president weekly.
The tables on this page will be updated each day by 9:30am and will contain the entire history of these matchups.  This page can only be viewed if you have a Rasmussen Reader membership.

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                            January 25, 201268% of Republicans Think Gingrich As Ethical as Other Politicians
The charges have been flying fast and furious about Newt Gingrich’s marital and professional behavior and Mitt Romney’s business practices, but when it comes to ethics, voters always grade politicians on a curve.
Sixty-eight percent (68%)of Likely Republican Primary Voters nationwide believe Gingrich is at least as ethical as most politicians. Only 24% believe he is less ethical than his peers.
As for Romney, 82% of likely GOP primary voters regard him to be at least as ethical as most politicians, just 12% less so. (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 January 23, 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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                            January 24, 2012Rasmussen Reports Shifts Weekly Presidential Matchups to Daily
Rasmussen Reports is discontinuing its weekly matchups between President Obama and a generic Republican candidate now that the GOP race has narrowed to a few serious contenders. In its place, we are tracking the four named Republicans remaining in the race in regular matchups with the president.

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                            January 24, 201245% Eating Out Less Often Than They Were Six Months Ago
While Americans seem to be showing a bit more confidence in the economy, their eating habits haven't changed much.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of American Adults are dining out less often than they were six months ago. (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 nationwide was conducted on January 22-23, 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.
January 24, 2012National Poll: Gingrich 35%, Romney 28%, Santorum 16%, Paul 10%
After his game-changing win in South Carolina, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich continues to ride his surge to the front of the pack among likely Republican primary voters nationwide. He now leads Mitt Romney by seven points.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely GOP Primary Voters shows Gingrich with 35% of the vote, representing an eight-point increase in support from last week. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney now draws 28%. Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum’s support is little changed at 16%, while Texas Congressman Ron Paul picks up 10%.
Just two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate in the race, while nine percent (9%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The national survey of 1,000 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on January 23, 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.
January 24, 2012Being Rich Is Not Mitt's Political Problem By Froma Harrop
It's no secret that Mitt Romney is rich. He was born rich and got mega-millions richer as a financier. Nor is it a secret that his income is mostly taxed at 15 percent, a far lower rate than middle-class grunts pay. Nor does he have any obligation to pay more in taxes than he legally owes.

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                            January 24, 201259% Say Creating New Jobs More Important Than Protecting Environment
Despite President Obama’s decision last week to delay the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to Texas for environmental reasons, most voters think creating jobs trumps the environment.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of Likely U.S. Voters say, generally speaking, that creating new jobs is more important than environmental protection. Twenty-nine percent (29%) disagree and say protecting the environment is more important. Another 12% 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 national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 19-20, 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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                            January 24, 201278% Rate Marriage As Important to U.S. Society
Americans believe overwhelmingly in the importance of marriage, and a sizable number continue to feel it’s too easy to get a divorce in this country.
Seventy-eight percent (78%) of American Adults rate the institution of marriage as at least somewhat important to U.S. society, and that includes 60% who consider it Very Important. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 17% don’t believe marriage is a very important institution, with three percent (3%) who say it’s Not At All Important. (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 January 20-21, 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.  Some survey questions were asked of married adults who are not separated.  The margin of sampling error on those questions is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.

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                            January 24, 201271% See Government Censorship of Internet As Bigger Threat Than Illegal Downloading
Congress’ Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) is in limbo in the face of strong opposition from Internet giants like Google and Wikipedia fearful of government censorship. Most voters agree that online piracy of films is theft, but they, too, are more concerned about Internet censorship.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 67% of Likely U.S. Voters agree that someone who downloads a movie online without paying for it is stealing from the company that made the film. Eighteen percent (18%) do not view this free downloading as theft. Fifteen percent (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 national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 21-22, 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.
January 23, 2012Generic Congressional Ballot:  Republicans 42%, Democrats 39%
Republicans hold a three-point lead over Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending Sunday, Jan. 22.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 39% would choose the Democrat instead.
(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.

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                            January 23, 201280% Want Full Disclosure of Meetings Between Congressmen, Regulators
Adults nationwide feel stronger than ever that most members of Congress don’t play by the rules and want full disclosure when congressmen meet with regulators and other government officials.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that just 12% think that when members of Congress meet with regulators and other government officials to discuss government actions that can help or hurt people in the congressman's home district, they attempt to achieve a fair result. Seventy-six percent (76%) think the congressmen are more interested in helping their friends and hurting their political opponents. (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 American Adults nationwide was conducted on January 18-19, 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.
January 23, 201252% Still Favor Repeal of National Health Care Law
Most voters still want to repeal the national health care law even though they’re not overly worried that it will force them to change their insurance coverage.
Fifty-two percent (52%) of Likely U.S. Voters at least somewhat favor repeal of the health care law, with 39% who Strongly Favor it. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% are opposed to repeal, including 30% who are Strongly Opposed. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 21-22, 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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                            January 23, 201256% Favor Building Keystone Pipeline, Think It’s Good for Economy
Most voters still favor building the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to Texas and think it will be good for the economy despite President Obama’s decision last week to delay the project for environmental reasons.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of Likely U.S. Voters at least somewhat favor the pipeline, with 36% who Strongly Favor it. Just 27% are opposed, including 12% who Strongly Oppose the project. 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.
The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 19-20, 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.
January 23, 2012Florida GOP Primary: Gingrich 41%, Romney 32%
Less than two weeks ago, Mitt Romney had a 22-point lead in Florida, but that’s ancient history in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Following his big win in South Carolina on Saturday, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich now is on top in Florida by nine.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Florida Republican Primary Voters, taken Sunday evening, finds Gingrich earning 41% of the vote with Romney in second at 32%. Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum runs third with 11%, while Texas Congressman Ron Paul attracts support from eight percent (8%). Nine percent (9%) 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.
This Florida survey of 750 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on January 22, 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.
January 23, 2012A Few Words in Defense of Negative Campaigning By Michael Barone
Those who take a certain pleasure in denouncing the evils negative political advertising should have spent the last week in South Carolina. They could have plunked down in front of TV sets, especially during morning, early evening and late evening news programs, and by adroit use of the remote control seen one negative spot after another.

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                            January 22, 201258% Favor Welcoming Immigration Policy
When it comes to immigration reform, most voters continue to feel border security should be the main focus but also think it’s important to create a welcoming policy that excludes only threats to society.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the goal of immigration policy should be to keep out national security threats, criminals and those who come to America to live off the welfare system.  Twenty-seven percent (27%) disagree, while 15% are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.) 
The survey of 1,000 Likely U.S. Voters was conducted on January 17-18, 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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                            January 22, 201258% Say U.S. Needs New Campaign Finance Laws
Most Americans, regardless of political affiliation, think the country needs more campaign finance laws but a plurality still opposes public financing of presidential elections. They’re evenly divided over whether incumbents should be banned from receiving campaign contributions of any kind.
 Fifty-eight percent (58%) of adults now say the country needs new campaign laws, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That’s a marked increase from three years ago. Now only 33% think it’s enough to just enforce the laws we already have. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on January 18-19, 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.
January 21, 2012Romney's Opponents Look for the Spirit of '76 By Geoffrey Skelley
While Mitt Romney may very well be on his way to winning the GOP nomination, he is not completely out of the woods yet. With so many primaries and caucuses left to be decided, it is perfectly possible that other candidates will win some of the remaining states as long as they stay in the race. We only have to look at the party nomination struggles in 1976 to see how frontrunners who started fast ended up facing long, hard slogs to the nomination.

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                            January 21, 201252% See Home Buying As Family’s Best Investment
For the first time in nine months, more than half of Americans believe purchasing a home is the best investment for a family, but this finding is still well below results measured several years ago.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 52% believe buying a home is the best investment a family can make, up from 47% last month and the highest level measured since May 2011. Nearly a third (30%) say home buying is not a family’s best investment, while 18% 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 U.S. Adults was conducted on January 16-17, 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.
January 21, 2012What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending January 20, 2012
And then there were four. The South Carolina Primary claimed two of the Republican presidential hopefuls this past week – Jon Huntsman and Rick Perry – before a single vote was cast. Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich are now running nearly even, but with all the charges in the air, who knows if that will last until the votes are counted this evening?
Gingrich surged ahead of Romney 33% to 31% in the final Rasmussen Reports survey of the South Carolina Republican Primary race taken Wednesday evening. Two days earlier, before a strong debate showing by Gingrich and Sarah Palin’s endorsement of the former House speaker, it was Romney by 14 percentage points. 
Texas Congressman Ron Paul ran third on Wednesday with 15% of the vote, followed by former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum at 11%. Paul's support held steady while Santorum's support dropped five points since Monday.  At the beginning of the month, after Santorum’s strong showing in the Iowa caucuses, he ran second to Romney with 24%. Perry pulled two percent (2%) support Wednesday evening but has since dropped out of the race.