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                            October 15, 201153% Favor Tax Code That Treats All Taxpayers Equally
Most voters like the concept behind a flat tax more than the complicated tax system the United States has today with numerous deductions and breaks for certain businesses.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of Likely U.S. Voters think it’s more important for the government to treat all taxpayers equally than for the tax code to be used to encourage things like home ownership, charitable contributions and industries favored by government policy. Twenty-nine percent (29%) disagree and believe the government should use the tax code to advance its agenda in certain areas. Eighteen percent (18%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
October 15, 2011What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending October 15, 2011
Republican presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman quipped at last Tuesday night’s debate that at first he thought rival Herman Cain’s 9-9-9 plan was the price of a pizza. Cain, the former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, wasn’t amused, but for now at least he’s having the last laugh.
October 15, 2011The Tax Hikes That Republicans Love By Joe Conason
From the tea parties to the corporate boardrooms to the presidential debate platforms, we hear a familiar droning whine about taxes -- except the angry message is no longer simply that taxes are too high. Today, conservative politicians and pundits complain instead that some people, namely those too poor to owe federal income taxes, aren't paying enough.

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                            October 14, 201144% Have Favorable View of Christie, 29% Like Rubio
Most Republicans have favorable opinions of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and freshman Florida Senator Marco Rubio, but for a sizable chunk of voters both men are largely unknown.
October 14, 2011Election 2012: Obama 49%, Gingrich 34%
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich may have moved into a distant third place in the primary race for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, but he trails President Obama by 15 points in a hypothetical general election matchup.
October 14, 2011New Low: 32% Support Obama’s Decision To Take Military Action in Libya
As fighting drags on in Libya, support for U.S. military action there and confidence that a change of government in the North African country will be good for the United States have fallen to new lows.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 32% of Likely U.S. Voters now agree with President Obama’s decision to take military action in Libya, down from 45% support in mid-March just after it began and 39% last month following premature news reports that Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi had been defeated.
October 14, 2011Primary Madness: Deja Vu All Over Again By Josh Putnam
It's hard to look at the events surrounding the 2012 presidential primary over the last several weeks and not come to the conclusion that it is, in Yogi Berra's words, deja vu all over again.
October 14, 2011Primary Madness: A Calendar We Can Believe In By Rhodes Cook
At long last, the 2012 Republican presidential nominating calendar is coming into focus. But it is not all that GOP schedule makers wanted. Rather than a February start in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, Florida's recent decision to hold its primary Jan. 31 has moved all the other early-voting states forward a month.
October 14, 201165% Say Politics In D.C. Will Become More Partisan
Nearly two-out-of-three voters continue to expect increased partisanship in Washington, DC and to think both parties are to blame.

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                            October 13, 201147% Favor Candidate Who Raises Taxes on Wealthy Over One Who Opposes All Tax Increases
More voters support a candidate who plans to raise taxes for the wealthiest Americans over one who promises to oppose all tax increases.

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                            October 13, 201159% Lack Confidence In Fed To Keep Inflation, Interest Rates Down
While few Americans report paying higher interest rates than they did a year ago, they still lack confidence in the Federal Reserve Board to keep interest rates down and inflation under control.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that just 33% are at least somewhat confident that the Fed will be able to keep inflation under control and interest rates down, including just seven percent (7%) who are Very Confident.
October 13, 2011National Poll: Cain 29% Romney 29% Gingrich 10%
Following a Tuesday night debate focused on economic issues, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and businessman Herman Cain are tied in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is the only other candidate in double-digits. Republican voters think either frontrunner would be likely to defeat President Obama but most expect Romney to be the nominee.

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                            October 13, 201151% Say U.S. Economy Can Still Recover Despite Europe’s Troubles
The United States is putting pressure on Europe to deal with its debt crisis as quickly as possible to avoid a global economic meltdown. Though most Americans expect at least one of the European countries to default on its debt in the next few years, half believe it’s still possible for the U.S. economy to recover even if Europe’s remains in trouble.
October 13, 2011Primary Madness: The Eternal Campaign By Larry J. Sabato
With 13 months still to go before the end of another presidential cycle that began the day after the last one finished, it's worth asking: Does it have to be this way?

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                            October 13, 2011Voters Still Expect Little Improvement In Afghanistan
Voters continue to give a mixed response about the future of the war in Iraq, but remain more negative about the U.S. conflict in Afghanistan.
October 13, 2011The Street They Should Occupy By Froma Harrop
As "Occupy Wall Street" sweeps up attention, a smaller group is running something called Occupy K Street. If the goal is to loosen the financiers' grip over the American economy, the folks protesting on K Street are getting closer to bingo. K Street is Washington's famous boulevard of lobbyist influence, the place where money buys politicians to do money's bidding.
October 12, 201116% Say U.S. Heading In Right Direction
Sixteen percent (16%) of Likely U.S. Voters now say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, October 9. 

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                            October 12, 201162% Say Personal Responsibility for Health More Important Than Health Insurance
While the health care debate continues to dominate the political landscape, most voters feel individual lifestyle choices play a bigger role than their level of medical care in determining how healthy someone is. But there’s a wide partisan gap on the question.
October 12, 2011Election 2012: Obama 49% Perry 35%
Texas Governor Rick Perry now trails President Obama by double-digits in the latest hypothetical Election 2012 matchup.

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                            October 12, 2011Occupy Wall Street Protesters: 36% Favorable 41% Unfavorable
Most Americans still aren’t following news of the Occupy Wall Street protests very closely and have mixed opinions of both the protesters and their authenticity.
Thirty-six percent (36%) of the nation’s Likely Voters have a favorable opinion of the Occupy Wall Street protesters while 41% offer an unfavorable opinion. Last week, a survey of Adults found a slight plurality offering a favorable opinion.  Because  the new survey was of Likely Voters and the prior one was of adults, the results are not precisely comparable. Additional tracking will measure whatever trends might emerge.