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                            November 4, 2011Just 18% Say America Better Off Than Five Years Ago
An overwhelming majority of Americans don't think the nation is better off today than it was five years ago, but most would still choose to live here over anywhere else.
 
 The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Adults shows that only 18% believe America is better off today than it was five years ago.
The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 2-3, 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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                            November 4, 201123% Have Already Started Holiday Shopping
There’s still three weeks to go before Thanksgiving, but nearly one-out-of-four Americans have already begun their holiday gift shopping.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 23% have started their holiday gift shopping, while most (73%) have not. Only four percent (4%) have already finished their holiday gift shopping.
(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 November 2-3, 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.
November 4, 2011Lessons from History: Don't Be Too Quick to Pull Down The Curtain By Larry J. Sabato
Over the decades, in every fourth year, we have noticed a tendency to close out the presidential nominating contest before the voting has even begun. There is a little of this impatience on display in 2011, too. It is only natural since the campaigns are nearly eternal. "Enough already!" many seem to be shouting.
November 4, 2011Scott Discusses Herman Cain Allegations on NPR
Scott Rasmussen discusses the sexual harassment allegations against Herman Cain on NPR's "Morning Edition".
November 4, 2011Veep Speculation is Just That By Joel K. Goldstein
There really is no need to talk about vice-presidential selection right now, but in recent weeks discussion of the subject has filled pages, airwaves and cyberspace as a number of knowledgeable observers have approached the subject from imaginable (and unimaginable) angles.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            November 4, 2011Americans Raise The Bar On How Much Income Makes You Wealthy
You need to earn a little bit more these days for your fellow Americans to regard you as “wealthy.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            November 3, 201120% Say U.S. Government Has Consent of the Governed
Nearly two-thirds of U.S. voters feel the federal government has lost touch with the people it represents.  They also overwhelmingly believe the average member of Congress is more concerned with listening to their party leaders than their constituents. 
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 20% of Likely U.S. Voters say the federal government has the consent of the governed.  Sixty-three percent (63%) disagree while 17% more are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on October 30-31, 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 methodolo
November 3, 2011National Poll: Cain 26%, Romney 23%, Gingrich 14%
Georgia businessman Herman Cain, who continues to battle past allegations of sexual harassment, draws the most support nationally for the Republican nomination.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely GOP Primary voters shows Cain with 26% of the vote over former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney’s 23%. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich draws 14% support, with no other GOP contender reaching double-digits. Thirteen percent (13%) of GOP voters are undecided at this time. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
November 3, 2011Obama 42%, Romney 41%
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney continues to draw the most support against President Obama out of all the GOP hopefuls. The two men are essentially tied as they have been since the beginning of the year. 
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds Obama earning 42% support, while Romney receives 41% of the vote.
The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 1-2, 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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                            November 3, 2011Voters Evenly Divided As to Whether Allegations Against Cain Are Serious and True
Two-thirds of America’s voters recognize that Herman Cain is the Republican candidate who has been accused of sexual harassment. Voters are evenly divided about the allegations and most Republicans believe the public airing of the charges suggest Cain is considered a serious threat to win the nomination.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 39% believe the allegations against Cain are at least somewhat likely to be serious and true.  Thirty-eight percent (38%) disagree and 23% are not sure. Those figures include 17% who believe it’s Very Likely and 11% who say Not at All Likely.
(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 November 1-2, 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.
November 3, 2011A Less Super America Will Be Happier By Froma Harrop
A perceived decline in "national greatness" haunts Americans of all political persuasions. Many equate it with the drop in our superpower status. But others ask, "Are the costs of perpetually commanding the high ground worth it?" Money we spend defending the world, others spend building fast trains.
November 3, 2011Video: A Third Worker Says She Was Harassed by Cain
A third former employee says she considered filing a workplace complaint over what she considered aggressive and unwanted behavior by Republican candidate Herman Cain.
November 3, 2011Video: What They're Saying in Iowa About Cain
CBS News political analyst John Dickerson discusses the impact of the sexual allegations against Herman Cain on the Iowa Caucuses and the rest of the GOP field.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            November 3, 201121% Support Paying Higher Taxes To Ensure All Pension Benefits for State Workers
Though most Americans nationwide don’t believe their state will have to raise taxes on the middle class to pay all promised pension benefits to state workers, most would rather see a reduction in those benefits than pay higher taxes.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows, when given the choice, 56% would rather reduce promised benefits for public employees than pay higher taxes to ensure that all promised benefits are paid. Twenty-one percent (21%) would rather pay higher taxes than reduce public employee benefits. Another 23% aren’t sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
November 3, 2011Cain Catches Flak, but Will It Sink His Candidacy? By Michael Barone
Washington was all a-Twitter (literally) Monday over Politico's story about the sexual harassment charges against Herman Cain -- and about Cain's serial self-contradictions.
November 2, 201117% Say U.S. Heading In Right Direction
Seventeen percent (17%) 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 30.    
The latest finding is up a point from a a week ago,  but is down a point from a month ago and 14 points from this time last year. 
The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports October 24-30, 2011. 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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                            November 2, 201141% Favor 10% Pay Cuts for State Workers, 42% Oppose
Though three out of four Americans nationwide acknowledge that their state is in a budget crisis, they are evenly divided when it comes to cutting the salaries of state workers.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 41% favor a 10% pay cut for all state employees in order to help reduce spending in their state. Forty-two percent (42%) are opposed to the idea while 17% more are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
November 2, 2011South Carolina: Cain 33% Romney 23% Gingrich 15%
In South Carolina, businessman Herman Cain leads the GOP field with former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney ten points behind. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is the only other candidate in double digits. The survey was conducted on Tuesday night following two days of media coverage concerning allegations of sexual harassment against Cain.
In polling conducted before the latest allegations, Cain led in Iowa with Romney second while Romney led in New Hampshire with Cain second.
(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 South Carolina survey of 770 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on November 1, 2011 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.
November 2, 2011Obama Full-Month Approval Index in October Dips To Lowest Level Yet
When tracking President Obama’s job approval on a daily basis, people sometimes get so caught up in the day-to-day fluctuations that they miss the bigger picture. To look at the longer-term trends, Rasmussen Reports compiles the numbers on a full-month basis, and the results can be seen in the graphics below.
In October, 20% of voters Strongly Approved of the president’s job performance.  That’s the lowest level found during the Obama presidency to date and the second time in the last three months that the finding has fallen to a record low.  Prior to last month, the number who Strongly Approved of the president’s performance ranged from a low of 21% to a high of 31% since July 2009.  By comparison, 43% Strongly Approved of Obama's performance when he assumed office in January 2009.
November 2, 2011A Time for Statesmen By Tony Blankley
Now is a particularly dangerous moment for American national security interests. Not just because threats are growing. Not just because the current administration is making a historic bungle from China to Iraq to Iran to Russia to Europe to Mexico to our historic allies in the Middle East -- both Jewish and Muslim. All that would be bad enough.