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Florida Senate: Nelson (D) 47%, Mack (R) 40%

Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson still leads Republican Connie Mack in Florida's hotly contested U.S. Senate race.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the Sunshine State finds Nelson with 47% support to Mack’s 40%. Five percent (5%) prefer some other candidate, while eight percent (8%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Florida was conducted on September 12, 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.

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending September 15, 2012

The presidential race definitely had its ups and downs this past week. At the start of the week, President Obama coming off a successful national convention had bounced ahead of his Republican challenger Mitt Romney. By week’s end, the bounce was gone, and the race looked like the conventions had never happened in the daily Presidential Tracking Poll. Likely to complicate the picture was the killing of the first U.S. ambassador overseas since 1979 and increasingly angry anti-U.S. protests spreading through the Middle East. In Virginia and Ohio Obama leads by a point. In Florida, the president is up two. Romney has edged back into the lead in Missouri and is up six in North Carolina. 

Ohio Senate: Brown (D) 49%, Mandel (R) 41%

Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown earns his highest level of support yet against Republican challenger Josh Mandel in Ohio’s U.S. Senate race.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Voters in Ohio shows Brown with 49% of the vote to Mandel’s 41%.  Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, and seven percent (7%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Ohio was conducted on September 12, 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.

Virginia: Obama 49%, Romney 48%

Mitt Romney and President Obama are still running neck-and-neck in the key battleground state of Virginia.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the state finds Obama earning 49% support, while Romney picks up 48% of the vote.  One percent (1%) prefers some other candidate, and two percent (2%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Virginia was conducted on September 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.

North Carolina: Romney 51%, Obama 45%

Mitt Romney has cleared the 50% mark again in the battleground state of North Carolina despite the presence of the Democratic National Convention there little over a week ago.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely North Carolina Voters shows Romney with 51% support to President Obama’s 45%. One percent (1%) likes some other candidate in the race, and three percent (3%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 500 Likely Voters in North Carolina was conducted on September 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.

Ohio: Obama 47%, Romney 46%

President Obama and Mitt Romney continue to run nearly dead even in the key swing state of Ohio.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Ohio Voters shows the president earning 47% support to Romney’s 46%. Three percent (3%) like some other candidate, and another three percent (3%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)  

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The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Ohio was conducted on September 12, 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.

50% Trust Romney More on Economy, 43% Trust Obama More

Half the nation’s voters now trust Mitt Romney more than President Obama when it comes to dealing with the troubled U.S. economy, the number one issue on their minds as they go to the polls.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% of Likely U.S. Voters trust Romney more when it comes to handling the economy. Forty-three percent (43%) trust the president more. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 11-12, 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.

Florida: Obama 48%, Romney 46%

President Obama has now moved slightly ahead in the critical battleground state of Florida despite the presence of the Republican National Convention in Tampa late last month.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Florida Voters finds Obama with 48% support to Mitt Romney’s 46%. Three percent (3%) like some other candidate in the race, and another three percent (3%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Florida was conducted on September 12, 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.

Missouri: Romney 48%, Obama 45%

Mitt Romney has edged back into the lead in Missouri.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds that Romney earns the support of 48% of Likely Missouri Voters, while President Obama picks up 45% of the vote. Four percent (4%) like another candidate in the race, and three percent (3%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Missouri was conducted on September 11, 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.

37% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Thirty-seven percent (37%) 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, September 9.

That’s up six points from the week before and the first time optimism has been this high since late June 2009.

Although the reason for the jump in optimism is not certain, it may be driven in part by increased enthusiasm among Democrats following their national political convention. It will be interesting to see whether this increased optimism holds or is just short-term statistical noise.

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The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen September 3-9, 2012. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Missouri Senate: McCaskill (D) 49%, Akin (R) 43%

The fallout appears to linger in the Missouri Senate race, with incumbent Democrat Claire McCaskill still holding a six-point lead over Republican challenger Todd Akin. But the race is tightening.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds McCaskill will 49% support to Akin’s 43%. Four percent (4%) prefer some other candidate in the contest, and another four percent (4%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Missouri was conducted on September 11, 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.

47% Say America's Best Days Lie Ahead, Highest Since 2010

Forty-seven percent (47%) of voters now think America’s best days are still ahead, up 15 points over last month and the highest level of optimism since early 2010.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 37% of Likely U.S. Voters now believe America’s best days are in the past. That's down from 49% in August.  Sixteen percent (16%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 9-10, 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.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 44%, Republicans 42%

For the first time since January, Democrats now lead Republicans on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending September 9, 2012.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 42% would choose the Republican instead. The last time the Democrats held a lead over the Republicans was in late January.

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The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from September 3-9, 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.

Obama Edges Romney in Voter Trust on Afghanistan, Education, Social Security

Looking past the economy and health care, President Obama leads his Republican challenger Mitt Romney in terms of voter trust on a number of other key issues including Afghanistan, education and Social Security. The partisan divide is predictable, but the president has a clear advantage among unaffiliated voters.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 50% of all Likely U.S. Voters trust Obama more when it comes to handling the war in Afghanistan. Forty percent (40%) trust Romney more. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 7-8, 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.

New High: 44% Think Health Care Law Good for Country

For the second week in a row, 50% of Likely U.S. Voters favor repeal of President Obama’s national health care law. Forty-four percent (44%) are opposed, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

These findings include 40% who Strongly Favor repeal and 33% who Strongly Oppose it. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 7-8, 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.

Supreme Court Ratings: 29% Good or Excellent, 28% Poor

Positive ratings for the U.S. Supreme Court’s job performance are hovering near all-time lows.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters shows that 29% say the Supreme Court is doing a good or excellent job. Just as many (28%) say the high court is doing a poor job. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 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.

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending September 8, 2012

What a way to end a convention. By most accounts, Democrats had a highly successful national convention in Charlotte, but Friday’s jobs report put a sour finish to a week President Obama’s party hoped would put him on the road to reelection.

While the results seemed to surprise many economic forecasters, American workers saw it coming. The Rasmussen Employment Index fell nine points in August to 72.0, the lowest level of confidence since October 2011. Worker confidence in the labor market is now roughly the same as it was in the month following the Wall Street meltdown in the fall of 2008. This is the second straight month that the number reporting layoffs topped the number reporting hiring. Prior to that, there had been eight straight months with more hiring than layoffs reported.

Concern about job security is rising. Twenty-nine percent (29%) of workers are worried about losing their jobs, up four points from a month ago and the highest level of concern measured in 10 months. Just 62% of workers believe it will be their choice when they change jobs. That’s down 12 points from July and down 19 points from May.

Most Voters Still Have an Unfavorable View of Reid, Pelosi

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi continue to be the most disliked leaders of Congress, but none of the top congressional leaders earns high positive reviews from voters. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 29% of Likely U.S. Voters have at least a somewhat favorable impression of Pelosi, while 59% view her unfavorably.  Those figures include a Very Favorable review from 13%, compared to 46% who have a Very Unfavorable opinion of the California Democrat.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on September 3-4, 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.

Discover (R) Consumer Spending Monitor (SM): Consumer Confidence Falls For Third Straight Month in August

Consumer confidence fell in August for the third straight month, as the Discover U.S. Spending Monitor(SM) dropped to its lowest level since March 2009. Since January, the Monitor has been in a freefall, dropping nearly 13 points over the last eight months.

31% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Thirty-one percent (31%) 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, September 2.

That’s up three points from the week before and the highest finding since early July.

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The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports August 27-September 2, 2012. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.