Politics

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                            October 27, 2011New Low:  28% Give Obama Good or Excellent Marks on Economy
Perceptions of President Obama’s handling of the economy – the most important issue on voters’ minds – have fallen to a new low. 
The latest national telephone survey finds that 28% of Likely Voters believe the president is doing a good or excellent job on the economy.  While this finding has been hovered around 30% since early August, it’s the lowest level measured of Obama’s presidency. (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 Likely Voters was conducted on October 24-25, 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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                            October 26, 201164% Say Federal Government Has Too Much Power and Money
Americans nationwide feel stronger than ever that the government has too much power and money and very few believe it spends taxpayer money the right way.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of U.S. Adults shows that 64% think the government has too much power and money while just nine percent (9%) says it has too little of both. Nineteen percent (19%) think the government has about the right amount of power and money. (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 October 23-24, 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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                            October 26, 2011Voters Lukewarm Towards Eliminating Cabinet Departments to Reduce Spending
Texas Congressman and GOP presidential hopeful Ron Paul unveiled his latest budget plan that would significantly shrink the size of the federal government by eliminating several cabinet agencies. Paul’s campaign estimates that the plan could cut $1 trillion of the federal budget in one year. Voters aren’t strongly in favor of cutting these agencies, though there is some partisan disagreement.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that a plurality (46%) favors eliminating the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban development department, but nearly as many (42%) are opposed. 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 survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on October 24-25, 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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                            October 26, 2011Just 2% Say Endorsements Top Policies in Voting Booth
Nearly one-half (48%) of Likely U.S. Voters now say Obama is the politician whose endorsement would be least likely to make them vote for a candidate. The president owes his “lead” over others largely because Republicans are united in their opposition to the president. Democrats are evenly divided between former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and former President George W. Bush as the least valuable endorser.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 20% say Palin’s the politician whose endorsement in their state would make them least likely to vote for the person she endorsed. Nearly as many (18%) say the same of an endorsement by Bush.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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                            October 25, 201149% Oppose Single-Payer Health Care System
Roughly half (49%) of Americans oppose a single-payer health care system where the federal government provides coverage for everyone.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 35% of American Adults favor a single-payer health care system. Sixteen percent (16%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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                            October 25, 201155% Want U.S. Troops Out of Europe
Voters are increasingly skeptical of the level of spending on the military and national security, and they feel more strongly than ever that the United States should remove its troops from Western Europe.
Fifty-five percent (55%) of Likely U.S. Voters now say America should bring home the troops that have been stationed in Europe since the end of World War II.

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                            October 25, 201166% Oppose Forgiveness of Student Loans
One of the loudest demands by the Occupy Wall Street protesters is for forgiveness of the nearly $1 trillion worth of student loans, but Americans strongly oppose forgiving that debt. Even as President Obama talks about easing the burden on those with student loans, in fact, Americans are more inclined to think the government should help those who haven’t gone to college instead.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 21% of American Adults think the federal government should forgive the nearly $1 trillion in loans it made or guaranteed to help students pay for a college education. Sixty-six percent (66%) oppose the forgiveness of all student loans.Thirteen percent (13%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
October 24, 2011Election 2012: Obama 44%, Cain 38%
Herman Cain's surge to front-runner status prompted his Republican rivals to pile on during last Tuesday night's debate and also brought on a lot more media coverage about him. After taking a very slight lead over President Obama last week, Cain now trails the incumbent by six points in the latest hypothetical Election 2012 matchup.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters shows Obama picking up 44% of the vote, while Cain earns 38%.

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                            October 24, 201141% Say Their Views Closer to Tea Party’s Than to Wall Street Protesters’
The Occupy Wall Street protesters have been compared by some with the Tea Party protests that erupted more than two years ago in reaction to Washington’s big government spending plans. Americans are evenly divided in their opinions of those currently protesting against Wall Street but tend to see their own views as more in line with those of the Tea Party.

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                            October 23, 201127% Say They’re Conservative On Both Fiscal and Social Issues
The bad economy, a change in presidents, bailouts, health care, the Tea Party and now another presidential cycle, you name it. Still, the basic fiscal and social ideologies of U.S. voters remain largely unchanged.
October 22, 201141% Now Agree With Obama’s Decision To Take Military Action in Libya
Polls show a bounce in support for President Obama’s policy in Libya following the death of the country’s longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi, but most voters still don’t expect the new Libyan government to become an ally of the United States.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey, taken following news reports of Gadhafi’s death, finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters now rate the Obama administration’s response to the situation in Libya as good or excellent, up 12 points from a week ago.
October 22, 2011What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending October 22, 2011
Not much hope and a strong desire for change – it sounds like 2008 all over again. Will Herman Cain ride that wave into the White House like Barack Obama before him?
Just 15% of Likely U.S. Voters now say the country is heading in the right direction, down 15 points from this time last year. Since the third week in July, the number of voters who are confident in the nation’s current course has resembled levels measured in the final months of the Bush administration.

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                            October 21, 2011North Korea, Iran Top List of U.S. Enemies
While Canada and Great Britain are still seen as America’s top allies, most Americans also continue to think of Iran and North Korea as the nation’s worst enemies.
October 20, 2011Obama 44% Perry 36%
Following a fiery debate Tuesday night, Texas Governor Rick Perry now trails President Obama by eight points in the latest 2012 hypothetical matchup.
October 20, 2011Iowa: Cain 28% Romney 21% Paul 10%
Reflecting national trends, businessman Herman Cain has now jumped to the front of the Republican pack in Iowa.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Iowa caucus-goers shows that Cain is in front with 28% followed by former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney at 21%. Congressman Ron Paul is a distant third at 10% followed by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich at 9%, Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann at 8%, and Texas Governor Rick Perry at 7%. The sixth place finish for Perry is a sharp decline from early September when Perry was the frontrunner both nationally and in Iowa. (To see survey question wording, click here).
Former Senator Rick Santorum picks up 4% of the vote and former Governor Jon Huntsman is at 2%. Another 4% would prefer some other candidate and 8% are not sure.
Only one-third of the caucus-goers (32%) are certain of their vote and don’t expect to change their mind. Among these voters, 30% prefer Cain, 22% Romney, and 17% Paul.
Among those absolutely certain they will show up and participate in the caucus, Cain leads Romney 31% to 18%. Many have criticized the Cain campaign for not having a strong organization in Iowa which is seen as essential to turning out the vote. According to such conventional analysis, Cain might be at risk of raising expectations too high and then underperforming.
(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 800 Likely Iowa Republican Caucus Participants was conducted on October 19, 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.

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                            October 19, 2011Canada, Great Britain Still Top American Allies
Canada and Great Britain are still viewed by most as America’s top allies, and more Americans view Germany and Japan that way.

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                            October 19, 201138% Think It’s A Plus To Compare A Candidate To Bill Clinton
Describing a political candidate as being “like Bill Clinton” isn’t up there in popularity with a comparison to Ronald Reagan, but it’s much better than being called “a centrist,” a phrase often used for politicians willing to compromise.
Thirty-eight percent (38%) of Likely U.S. Voters consider it a positive label if a candidate is compared to Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 24% consider such a comparison a negative, and 35% rate it somewhere in between the two.
October 18, 2011Generic Republican 47%, Obama 43%
A generic Republican now leads President Obama by four points in a hypothetical 2012 match-up for the week ending Sunday, October 16.
October 18, 2011Obama 43%, Romney 42%
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and President Obama continue to run virtually even in a hypothetical Election 2012 matchup as they have for the past several weeks. Herman Cain is now the only Republican who has any kind of lead over the president.

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                            October 17, 201163% Favor Immigration Checks On All Routine Traffic Stops
Most voters still strongly agree with automatic immigration status checks when a police officer pulls someone over for a routine traffic stop.  They also continue to favor tough sanctions on employers who hire illegal immigrants and landlords who rent or sell to them.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 63% of Likely U.S. Voters say if a police officer pulls someone over for a traffic violation, the officer should automatically check to see if that person is in the country legally.  Thirty-one percent (31%) disagree.