Politics

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December 20, 2011Election 2012:  Obama 45%, Generic Republican 44%
President Obama is now essentially tied with a generic Republican candidate in a hypothetical Election 2012 matchup for the week ending Sunday, Dec. 18. This is the closest margin between the two candidates in just over a month of weekly tracking.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds Obama earning 45% support -- matching the highest level yet for him -- while a generic Republican picks up 44% of the vote.

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                            December 20, 201169% Say Photo ID Voting Laws Are Not Discriminatory
Attorney General Eric Holder signaled last week that the Justice Department will be closely examining new state laws that require showing a photo ID before voting for potential racial bias, but voters nationwide overwhelmingly favor such a requirement and reject the idea that it is discriminatory.
Seventy percent (70%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe voters should be required to show photo identification such as a driver’s license before being allowed to cast their ballot. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 22% oppose this kind of requirement. (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 December 18-19, 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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                            December 19, 2011Just 29% Now Think U.S. Can Win War in Afghanistan
Confidence that the United States can win the war in Afghanistan has fallen to an all-time low. Most voters also are more worried that the United States will remain in Afghanistan too long but trust the military commanders on timing more than President Obama. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 29% of Likely U.S. Voters now think it is still possible for the United States to win the war in Afghanistan, down from 34% a year ago at this time and down from 51% in December 2009.
(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 nationwide was conducted on December 16-17, 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.
December 17, 2011What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending December 17, 2011
It was a newsy week - with the Iraq war coming to a quiet close, the Obama administration’s fight against state anti-immigration efforts going to the U.S. Supreme Court and Newt Gingrich’s runaway train seeming to slow in the Republican presidential race.
The majority of U.S. voters believe Iraq is better off than when dictator Saddam Hussein was in power, but they're not so sure the war-torn country will become peaceful and democratic anytime soon. One thing for sure: If civil war breaks out in Iraq, voters strongly believe U.S. troops should not get involved.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday announced it will decide whether the law Arizona adopted last year to fight illegal immigration violates the Constitution as the U.S. Justice Department contends. But a new survey finds that most voters still support a similar immigration law for their own state. Seventy-three percent (73%) agree that government officials are not doing enough to stop illegal immigration, and 63% think a state should have the right to enforce immigration laws if it believes the federal government is not enforcing them.
Voters continue to believe strongly that the federal government’s actions are encouraging illegal immigration as the Justice Department ended the week announcing bias charges against a popular Arizona sheriff for his anti-immigration efforts.

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                            December 16, 201163% Oppose Return of U.S. Troops to Iraq
As U.S. troops formally leave Iraq bringing the nearly nine-year-old war to a close, the majority of U.S. voters believe that country is better off than when dictator Saddam Hussein was in power, but they're not so sure Iraq will become a peaceful, democratic nation anytime soon. If civil war breaks out in Iraq, voters strongly believe U.S. troops should not get involved.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that 61% believe the Iraqi people are better off today compared to when Hussein was in power.
(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 December 14-15, 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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                            December 16, 201160% Think Federal Government Encourages Illegal Immigration
Voters continue to believe strongly that the federal government’s actions are encouraging illegal immigration even as the Obama administration announces bias charges against a popular Arizona sheriff for his anti-immigration efforts. Also this week, the U.S. Supreme Court sped up its review of the Justice Department’s legal challenge of state laws aimed at stopping illegal immigration.

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                            December 15, 2011Voters View Holder More Negatively Amid Calls For Resignation
Amidst a House resolution calling for his resignation following a botched operation to investigate Mexican drug cartels, Attorney General Eric Holder’s unfavorable marks are at the highest level measured. But more than a third of voters still have no opinion of him.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that only 19% share at least a somewhat favorable opinion of Holder while 43% view him unfavorably.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 10-11, 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.
December 15, 2011Iowa: Romney 23%, Gingrich 20%, Paul 18%, Perry 10%
For the fifth straight survey, the GOP field has a new frontrunner in Iowa.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Iowa Republican Caucus Participants shows former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney with 23% of the vote, only slightly ahead of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich who has 20%. Texas Congressman Ron Paul is right behind with 18% of the vote. Texas Governor Rick Perry earns 10% support, with no other candidate grabbing double-digits.

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                            December 15, 2011Iowa: Romney 23%, Gingrich 20%, Paul 18%
For the fifth straight survey, the GOP field has a new frontrunner in Iowa.  (video)

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                            December 14, 201145% Say Democrats, Republicans in Congress Are Extreme
A plurality of voters now thinks the agendas of both major political parties in Congress are equally extreme. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the agenda of congressional Republicans is extreme, and the identical number (45%) say the same of congressional Democrats. Thirty-seven percent (37%) think the GOP agenda is mainstream, while 38% feel that's true of the agenda followed by Democrats in Congress.

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                            December 14, 201152% Support Arizona-Like Immigration Law in Their State
The U.S. Supreme Court Monday announced it will decide whether the Arizona immigration law passed last year violates the Constitution, and a new survey finds that half of voters still support a similar immigration law for their own state.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that 52% favor passage of an immigration law similar to Arizona’s in their state. Thirty-four percent (34%) oppose such a law in their state, while 15% more 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 December 12-13, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points ith 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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                            December 14, 2011New Hampshire: Little Interest in Palin or Daniels Entering Race for GOP Nomination
With three weeks to go before the Iowa caucuses officially launch the 2012 election season, many analysts have suggested that there is still time for someone new to enter the race for the GOP nomination.  While there may still be time, there is currently little enthusiasm for a couple of the bigger names to jump into the field.
December 13, 2011Election 2012: Generic Republican 47%, Obama 42%
A generic Republican candidate leads President Obama by five points in a hypothetical Election 2012 matchup for the week ending Sunday, December 11.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds the generic Republican earning 47% support to Obama's 42%.  Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, and seven percent (7%) 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 survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted December 5-December 11, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 2 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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                            December 13, 2011Voters Like Romney Best, But GOP Voters Give Edge to Gingrich
Mitt Romney is still the Republican candidate that voters like the most, while Texas Governor Rick Perry remains the GOP hopeful they like the least. Among Republican voters, however, Romney and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich are running neck-and-neck, but Gingrich has the edge when it comes to enthusiasm.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of Likely U.S. Voters share at least a somewhat favorable opinion of Romney and 38% regard the former Massachusetts governor unfavorably.
(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 December 8-9, 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.
December 13, 2011Obama Runs Second to Republicans In Voter Trust On Key Issues
Just over one-third of Likely U.S. Voters trust President Obama more than the Republican candidates for president when it comes to the handling of the economy, national security and health care. However, the president does have the trust of more voters than any individual GOP candidate at this time.

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                            December 12, 2011Voters See Gingrich, Romney As Strongest GOP Opponents for Obama
Voters rate Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney evenly when asked which Republican presidential candidate would run strongest against President Obama, but among GOP voters, Gingrich is the clear favorite.

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                            December 12, 201155% Favor Repeal of Health Care Law
Most voters still want to repeal the national health care law, even though they tend to believe the law won’t force them to change their own health insurance coverage.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 55% of Likely U.S. Voters at least somewhat favor repeal of the health care law passed by Congress in March 2010, while 35% at least somewhat oppose repeal. The intensity remains on the side of the law’s opponents since these findings include 42% who Strongly Favor repeal versus 26% who are Strongly Opposed. (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 December 10-11, 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.
December 11, 201148% Rate Obama’s Handling of Economy As Poor
Although President Obama changed his holiday vacation plans to push Congress on economic issues, voters have not changed their views of how the president is performing when it comes to the economy.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% of Likely U.S. Voters rate Obama’s handling of economic issues as poor.
December 10, 2011What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending December 10, 2011
Maybe it’s the holiday season or maybe it’s an indicator of things to come. Last month, the Rasmussen Employment Index signaled a slight drop in the national unemployment rate, subsequently borne out by government figures. Now consumer and investor confidence are improving.
 
 The Rasmussen Consumer Index, which measures the economic confidence of consumers on a daily basis, is up five points from a month ago. Consumer confidence for the full month of November was the highest it has been since June. Its companion Rasmussen Investor Index, which measures daily confidence among investors, is also up several points from three months ago. Yet more than 60% of both groups believe the country remains in a recession.

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                            December 10, 201158% Say America’s Overseas Alliances Make Country Stronger
Most U.S. voters now believe America’s alliances do more good than harm.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that 58% think America’s overseas alliances make the country stronger.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 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.