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44% Favor Tax Credits for Buyers of Alternative-Energy Cars, 38% Oppose

Americans are growing even less enthusiastic about tax breaks for those who buy alternative-energy cars, and most oppose a proposal to give purchasers of electric cars a $10,000 tax credit to offset the high price of those vehicles. Still, most see a future with a lot more alternative-energy vehicles on the road.

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 5-6, 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.

52% Say America’s Best Days Are In The Past

Most voters now share the pessimistic view that America's best days are behind us. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds that just 32% say the country’s best days are in the future, down five points from late October. 

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 4-5, 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.

Election 2012: Obama 45%, Gingrich 40%

Although support for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich among Republican primary voters has soared in both national and state polls, he now trails President Obama in a hypothetical 2012 general election matchup.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters finds Obama earning 45% of the vote to Gingrich’s 40%.

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 6-7, 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.

17% Say Country Heading In Right Direction

Just 17% of Likely U.S. Voters say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, December 4.

Election 2012: Generic Republican 49%, Obama 41%

A generic Republican candidate now holds an eight-point advantage over President Obama in a hypothetical Election 2012 matchup for the week ending Sunday, December 4. This is the largest gap measured between the two since early September.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds the generic Republican earning 49% support to Obama's 41%.  Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, and seven percent (7%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

Election 2012: Obama 46%, Perry 34%

Texas Governor Rick Perry now trails President Obama by double digits in a hypothetical 2012 Election matchup. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds Obama earning 46% support to Perry’s 34%.

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 4-5, 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.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 43%, Democrats 38%

For the second week in a row, Republicans hold a five-point advantage over Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot, this time for the week ending Sunday, Dec. 4. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 38% would choose the Democrat instead.

Election 2012: Obama 41%, Huntsman 34%

Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman's level of support remains essentially unchanged, and he continues to trail President Obama by a seven-point margin in a hypothetical Election 2012 matchup. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds Obama earning 41% of the vote to Huntsman's 34%.

The national 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.

37% Hold Favorable View of Boehner, 31% Say Same of Pelosi

It’s been nearly a year since she was arguably the most powerful person in Congress, but former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi remains the best-known and most unpopular congressional leader. She continues to hold a double-digit lead in terms of unfavorables over John Boehner who took her place as speaker.

Election 2012: Obama 42%, Romney 40%

President Obama and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney are again running neck and neck in an Election 2012 hypothetical matchup.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows the president with 42% of the vote, while Romney picks up 40% support.

Partisan Trends: Democrats Up in November

The number of Democrats in the United States increased by nearly two percentage points in November, while the number of Republicans held steady.

During November, 34.9% of Americans considered themselves to be Democrats, up from 33.1% in October. That’s just a tenth of a point below their best showing of 2011 which came in January.

Rasmussen Reports tracks this information based on telephone interviews with approximately 15,000 adults per month and has been doing so since November 2002. The margin of error for the full sample is less than one percentage point, with a 95% level of confidence.

National GOP Poll: Gingrich 38% Romney 17%

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has surged to the largest national lead held by any candidate so far in the race for the Republican Presidential Nomination.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Republican Primary Voters finds Gingrich on top with 38% of the vote. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is a distant second at 17%. No other candidate reaches double-digits.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely  Republican Primary Voters was conducted on November 30, 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.

6% Say Congress Doing Good or Excellent Job, 68% Say Poor

Ratings for Congress now match the lowest levels ever recorded and a solid plurality continue to believe that most Members of Congress are corrupt.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just six percent (6%) of Likely U.S. Voters rate the job Congress is doing as good or excellent.  Sixty-eight percent (68%) view Congress’ job performance as poor.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

From January 2007 through December 2010, with Democrats in control of both the House and Senate, Congress earned good or excellent marks ranging from nine percent (9%) to 26%, although generally their rankings were in the low teens for most of this period. 

16% Say Country Heading in Right Direction

Just 16% of Likely U.S. Voters say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, November 27.  

The latest finding is down a point from the previous week and is down 13 points from this time last year.

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The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports November 21-22 and 27, 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.

National Poll: Gingrich 45% Obama 43%

The Newt Gingrich surge has moved him to the top of the polls in Iowa, big gains in New Hampshire and now a two-point edge over President Obama in a hypothetical general election match-up.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters finds Gingrich attracting 45% of the vote while President Obama earns support from 43%. Six percent (6%) prefer some other candidate, and six percent (6%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

New Hampshire: Romney 34%, Gingrich 24%, Paul 14%, Huntsman 11%

What a difference a month makes in the race for the Republican nomination. In September, Rick Perry was leading in Iowa and running second in New Hampshire. In October, Herman Cain took the lead in Iowa and was running second in New Hampshire. Now, it’s Newt Gingrich’s turn.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Republican Primary voters in New Hampshire shows former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney on top at 34%, followed by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich at 24%. This is the first survey of New Hampshire Primary voters conducted since the Manchester Union Leader endorsed Gingrich.

(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 New Hampshire survey of 762 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on November 28, 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.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 43%, Democrats 38%

Republicans now hold a five-point advantage over Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot after the two were tied for the previous two weeks.  This survey was conducted Nov. 21, 22 and 27. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election was held today, while 38% would choose the Democrat instead.

Election 2012: Obama 46%, Cain 36%

Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain trails President Obama by the exact same 10-point margin as he did  two weeks ago in the latest Election 2012 hypothetical matchup of the two men.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds the president with 46% of the vote, while Cain earns 36% support.

Voters Still Trust Republicans More Than Democrats on Economy

Republicans continue to be trusted more than Democrats to handle the number one issue on voters’ minds this election, the economy.  On all 10 important issues regularly tracked by Rasmussen Reports, voters now trust Republicans more on seven of these issues.

17% Say U.S. Heading In Right Direction

Seventeen percent (17%) of Likely U.S. Voters say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, November 20.  

The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports November 14-20, 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.