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What’s Next on Obama’s Agenda?

Where does the president go from here?

The Republican takeover of the Senate is seen by many as a repudiation of President Obama. There’s no doubt that voters don’t approve of much of what they see out of the White House these days.

Just 36% of Likely U.S. Voters now give the president good or excellent marks for his handling of both the economy and of national security, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Forty-three percent (43%) say he’s doing a poor job when it comes to the economy, and slightly more (45%) rate his handling of national security issues as poor.(To see survey question wording, click here.)

Rasmussen Employment Index Down a Point in October

The Rasmussen Employment Index, which measures worker confidence, fell slightly for the second straight month in October.

At 99.4, worker confidence is down one point from 100.3 last month, and well below August’s six-year high. The index fell to a recent low of 81.2 last October but gained steadily after that.

Generally speaking, a decrease in the Rasmussen Employment Index suggests the upcoming government report on job creation will be weaker than the prior month’s reports.

(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 9,452 working Americans was conducted in October 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 1 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 44%, Democrats 41%

On the eve of the midterm elections, Republicans are maintaining their lead on the Generic Congressional Ballot with their highest level of support since November 2012. 
 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending November 2 finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district's congressional race if the election were held today, while 41% would choose the Democrat.

(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 telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from October 27-November 2, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey 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.

52% Expect Health Care System To Worsen Under Obamacare

Heading into the highly consequential midterm elections, voters continue to give the U.S. health care system less than stellar reviews and believe it will get worse under the national health care law.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 36% of Likely U.S. Voters rate the nation’s health care system as good or excellent, though that’s up from 32% in September and is the highest positive rating since April. Thirty-two percent (32%) still give it poor marks, showing no change from the previous survey. (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 31-November 1, 2014 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.

Obama Full-Month Approval Holds Steady in October

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.  

The president’s monthly job approval stayed at 47% in October, showing no change from September. It's up just two points from his two-year low of 45% reached last November during the troubled roll-out period for the new national health care law. Obama’s approval rating hit a year-to-date high of 49% in February and May.

(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.

Daily tracking results are collected via telephone surveys of 500 likely voters per night. The monthly numbers in this article are based on approximately 15,000 interviews each month with likely voters. The margin of sampling error is less than +/- 1 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending November 1, 2014

Is there a Republican Congress coming on Tuesday? The votes are already being cast in a number of states around the country.

26% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Twenty-six percent (26%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending October 26.
  
The number who say the country is heading in the right direction is unchanged from a week ago. This finding has now been in the 23% to 27% range nearly every week since early June and has been below 30% most weeks for the past year. 

(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 telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on October 20-26, 2014. 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.

8% Think Congress is Doing a Good Job

There's one week left till midterm elections, and voters continue to express their displeasure with the current Congress.
 
 A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just eight percent (8%) of Likely U.S. Voters think Congress is doing a good or excellent job, unchanged from last month. Sixty-two percent (62%) rate Congress' performance as poor. (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 23-24, 2014 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.

Louisiana Senate: Landrieu (D) 43%, Cassidy (R) 36%, Maness (R) 13%

With one week left until Election Day, Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu has pulled further ahead of Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy in Louisiana’s U.S. Senate race, but does it matter? A runoff seems more likely.

Landrieu needs at least 50% plus one to be reelected, and she now picks up 43% of the vote to Cassidy’s 36% in the latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Louisiana Voters. Another Republican, Tea Party favorite Rob Maness, earns 13% support, while three percent (3%) prefer one of the other candidates in the race.  Six percent (6%) 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 988 Likely Voters in Louisiana was conducted on October 22-23, 2014 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 41%

With one week to go until midterm elections, Republicans have taken the lead on the Generic Congressional Ballot.
 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending October 26 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 41% would choose the Democrat.

 (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 telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from October 20-26, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey 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.

60% Expect Obamacare to Increase Health Care Costs

Most voters still don’t like the new national health care law more than a year after it formally took effect, and Republicans are hoping that translates into gains on Election Day.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% of Likely U.S. Voters have a favorable opinion of the health care law, while 53% view it unfavorably. This includes 16% who have a Very Favorable view versus 38% with a Very Unfavorable one. (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 25-26, 2014 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 October 25, 2014

Forget the upcoming elections. Does it really matter who wins?

Voters Say Job Creation More Important Than Fighting Global Warming

Voters continue to think global warming is a serious issue, but when given the choice, they believe job creation is more important than fighting global warming.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% of Likely U.S. Voters consider global warming at least a somewhat serious problem, down slightly from April. This finding includes 33% who believe it is a Very Serious problem. Thirty-seven percent (37%) don’t think global warming is a serious problem, up four points from the previous survey and the highest finding since April 2012. This finding includes 19% who believe it is Not At All Serious. Five percent (5%) 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 21-22, 2014 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.

26% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Twenty-six percent (26%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending October 19.
 
The number who say the country is heading in the right direction is down one point from the previous week. This finding has now been in the 23% to 27% range nearly every week since early June and has been below 30% most weeks for the past year. 

(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 telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on October 13-19, 2014. 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.

Voters Say Economy Unfair to Middle Class

Over half of  U.S. voters still believe the economy is fair to blacks, Hispanics, and women but nearly two-out-of-three think the economy is unfair to the middle class. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 64% of Likely U.S. Voters consider the economy is unfair to the middle class, but that’s down from June’s all-time high of 67% and includes 27% who think the economy’s not fair at all to the middle class. One-in-three voters (32%) think the economy is at least somewhat fair to middle-class Americans, including just four percent (4%) who think it’s Very Fair. (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 19-20, 2014 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: Democrats 41%, Republicans 41%

Democrats and Republicans remain tied on the latest Generic Congressional Ballot.
 
 A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending October 20 finds that 41% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district's congressional race if the election were held today, while the same number (41%) would choose the Republican.

 (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 telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from October 13-19, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey 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.

Fewer Voters Expect GOP-Controlled Congress to Repeal Obamacare

U.S. voters are now evenly divided over whether to repeal the new national health care law entirely or fix it piece-by-piece, but voters are growing less certain that a Republican-controlled Congress would actually repeal the law.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 39% of Likely U.S. Voters want Congress to repeal Obamacare in its entirety and start over again. But just as many (40%) think Congress should go through the law piece by piece and improve it. Fifteen percent (15%) want to leave the law as is. (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 17-18, 2014 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.

Connecticut Governor: Foley (R) 50%, Malloy (D) 43%

Republican challenger Tom Foley still leads Democratic incumbent Dan Malloy in their Connecticut gubernatorial rematch as voters continue to grumble about the job Malloy has done over the past four years.

Foley now picks up 50% of the vote to Malloy’s 43% in a new statewide telephone survey of Likely Connecticut Voters. Two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate in the race, and four percent (4%) 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 980 Likely Voters in Connecticut was conducted on October 14-16, 2014 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 October 18

Just over two weeks to go, and Republicans appear on course to make some of the key pickups they need to take charge of the Senate. But a lot can still happen, and Ebola’s a powerful distraction.

Arkansas Governor: Hutchinson (R) 49%, Ross (D) 47%

The Arkansas gubernatorial election is back to a two-point race.

Republican Asa Hutchinson now picks up 49% of the vote to Democrat Mike Ross’ 47% in the latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Arkansas Voters. One percent (1%) prefer some other candidate in the race while three percent (3%) 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 940 Likely Voters in Arkansas was conducted on October 13-15, 2014 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.