December 30, 2009 Clinton Edges Out Palin as Most Admired Woman Obama easily wins Most Admired Man title by Jeffrey M. Jones
PRINCETON, NJ -- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton continues her reign as the Most Admired Woman in the eyes of Americans, but barely edges out former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin this year, 16% to 15%. Talk show host Oprah Winfrey and first lady Michelle Obama finish third and fourth, with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Queen Elizabeth II, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and poet Maya Angelou -- all regulars on the list -- joined by newcomers German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Elin Woods in the top 10.
Prior to Bomb Scare, Worry About Terrorism at 39% in U.S. As of November of this year, public split on Obama’s handling of terrorism by Elizabeth Mendes
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In a Dec. 11-13 USA Today/Gallup poll, conducted just two weeks before the thwarted Christmas Day bomb attempt aboard Northwest Airlines' Detroit-bound flight 253, 39% of Americans reported being very or somewhat worried that they or someone in their family will become a victim of terrorism.
Tourism Industry Still Dealing With Cautious Consumers More Americans say they will spend less, not more, in 2010 on vacations by Lydia Saad PRINCETON, NJ -- While half of Americans foresee no change in their travel spending in 2010 compared to 2009, a larger proportion plan to spend less in the coming year than say they will spend more. That deficit is particularly high relative to air travel and hotel stays. However, even the percentage of Americans saying they will spend less on vacations in general exceeds those saying they will spend more by a slight margin, 27% vs. 22%.
Gallup Economic Weekly: Spending Barely Tops a Year Ago Self-reported consumer spending was up 3% last week compared with a year ago by Dennis Jacobe, Chief Economist PRINCETON, NJ -- For the first time in 2009, self-reported consumer spending topped last year's weekly comparables, although by a slim 3%. The higher 2009 figure is largely the result of a sharp decline in spending during the same week a year ago that marked the beginning of the consumer spending slump that extended throughout most of the year. Gallup's Economic Confidence Index showed a slight improvement last week in Americas' evaluations of the national economy. Gallup's Job Creation Index shows job-market conditions have deteriorated in the past several weeks and are now at roughly the same point they were at this time last year.
Zogby/Scoop Daily Poll: 32% Thought There Would Be More Tech Advances By 2010
UTICA, New York - As we approach a new decade, nearly a third (32%) of Americans say they believed there would be greater technological advances by 2010, a new Zogby/ScoopDaily poll shows.
While some may be disappointed that we won't be entering 2010 living like the Jetsons, 21% believe we are more technologically advanced than they thought we would be by the start of this new decade. Another 37% say the current level of technological advancement is just about where they thought it would be by 2010.
First GlobalsTM, those age 18-30, are much less likely (13%) than older generations to say the technological advancements up until now have exceeded their expectations. Those age 70 and older (34%) are the group most likely to say we are more advanced than they thought we would be by 2010. The age group most likely to be disappointed with the current level of technological advancement are 35- to 54-year-olds (36%). Men (36%) are more likely than women (28%) to say they thought there would have been greater tech advances by 2010.
This interactive survey of 3,072 adults nationwide was conducted Dec. 8-11, 2009 and commissioned by ScoopDaily. A sampling of Zogby International's online panel, which is representative of adult Americans, was invited to participate. Slight weights were added to region, party, age, race, religion, gender, education to more accurately reflect the population. The margin of error is +/- 1.8 percentage points. Margins of error are higher in sub-groups.
58% Favor Waterboarding of Plane Terrorist To Get Information
Thursday, December 31, 2009 Fifty-eight percent (58%) of U.S. voters say waterboarding and other aggressive interrogation techniques should be used to gain information from the terrorist who attempted to bomb an airliner on Christmas Day.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 30% oppose the use of such techniques, and another 12% are not sure.
Men and younger voters are more strongly supportive of the aggressive interrogation techniques than women and those who are older. Republicans and voters not affiliated with either major party favor their use more than Democrats.
Seventy-one percent (71%) of all voters think the attempt by the Nigerian Muslim to blow up the airliner as it landed in Detroit should be investigated by military authorities as a terrorist act. Only 22% say it should be handled by civilian authorities as a criminal act, as is currently the case.
22% Give 2009 Positive Ratings, 38% See A Bright 2010 Thursday, December 31, 2009
It looks like 2009 didn't quite measure up to the expectations many Americans had for it.
Only 22% of adults rated 2009 overall as good, excellent or the best year ever, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. The plurality (41%) gives 2009 a poor rating.
This time last year, 37% said they expected 2009 to be good, excellent or the best year ever, while 23% predicted it would be poor.
Only five percent (5%) predicted 2009 would be the best year ever. At the year’s end, just two percent (2%) still agreed.
But 38% of Americans expect 2010 to be good, excellent or the best year ever. Only 24% see 2010 as a year that will deserve a poor rating.
New Year’s Day Ranks Low on Holiday List Thursday, December 31, 2009
As America prepares to wave goodbye to 2009, only 11% of adults believe New Year’s Day is one of the nation’s most important holidays, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
Twenty-six percent (26%) say it is one of the least important holidays, while most (62%) say it falls somewhere in between.
Adults between the ages of 18 and 29 are far more likely than their elders to rank New Year’s Day as one of the most important holidays.
The number who sees New Year’s as one of the most important holidays is identical to the result found last year, but the number who place it among the least important is up slightly this year.
52% Fear They Could Be Forced to Change Insurance If Health Plan Passes Thursday, December 31, 2009
From the beginning of the health care debate, one of the challenges facing reform advocates has been the fact that most Americans have insurance and are generally happy with their coverage. As Scott Rasmussen noted in a Wall Street Journal column, “Most of these voters approach the health-care reform debate fearing that they have more to lose than to gain.”
As 2009 comes to an end, a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of those with insurance fear that passage of the plan now working its way through Congress could force them to change coverage. That figure includes 28% who say it’s Very Likely they would be forced to change coverage and 24% who say it’s Somewhat Likely.
Despite many efforts to counter that concern, including comments directly from President Obama, there has been hardly any change in the public's view since the health care debate began in earnest. In June, 53% said it was at least somewhat likely that their own health insurance would change if the reform plan passes.
Daily Presidential Tracking Poll Thursday, December 31, 2009
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Thursday shows that 24% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Forty-two percent (42%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -18 (see trends). Twenty-nine percent (29%) now say the country is heading in the right direction.
As 2009 Becomes 2010, 21% Will be Asleep Thursday, December 31, 2009
At midnight on New Year’s Eve, 62% of American adults say they’ll be awake to welcome in the new year.
But a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 21% expect to be sound asleep, while 17% aren’t sure if they’ll be able to wait up that long.
Not surprisingly, younger Americans are more likely to wait up for the big moment. Seventy-five percent (75%) of those under 30 will be awake, but only 41% of senior citizens will join them.
As 2009 Becomes 2010, 21% Will be Asleep Thursday, December 31, 2009
At midnight on New Year’s Eve, 62% of American adults say they’ll be awake to welcome in the new year.
But a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 21% expect to be sound asleep, while 17% aren’t sure if they’ll be able to wait up that long.
Not surprisingly, younger Americans are more likely to wait up for the big moment. Seventy-five percent (75%) of those under 30 will be awake, but only 41% of senior citizens will join them.
I'll be asleep....I hope!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Health Care Reform 42% Support Health Care Plan, 52% Oppose
Sunday, January 04, 2009 Forty-two percent (42%) of U.S. voters now favor the health care reform plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. That’s the most positive result since mid-November, but still most voters remain opposed.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of voters oppose the legislation (see question wording and trends). Opposition remains highest among middle-income Americans.
Last week, 39% of voters nationwide supported the plan, and 58% opposed it. That was consistent with our weekly tracking of the issue which has found support between 38% and 41% every week from just before Thanksgiving to the end of 2009.
Daily Presidential Tracking Poll Monday, January 04, 2010
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Monday shows that 26% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Forty-one percent (41%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -15 (see trends).
The number of Democrats in the United States has fallen to the lowest level in at least seven years. Still, the GOP has not gained ground. Instead, the number of unaffiliated voters has jumped.
On health care, this week’s tracking shows a slight uptick for the Congressional plan, but most voters are still opposed. When it comes to paying for the cost of the proposed health care reform plan, voters are okay with the idea of taxing the rich, but strongly reject cuts in Medicare and excise taxes on “Cadillac” plans provided by employers. Most voters favor prohibiting coverage of abortions with plans that receive federal subsidies, but those who generally support the plan tend to oppose the abortion provision.
The Presidential Approval Index is calculated by subtracting the number who Strongly Disapprove from the number who Strongly Approve. It is updated daily at 9:30 a.m. Eastern (sign up for free daily e-mail update). Updates are also available on Twitter and Facebook.
Overall, 47% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance. Fifty-two percent (52%) disapprove. To get a sense of longer-term trends, check out our month-by-month review of the President’s numbers.
53% Favor Abortion Ban in Health Plan Sunday, January 03, 2010
Fifty-three percent (53%) of voters favor a ban on abortion coverage in any health insurance plan that receives federal subsidies. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 40% are opposed to such a ban in the proposed health care legislation now before Congress.
Those figures include 39% who Strongly Favor it and 26% who are Strongly Opposed.
There are some provisions in the health care plan before Congress that are more popular and some that are less popular but none as controversial. The reason for the controversy is that attitudes on the provision cut across the lines of support and opposition for the overall bill.
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