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Rasmussen
What They Told
Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 43%, Democrats 39%
26% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction
38% Consumers Think U.S. Currently In a Recession
Did Thanksgiving come just in time? After outrage over the expected yet
controversial grand jury decision in Ferguson and contention over the
president’s executive action on immigration, perhaps Americans needed a
day to step back and reflect.
On Monday, the St. Louis County Grand Jury decided not to indict
Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson for the killing of unarmed black
teenager Michael Brown back in August. Prior to the decision, most
Americans didn’t expect Wilson to be charged with murder, and half said
the U.S. Justice Department should not try to charge him for federal
crimes related to the Brown shooting.
Eighty-one percent (81%) of Americans expected violent protests if
Wilson is not charged with murder, but only 28% believed them to be the
result of legitimate outrage over the case. Fifty percent (50%)
thought it would be mostly criminals taking advantage of the situation.
Fifty percent (50%) of voters oppose the president’s new plan that will
allow nearly five million illegal immigrants to remain in this country
legally and apply for jobs, while 40% are in favor of it. But that’s
slightly less opposition than voters expressed prior to the
announcement. Half also think the plan will be bad for the
economy, and a majority believes the new plan will attract more illegal
immigrants.
Americans put a great deal of importance on being a U.S. citizen, but
nearly one-in-three think it’s too easy to become one.
Open enrollment for 2015 started earlier this month for insurance under
the new national health care law, but 35% now say Obamacare has hurt
them personally. That’s the highest finding in over a year.
But it’s not just the president who is taking heat. Voters continue to
give Congress dismal reviews and the majority still believes members
get reelected because the system is rigged.
Two weeks after they won full control of Congress, Republicans now lead
Democrats by four points on the latest Generic Congressional Ballot.
In other news this week, just 28% of voters favor President Obama’s
newly disclosed plan to expand the U.S. military’s fighting role
against the Taliban in Afghanistan after this year. Thirty percent
(30%) now believe it is possible for the United States to win the war
in Afghanistan, but that’s up from 23% earlier this year.
Of course, the week ended with Thanksgiving and Black Friday, and
Americans put much more importance on the former than the latter. An
overwhelming majority of Americans have a lot to be thankful for this
Thanksgiving, and 49% consider it one of the nation’s most important
holidays. Forty-four percent (44%) planned to have Thanksgiving dinner
at home, while nearly as many (42%) visited the home of a relative.
One-in-four Americans planned to be out of town this Thanksgiving
weekend.
Thirty-three percent (33%) of Americans said they were at least
somewhat likely to go shopping yesterday to take advantage of Black
Friday sales deals. But only nine percent (9%) said they are more
likely to shop at a store that opens on Thanksgiving Day to get a jump
on Black Friday deals. Forty-four percent (44%) say they are less
likely to shop at a store that is open on Thanksgiving. Find out more
about What America Thinks about Black Friday.
Forty-three percent (43%) of American Credit Card Holders plan to pay
for most of their holiday gifts this year with a credit card. But 51%
do not intend to pay that way.
Speaking of plastic, most Americans think they have their own credit
card use under control but say most other people need to cut back on
how much they use their cards. They admit, however, that credit cards
tempt people to buy things that can't afford...
Read the rest of article with links at Rasmussen
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