The Daily Rundown: Exit Interview with Sen. Kent Conrad

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Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Paul Ryan and Austan Goolsbee on Fox News Sunday

This Week Roundtable: Debt Limit Debate

This Week: Interview with Nancy Pelosi

This Week: Interview with John Boehner

Lindsey Graham & Mark Warner on Face the Nation

Mitch McConnell on Face the Nation

Dick Durbin and Paul Ryan on Meet the Press

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) Delivers Weekly Republican Address

Poll Watch: Rasmussen Tea Party Survey

Rasmussen Tea Party Poll

Do you consider yourself part of the Tea Party Movement?

• Yes 13%
• No 74%
• Not sure 13%

Note: Tea Party participants include 23% of Republicans, but only five percent (5%) of Democrats and 10% of unaffiliateds.

Do you have a favorable or an unfavorable opinion of the Tea Party movement?

• Favorable 31%
• Unfavorable 47%
• Undecided 22%

Note: Fifty-nine percent (59%) of Republicans view the movement favorably; 73% of Democrats and a plurality (48%) of voters not affiliated with either of the major parties do not.

Who has a better understanding of the problems America faces today – the average Tea Party member or the average member of Congress?

• Tea Party 39%
• Congress 28%
• Not sure 34%

Note: Sixty-five percent (65%) of GOP voters think the average Tea Party member has a better handle on the nation’s problems than the average congressman does, a view shared by just 15% of Democrats and 35% of unaffiliateds. Among Tea Party members, 80% think they have a better understanding of the country’s problems. Among non-members, just 29% feel the average Tea Party member has a better understanding.

Thinking of the budget debate in Congress, has the impact of the Tea Party made things better or worse for the country?

• Better 30%
• Worse 43%
• No impact 10%
• Not sure 16%

Note: Two-out-of-three Democrats (66%) and 45% of unaffiliated voters believe the Tea Party has made things worse for the country during the budget debates. Fifty-five percent (55%) of Republicans say it has made things better.

Will the Tea Party movement help or hurt the Republican Party in the 2012 elections?

• Help 26%
• Hurt 46%
• No impact 11%
• Not sure 17%

Note: Most GOP voters (52%) think the Tea Party will be good for them in the upcoming elections, although that’s down from 58% in August. Sixty-six percent (66%) of Democrats and 49% of unaffiliated voters believe the Tea Party will hurt Republicans in November. Among Tea Party members, 66% believe they will help the GOP in the upcoming elections. Among non-members, 57% think the movement will hurt the GOP in the fall.

Survey of 1,000 likely voters was conducted January 9-10, 2012. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points.

Sen. Olympia Snowe Delivers Weekly Republican Address

Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) Delivers Weekly Republican Address

Poll Watch: Quinnipiac Political Survey

Quinnipiac Political Survey

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?

• Approve 42% (47%) [47%] {52%} (46%) [42%]
• Disapprove 52% (46%) [46%] {40%} (48%) [48%]

Among Democrats

• Approve 77% (81%) [83%] {88%} (85%) [80%]
• Disapprove 18% (11%) [11%] {9%} (9%) [13%]

Among Republicans

• Approve 7% (13%) [13%] {18%} (11%) [9%]
• Disapprove 90% (83%) [82%] {74%} (86%) [81%]

Among Independents

• Approve 40% (40%) [46%] {47%} (41%) [39%]
• Disapprove 54% (53%) [43%] {41%} (52%) [50%]

Among Men

• Approve 39% (43%) [44%] {51%} (39%) [41%]
• Disapprove 56% (51%) [49%] {42%} (54%) [52%]

Among Women

• Approve 44% (50%) [50%] {53%} (52%) [44%]
• Disapprove 49% (41%) [44%] {39%} (43%) [44%]

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy?

• Approve 32% (38%) [36%] {38%} (37%) [34%]
• Disapprove 62% (56%) [58%] {57%} (57%) [60%]

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling foreign policy?

• Approve 44% (47%) [46%] {51%} (43%) [41%]
• Disapprove 47% (43%) [44%] {39%} (48%) [47%]

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the situation in Afghanistan?

• Approve 43% (50%) [51%] {59%} (41%) [42%]
• Disapprove 47% (42%) [40%] {30%} (50%) [45%]

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling terrorism?

• Approve 57% [63%] {67%}
• Disapprove 34% [31%] {27%}

Who do you trust to do a better job handling the economy, President Obama or the Republicans in Congress?

• Obama 44% (45%) [41%] {46%} (43%)
• Republicans 41% (38%) [43%] {37%} (44%)

Regardless of how you intend to vote, who do you think would do a better job on the economy - Barack Obama or Mitt Romney? 

• Mitt Romney 46% 
• Barack Obama 42% 

Regardless of how you intend to vote, who do you think would do a better job on the economy - Barack Obama or Rick Perry? 

• Barack Obama 43% 
• Rick Perry 41% 

Regardless of how you intend to vote, who do you think would do a better job on the economy - Barack Obama or Michele Bachmann? 

• Barack Obama 48% 
• Michele Bachmann 37% 

What do you think is more important - reducing the federal budget deficit, or reducing unemployment?

• Reducing unemployment 61% (62%) {54%}
• Reducing federal budget deficit 31% (32%) {35%}

What do you think is more important - reducing federal government spending, or reducing unemployment?

• Reducing unemployment 51% (49%) {47%}
• Reducing federal government spending 42% (43%) {46%}

Who do you blame more for the current condition of the U.S. economy - Former President George W. Bush or President Barack Obama?

• Bush 53% (54%)
• Obama 32% (27%)

Do you think the U.S. is doing the right thing by fighting the war in Afghanistan now, or should the U.S. not be involved in Afghanistan now?

• Doing the right thing 35% (39%) [40%] {46%} (34%) [41%]
• Should not be involved 58% (55%) [52%] {47%} (60%) [50%]

Among Democrats

• Doing the right thing 28% (30%) [30%] {41%} (27%) [38%]
• Should not be involved 67% (64%) [62%] {51%} (65%) [56%]

Among Republicans

• Doing the right thing 48% (54%) [53%] {59%} (46%) [50%]
• Should not be involved 45% (39%) [38%] {37%} (46%) [35%]

Among Independents

• Doing the right thing 33% (36%) [37%] {41%} (31%) [38%]
• Should not be involved 60% (58%) [56%] {51%} (66%) [54%]

As you may know, President Obama and Congress reached a deal to raise the government's debt ceiling while cutting spending by about $2.4 trillion. Do you approve or disapprove of this deal? 

• Approve 45% 
• Disapprove 44% 

Among Democrats 

• Approve 59% 
• Disapprove 30% 

Among Republicans 

• Approve 32% 
• Disapprove 58% 

Among Independents 

• Approve 44% 
• Disapprove 46%

Survey of 2,730 registered voters was conducted August 16-27, 2011. The margin of error is +/- 1.9 percentage points.  Results from the poll conducted July 5-11, 2011 are in parentheses.  Results from the poll conducted May 31 - June 6, 2011 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted May 2-3, 2011 are in curly brackets.  Results from the poll conducted April 26 - May 1, 2011 are in parentheses.  Results from the poll conducted March 22-28, 2011 are in square brackets.

Poll Watch: PPP (D) Ohio Political Survey

PPP (D) Ohio Political Survey

Do you approve or disapprove of the job House Speaker John Boehner is doing?

• Approve 34%
• Disapprove 47%

Do you have a more favorable opinion of John Boehner or Nancy Pelosi?

• John Boehner 49%
• Nancy Pelosi 34%

Do you think the debt deal passed in Washington last week is a good thing or a bad thing for our economy?

• Good 27%
• Bad 45%

Who do you think is more responsible for the debt deal being passed: President Obama and
Congressional Democrats, the Republicans in Congress, or both equally?

• President Obama and Congressional Democrats 31%
• Congressional Republicans 23%
• Both equally 41%

Do you think the deal that was reached this week will solve the deficit problem or not?

• Will solve the problem 5%
• Will not 82%

Which president's administration do you think is more responsible for the recession: President Bush's administration or President Obama's?

• Bush administration 51%
• Obama administration 42%

Do you think that spending cuts alone can solve the deficit problem, or do you think there
needs to be a combination of spending cuts and additional taxes to solve it?

• Spending cuts alone can solve the deficit problem 37%
• Needs to be a combination of spending cuts and additional taxes 54%

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the Tea Party?

• Favorable 37%
• Unfavorable 47%

If there was an election for Congress today, do you think you would vote for the Democratic or
Republican candidate from your district?

• Democratic candidate 42%
• Republican candidate 37%

Do you think same-sex marriage should be legal or illegal?

• Legal 33%
• Illegal 53%

Which of the following best describes your opinion on gay marriage: gay couples should be allowed to legally marry, or gay couples should be allowed to form civil unions but not legally marry, or there should be no legal recognition of a gay couple's relationship?

• Gay couples should be allowed to legally marry 28%
• Gay couples should be allowed to form civil unions but not marry 33%
• There should be no legal recognition of a gay couple's relationship 36%

Do you think that corporations are people or not?

• They are people 36%
• They are not 50%

Survey of 792 Ohio voters was conducted August 11-14, 2011. The margin of error is +/- 3.5 percentage points. Party ID breakdown: 44% Democrat; 34% Republican; 22% Independent/Other. Political ideology: 31% Moderate; 24% Somewhat conservative; 19% Somewhat liberal; 17% Very conservative; 8% Very liberal. 

Huntsman: Obama 'Failed Us'

CNN Interview with Sarah Palin

UPDATE: ABC News: Sarah Palin: Ron Paul Has 'Great Chance' of Winning Ames
Palin says Ron Paul, Herman Cain will do fine in Iowa Ames Straw Poll.



Sarah Palin Upstages GOP Race in Iowa
Republican presidential hopefuls jockey for attention in Iowa before straw poll.

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Poll Watch: Monmouth University/NJ Press Media Political Survey

Monmouth University/NJ Press Media Political Poll

Do you approve or disapprove of the job Barack Obama is doing as president?

• Approve 54%
• Disapprove 37%

Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Obama handled the debt ceiling issue?

• Approve 41%
• Disapprove 42%

Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in Congress handled the debt ceiling issue?

• Approve 19%
• Disapprove 62%

Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in Congress handled the debt ceiling issue?

• Approve 27%
• Disapprove 52%

Do you approve or disapprove of the job Frank Lautenberg is doing as United States Senator?

• Approve 41%
• Disapprove 30%

Do you approve or disapprove of the job Bob Menendez is doing as United States Senator?

• Approve 37%
• Disapprove 32%

Do you approve or disapprove of the job your local member of Congress is doing?

• Approve 47%
• Disapprove 30%

Survey of 802 adults was conducted August 3-8, 2011. The margin of error is +/- 3.5 percentage points. Party ID breakdown: 34% Democrat; 21% Republican; 45% Independent.

Poll Watch: Ipsos-Reuters Political Survey

Ipsos-Reuters Political Survey

Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?

• Approve 45%
• Disapprove 52%

Do you feel more positive or more negative towards each of the following as a result of the deal recently reached in Washington to raise the federal government debt ceiling?

Democrats

• Positive 31%
• Negative 40%

Republicans

• Positive 24%
• Negative 49%

Tea Party

• Positive 23%
• Negative 42%

Barack Obama

• Positive 36%
• Negative 42%

John Boehner

• Positive 20%
• Negative 37%

Based on everything you've heard or seen, do you think this debt ceiling deal is a good thing or a bad thing for the United States? Is that very or somewhat?

• Very good 7%
• Somewhat good 31%
• Somewhat bad 27%
• Very bad 26%

Which of the following actions, if any, do you think the government should undertake to stimulate the national economy? [SELECT ALL THAT APPLY]

• Cut government spending 49%
• Raise taxes on wealthy individuals 46%
• Invest in new infrastructure projects 34%
• Cut taxes for everyone 27%
• Extend financial aid to states 25%
• Extend unemployment benefits 25%
• Extend the payroll tax cut 20%

Survey of 1,055 adults, including 885 registered voters, was conducted August 4-8, 2011. The margin of error is +/- 3.0 percentage points. Party ID breakdown: 46% Democrat; 38% Republican.

Poll Watch: PPP (D) North Carolina Political Survey

PPP (D) North Carolina Political Survey

Do you think the debt deal passed in Washington this week is a good thing or a bad thing for our economy?

• Good 25%
• Bad 46%

Who do you think is more responsible for the debt deal being passed: President Obama and Congressional Democrats, the Republicans in Congress, or both equally?

• President Obama and Congressional Democrats 24%
• Congressional Republicans 32%
• Both equally 39%

Do you think the deal that was reached this week will solve the deficit problem or not?

• Will solve the problem 4%
• Will not 80%

Some argue that we need another economic stimulus package to create jobs. This could prevent another recession in the long term but also may create a bigger deficit in the short term. Based on this information, would you support or oppose another economic stimulus?

• Support 30%
• Oppose 53%

Which president's administration do you think is more responsible for the recession: President Bush's administration or President Obama's?

• Bush administration 50%
• Obama administration 42%

At the end of the Bush administration and the beginning of the Obama administration, the economy was losing an average of 700,000 jobs a month. Now, the economy is adding jobs. Who do you think deserves more credit for the turnaround: President Obama or the Republicans?

• President Obama 49%
• The Republicans 33%

Do you think that spending cuts alone can solve the deficit problem, or do you think there needs to be a combination of spending cuts and additional taxes to solve it?

• Spending cuts alone can solve the deficit problem 32%
• Needs to be a combination of spending cuts and additional taxes 53%

Survey of 783 North Carolina voters was conducted August 4-7, 2011. The margin of error is +/- 3.5 percentage points. Party ID breakdown: 48% Democrat; 35% Republican; 18% Independent/Other.  Political ideology: 30% Somewhat conservative; 28% Moderate; 19% Very conservative; 16% Somewhat liberal; 7% Very liberal.

Poll Watch: PPP (D) Colorado Political Survey

PPP (D) Colorado Political Survey

Do you think the debt deal passed in Washington this week is a good thing or a bad thing for our economy?

• Good 25%
• Bad 55%

Who do you think is more responsible for the debt deal being passed: President Obama and Congressional Democrats, the Republicans in Congress, or both equally?

• President Obama and Congressional Democrats 30%
• Congressional Republicans 28%
• Both equally 37%

Do you think the deal that was reached this week will solve the deficit problem or not?

• Will solve the problem 3%
• Will not 85%

Some argue that we need another economic stimulus package to create jobs. This could prevent another recession in the long term but also may create a bigger deficit in the short term. Based on this information, would you support or oppose another economic stimulus?

• Support 32%
• Oppose 56%

Which president's administration do you think is more responsible for the recession: President Bush's administration or President Obama's?

• Bush administration 54%
• Obama administration 39%

At the end of the Bush administration and the beginning of the Obama administration, the economy was losing an average of 700,000 jobs a month. Now, the economy is adding jobs. Who do you think deserves more credit for the turnaround: President Obama or the Republicans?

• President Obama 50%
• The Republicans 33%

Do you think that spending cuts alone can solve the deficit problem, or do you think there needs to be a combination of spending cuts and additional taxes to solve it?

• Spending cuts alone can solve the deficit problem 31%
• Needs to be a combination of spending cuts and additional taxes 59%

Survey of 510 Colorado voters was conducted August 4-7, 2011. The margin of error is +/- 4.3 percentage points. Party ID breakdown: 41% Democrat; 33% Republican; 26% Independent/Other. Political ideology: 27% Moderate; 23% Somewhat conservative; 22% Somewhat liberal; 16% Very conservative; 13% Very liberal.