A national survey found that only 30 percent of Americans support forcing overweight government workers to pay more for health insurance.

The Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of 1,000 adults nationwide conducted Oct. 11-12 found that 63 percent opposed North Carolina's plan to charge overweight employees more for the state employee's health plan. The survey found 30 percent supported the plan and 7 percent were unsure.

The survey didn't provide any specifics of the plan, such as only those with extraordinarily high body mass indexes would be charged more, so a grain of salt may be in order with the survey results.

The survey also asked whether Americans favored the state's plan to charge smoker's on the plan more for insurance. Half of the respondents favored the plan, while 43 percent were opposed and 8 percent were unsure.

The survey had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

Sen. Richard Burr has at least a 10-point lead over his challengers, according to a new Rasmussen poll.

The Rasmussen Reports poll found of 500 likely voters found Burr ahead of longtime Secretary of State Elaine Marshall 48 percent to 38 percent.

U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge, who has been courted for the race, trails by 48 to 34 percent.

Burr leads Durham lawyer Kenneth Lewis, who like Marshall has officially declared for the race, by even more — 48 percent to 32 percent.

The news isn't all great for Burr.

"Despite Burr’s early lead, however, incumbents who poll under 50% are generally considered vulnerable," the pollster said.

The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percent. 

Other Democrats looking at the race include former state Sen. Cal Cunningham of Lexington, former Lt. Gov. Dennis Wicker of Sanford, and Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy.

Pat McCrory is ahead in a new poll.

According to a survey by Rasmussen Reports, the Republican gubernatorial candidate had 51 percent while Democrat Beverly Perdue had 47 percent. Libertarian Mike Munger, the only third-party candidate to appear on the ballot, was not included.

"This is the second straight poll in which the Republican has led his Democratic opponent by four percentage points, after trailing by six in mid-August," the pollsters write.

The survey of 700 likely voters was conducted on Oct. 23, 2008. The margin of error is plus or minus four percentage points. 

A new poll shows John McCain in the lead.

According to a recent survey by Rasmussen Reports, the Republican presidential candidate had 50 percent and Democrat Barack Obama had 48 percent. Libertarian Bob Barr, the only third party candidate who will be on the state ballot, was not included.

"This is the first time the Republican has been ahead since the middle of September," the pollsters write. "Prior to that he had been leading Obama for months."

Obama has been ahead in 15 North Carolina polls and tied in three taken in October. McCain has not been ahead in a poll since the beginning of the month. 

The telephone survey of 700 likely voters was taken on Oct. 23, 2008. The margin of error is plus or minus four percentage points. 

Another poll shows Pat McCrory ahead.

According to a recent survey by Rasmussen Reports, the Republican gubernatorial candidate had 50 percent, while Democrat Beverly Perdue had 46 percent.

Libertarian Mike Munger, the only third-party candidate to be on the ballot, was not included.

"This is the first time Rasmussen Reports has polled the governor’s race since mid-August, and it represents quite a reversal. In August, Perdue held a six-point advantage," the pollsters write.

They note that McCrory leads by 20 points among men, but trails by eight among women. 

The survey of 700 likely voters was taken on Sept. 30. The margin of error is plus or minus four percentage points.  

A new poll gives Barack Obama a narrow lead.

The survey by Rasmussen Reports shows North Carolinians favoring the Democratic presidential candidate by 49 percent, with Republican John McCain at 47 percent. One percent said "some other candidate" and two percent said they were unsure.

Libertarian Bob Barr, the only third-party candidate to be on the ballot, was not included in the polling questions.

"This is the first time in eight Rasmussen Reports polls that Obama has held any kind of a lead in North Carolina, though the candidates were tied once as well," the pollsters write. 

Two recent polls by the conservative Civitas Institute and Democratic firm Public Policy Polling have shown the race as essentially tied. 

The survey of 500 likely voters was taken on Sept. 23. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points. 

Kay Hagan has a significant lead in a new poll.

According to a recent survey by Rasmussen Reports, the Democratic Senate candidate had 51 percent, while U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole had 45 percent. Libertarian Christopher Cole, the only third-party candidate who will be on the ballot, was not included in the poll.

"Dole's numbers in North Carolina are bad news for a party that had seemed to be making progress in recent week," the pollsters write. 

Other recent polls have shown Hagan ahead by several points. Some have cited ads by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and worries over the economy for her lead. 

The survey of 500 likely voters was taken on Sept. 18. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.  

John McCain has a narrow lead in a new poll.

In a recent survey by Rasmussen Reports, the Republican presidential candidate had 50 percent while Democrat Barack Obama had 47 percent. Libertarian Bob Barr, the only third-party candidate who will be on the ballot, was not included.

Recent polls have shown McCain with a narrow edge over Obama, though at least one showed him with a wider lead.

"North Carolina is one of several traditionally Republican states where John McCain just can't quite seem to pull away from Barack Obama," the pollsters write. "The Republican candidate has been at least slightly ahead in six of the seven monthly polls conducted in the state and was tied in the seventh. But, his advantage has always remained in single digits, often the low single digits."

The survey of 500 likely voters was taken on Sept. 18. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points. 

John McCain remains in the lead.

In a recent poll by Rasmussen Reports, the Republican presidential candidate had 50 percent, while Democratic rival Barack Obama had 44 percent, when leaners are included. Libertarian Bob Barr was not included in the survey.

"That's twice the three-point advantage from a month ago and McCain's biggest edge since shortly after the Jeremiah Wright story became news in mid-March," write the pollsters.

McCain has been ahead of Obama in every poll taken since mid May, but in some cases he has been ahead by less than the margin of error.

The survey of 700 likely voters for WRAL was conducted on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008. The margin of error is plus or minus four percentage points.

One caveat: North Carolina-based pollsters have told Dome they avoid single-day polls on Wednesday nights, when a lot of religious voters are at church.  

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole retains a double-digit lead.

According to a recent poll by Rasmussen Reports, the Salisbury Republican had 54 percent support, while Democratic rival Kay Hagan had 43 percent.

"Dole's lead is slightly smaller than last month, when she had a fourteen-point advantage," the pollsters write. "Hagan managed to pull ahead in May, but that was little more than a bounce following her primary victory. A television ad campaign by Dole quickly opened a double digit lead."

The results match other recent polls by Survey USA, Democratic firm Public Policy Polling and the conservative Civitas Insitute, all of which show comfortable leads for Dole.

The survey of 500 likely voters was conducted on July 15, 2008. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.