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They Did Build That

A Rasmussen Reports poll released Monday found the vast majority of Americans credit the success of small businesses to the hard work of their owners, rather than to federal or state government programs.

Seventy-two percent (72%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe that people who start small businesses are primarily responsible for their success or failure. …

Fifty-seven percent (57%) of voters believe entrepreneurs who start small businesses do more to create jobs and economic growth than big businesses or government programs. Sixteen percent (16%) think big businesses do the most when it comes to creating jobs and economic growth. Eleven percent (11%) feel state and local government programs deserve the most credit, while seven percent (7%) think federal government programs have the biggest impact.

Among voters who are not committed to either Mitt Romney or Obama in the presidential campaign, just 13% think government programs are most responsible for economic growth. Fifty-five percent (55%) think entrepreneurs drive growth.

The report follows the president’s controversial remark, "If you’ve got a business, you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen."

GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney criticized the president for this statement, and Obama’s campaign released a video claiming that Romney misrepresented his words.

In a campaign where both sides criticize the other as "out of touch" with Americans, Romney’s pro-business ad "These Hands" may resonate with the 72% who give small business owners the credit for their own success.