Topic: Scott Rasmussen

Scott W. Rasmussen (born 1955 or 1956) is the founder and president of Rasmussen Reports. He is an American political analyst, author, speaker, and public opinion pollster. Earlier in his professional life he co-founded the sports network ESPN, and is currently president of the Methodist Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association in Ocean Grove, New Jersey, where he resides.

From an early age, Rasmussen was exposed to the broadcasting business through his father, Bill Rasmussen, who had worked for radio stations and was a communications director for the New England Whalers ice hockey team. With the help of his father, Scott taped his first radio commercial at the age of seven. He spent summers with his grandparents at the Jersey Shore and got his first job at age 14 as an umbrella boy. He later served as an announcer for the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association. During that time he was emcee for hockey legend Gordie Howe's 50th birthday celebration in 1978, which Rasmussen cites as a career highlight: "nothing in my professional career will ever equal the thrill...". In 1979, Scott and Bill Rasmussen founded ESPN, the cable sports network. Their stake in ESPN was bought out by Texaco in 1984. They went on to found the Enterprise Radio Network.

Rasmussen graduated from Minnechaug High School in 1974 and was goaltender for the high school hockey team. He started college at the University of Connecticut, and took a class with pollster Everett Ladd. Rasmussen went on to earn a bachelor's degree in history at his father's alma mater, DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, graduating in 1986, and later an executive MBA from Wake Forest University.