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Obama Earns Low Marks on Taxes and Spending

Voters are more critical of President Obama’s handling of issues related to taxes and remain unhappy with how he's dealing with spending.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 39% of Likely U.S. Voters now think the president is doing a good or excellent job in the tax area. That's down five points from 44% last month. Forty-two percent (42%), on the other hand, think he is doing a poor job, up from 39% in February. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 6-7, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending March 8, 2013

Despite record stock market gains and a slightly improved jobs picture this week, Americans still express a lot of uncertainty about the economy and the future in general.

Like long-term economic confidence a month ago, short-term confidence in the U.S. economy is now at a new low. Just 25% of Americans think the economy will be stronger a year from today.

At week’s end, just 14% of consumers rated the U.S. economy as good or excellent, while 46% deemed it poor. Among investors, 18% scored the economy as good or excellent. Forty percent (40%) rated it poor. 

Americans don’t have much hope for the stock and housing markets either. Only 20% think the stock market will be higher a year from now. Most (54%) still believe it will take more than three years for the housing industry to fully recover from the downturn that began in 2008.

Voters Are Slightly More Aware of New Treasury Secretary

Voters haven’t changed their opinions much about newly confirmed Obama Cabinet members John Kerry and Jack Lew.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 18% of Likely U.S. Voters have a favorable opinion of Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, including five percent (5%) who view him Very Favorably. Twenty-five percent (25%) view Lew unfavorably, with 11% who share a Very Unfavorable opinion of him. A majority of voters (56%) still have no opinion of the new secretary of the Treasury. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update ? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 2-3, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

28% Say U.S. Heading In Right Direction

Twenty-eight percent (28%) of Likely U.S. Voters say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, March 3.

Voter optimism in the nation’s current course is down six points from the previous week and is the lowest level measured since August of last year.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen February 25-March 3, 2013. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

8% Think Congress Is Doing A Good or Excellent Job

The sequester hoopla of recent weeks hasn't changed a thing: Positive ratings for Congress remain in single digits for the third straight month.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just eight percent (8%) of Likely U.S. Voters think Congress is doing a good or excellent job. Sixty-seven percent (67%) rate Congress’ performance as poor. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 4-5, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Rasmussen Employment Index Dips Two Points in February

The Rasmussen Employment Index which measures worker confidence slipped almost two points in February but remains above monthly levels measured for much of 2012.

At 85.6, the Employment Index is down two points from February 2012 but is up seven points from February 2011. In December 2012, the Index hit a five-year high of 91.2.

The survey of 8,952 working Americans was conducted in February 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 1 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 43%, Republicans 40%

Democrats hold a three-point lead over Republicans on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending March 3.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 40% would choose the Republican instead.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 

The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from February 25-March 3, 2013. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage point with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

54% Think U.S. Health Care System Likely to Worsen Over Next Couple Years

One-in-four voters rate the U.S. health care system as poor, but most expect the system to get worse over the next couple of years. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 40% of Likely U.S. Voters consider the U.S. health care system good or excellent, while 24% rate it as poor. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 2-3, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls -- For The Week Ending March 2, 2013

The sequester’s here and happening, but outside of Washington the nation pretty much took it in stride. At the beginning of the week, only 40% of Likely U.S. Voters thought President Obama and Congress should stop the so-called sequester spending cuts from going into effect on March 1. Despite the apocalyptic warnings coming out of Washington, D.C., that was up only slightly from the start of the month. Still, 46% felt it will be bad for the economy if the automatic spending cuts in government programs go into effect.

But 48% of voters think the president’s health care law is more likely to hurt the economy than cutting government spending. Additionally, most voters (54%) see raising taxes as worse for the nation’s economy than cutting government spending. Payroll taxes have already gone up this year for just about all working Americans.

Obama’s Monthly Approval Down One Point in February

When tracking President Obama’s job approval on a daily basis, people sometimes get so caught up in the day-to-day fluctuations that they miss the bigger picture. To look at the longer-term trends, Rasmussen Reports compiles the numbers on a full-month basis, and the results can be seen in the graphics below.

For the month of February, the president's Total Job Approval Rating fell one point from 54% in January to 53%. In December, it reached 56%, the highest level since May 2009. Prior to the election, that rating had remained in the narrow range of 44% to 49% for two years straight.

34% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Thirty-four percent (34%) of Likely U.S. Voters say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, February 24.

The latest finding is down four points from the previous week.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen February 18-24, 2013. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 43%, Republicans 38%

Democrats hold a five-point lead over Republicans on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending February 24.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 38% would choose the Republican instead.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 

The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from February 18-24, 2013. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage point with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

75% Think Health Care Law Likely to Cost More Than Projected

Most voters still believe President Obama’s national health care law will cost more than official estimates and expect it to drive up the cost of health care in America.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds, too, that voters remain closely divided in their opinions of the law. Forty-five percent (45%) of Likely U.S. Voters have at least a somewhat favorable opinion, while 48% view it unfavorably. This includes 17% with a Very Favorable view of the law and 35% with a Very Unfavorable one. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 22-23, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls -- Week Ending February 23, 2013

All eyes are on Congress and the president as the countdown to the March 1 spending cuts continues.

38% Say U.S. Heading In Right Direction

Thirty-eight percent (38%) of Likely U.S. Voters say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, February 17.

The latest finding is unchanged from the previous week but is down from 41% three months ago – just below the highest level measured in over five years of weekly tracking. This time last year, 31% were confident in the nation’s current course.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen February 11-17, 2013. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Just 21% Say High School Grads Have Skills Needed for Work Force

Voters don’t think much of the skills acquired by high school graduates attempting to go to college or enter the work force.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 18% of Likely U.S. Voters believe most high school graduates have the skills needed for college. Sixty-one percent (61%) don't agree. Twenty-one percent (21%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 18-19, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

25% Say Americans Are Selfish For Putting Economy Ahead of Global Warming

Most Americans have expressed concern about global warming for years, but the issue still takes a back seat to the economy and job creation.  The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 25% of Likely U.S. Voters believe Americans are selfish for putting their economic concerns ahead of the fight against global warming, down from 34% a month ago and the lowest level measured in years. Most (57%) disagree and say Americans are not being selfish. Another 18% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

This national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 14-15, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 43%, Republicans 37%

Democrats now hold a three-point lead over Republicans on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending February 10, 2013.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 39% would choose the Republican instead.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 

The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from February 4-10, 2013. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage point with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

47% Favor A Health Care Exchange in Their State

Voter support for creating a health care exchange in their state as part of President Obama’s health care law is unchanged, but low voter awareness suggests it is not a top-of-mind issue for most voters at this time.

Just 34% of Likely U.S. Voters say they know their state has agreed to set up a health care exchange, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Slightly fewer (29%) don’t know if their state has done so, with another 37% who are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update ? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 16-17, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls -- February 16, 2013

Voters must sometimes wonder what part of the phrase “spending cuts” their elected officials don’t seem to understand.

In this weekend’s edition of What America Thinks, Scott Rasmussen and his guests, former DNC Chairman Howard Dean and Republican Senator Bob Corker, discuss spending and other issues raised by President Obama in his latest State of the Union address. What America Thinks airs on 61 TV stations nationwide. Find a station in your area.

The economy, government spending and job creation were the top issues on voters’ minds before the president’s Tuesday night speech. They remain the top concerns after the speech, too.