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Election 2012: Obama 47%, Santorum 37%

Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum earns his highest level of support to date but still trails President Obama by double digits in their latest hypothetical Election 2012 matchup.  The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds Obama with 47% of the vote to Santorum's 37%.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 16-17, 2011 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.

Just 24% Expect Situation in Iraq To Improve In Next Six Months

As the last U.S. troops in Iraq come home, voters continue to have pessimistic views about the near future of the nation the United States has occupied for nearly nine years. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 24% of Likely U.S. Voters think the situation in Iraq will get better in the next six months.  Thirty-eight percent (38%) feel the situation there will get worse in that time, while 26% say it will stay about the same.  Eleven percent (11%) are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 12-13, 2011 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.

Election 2012: Romney 43%, Obama 42%

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney who now has edged to the front of the Republican pack in Iowa remains slightly ahead of President Obama for the second week in a row. He remains the only GOP presidential hopeful to lead Obama in more than one survey to date.  The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters finds Romney earning 43% support to Obama’s 42%, meaning that the two men remain neck-and-neck as they have been in surveys for months.

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 14-15, 2011 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 methodolog

19% Say U.S. Heading In Right Direction

Nineteen percent (19%) of Likely U.S. Voters now say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, December 11.  That’s the highest level of optimism measured in nearly three months.  

The latest finding is up two points from last week but is down four points from this time last year.

The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports December 5-11, 2011. 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.

Election 2012: Obama 49%, Gingrich 39%

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich now trails President Obama by double digits, his second straight weekly decline since becoming the GOP frontrunner. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters finds Obama earning 49% of the vote, while Gingrich receives 39% support.

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 12-13, 2011 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.

New Hampshire: Romney 33%, Gingrich 22%, Paul 18%, Huntsman 10%

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney remains on top of the New Hampshire Republican Primary field, but the race for second place between Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul is a lot closer than it was just two weeks ago.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Republican Primary Voters shows Romney with 33% of the vote, followed by Gingrich at 22%. Paul now picks up 18% support, his best showing in the Granite State so far. Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman comes in fourth with 10% of the vote, with no other candidate reaching double digits. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Support for Romney, Gingrich and Huntsman is little changed from the previous survey, but Paul has now closed the 10-point gap between him and Gingrich to just four points. 

Texas Governor Rick Perry, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann now each pick up three percent (3%) support in New Hampshire. Two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate, while five percent (5%) are undecided.

Forty-seven percent (47%) of New Hampshire GOP primary voters are now certain of how they will vote, up from 42% two weeks ago. Just over half (53%) say they could change their minds between now and the January 10 primary.

Romney's support is down eight points from late October.  Gingrich shot to second in New Hampshire late last month following a surge of support in both state and national surveys and a major newspaper endorsement in the Granite State. Both Perry and Georgia businessman Herman Cain, who has since suspended his campaign, took turns in second place in New Hampshire in September and October. Paul has steadily remained in third in all of those surveys.

Among Republican voters in Iowa, Gingrich leads with 32% of the vote over Romney’s 19%, but this survey also includes Cain. Rasmussen Reports will release new numbers on the Iowa Caucus later this week.

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This New Hampshire survey of 721 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on December 12, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Election 2012: Obama 43%, Paul 35%

Texas Congressman Ron Paul's support remains unchanged since September as he continues to run several points behind President Obama in a hypothetical Election 2012 matchup. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds Obama earning 43% support to Paul’s 35%.

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 10-11, 2011 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: Republicans 42%, Democrats 39%

Republicans hold a three-point advantage over Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending Sunday, Dec. 11. 

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

Election 2012: Romney 45%, Obama 42%

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, earning his highest level of support to date, has edged ahead of President Obama in a hypothetical 2012 matchup. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows Romney with 45% of the vote to Obama’s 42%.

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 8-9, 2011 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.

44% Favor Tax Credits for Buyers of Alternative-Energy Cars, 38% Oppose

Americans are growing even less enthusiastic about tax breaks for those who buy alternative-energy cars, and most oppose a proposal to give purchasers of electric cars a $10,000 tax credit to offset the high price of those vehicles. Still, most see a future with a lot more alternative-energy vehicles on the road.

(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 Adults was conducted on December 5-6, 2011 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.

52% Say America’s Best Days Are In The Past

Most voters now share the pessimistic view that America's best days are behind us. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds that just 32% say the country’s best days are in the future, down five points from late October. 

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 4-5, 2011 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.

Election 2012: Obama 45%, Gingrich 40%

Although support for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich among Republican primary voters has soared in both national and state polls, he now trails President Obama in a hypothetical 2012 general election matchup.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters finds Obama earning 45% of the vote to Gingrich’s 40%.

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 6-7, 2011 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.

17% Say Country Heading In Right Direction

Just 17% 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, December 4.

Election 2012: Generic Republican 49%, Obama 41%

A generic Republican candidate now holds an eight-point advantage over President Obama in a hypothetical Election 2012 matchup for the week ending Sunday, December 4. This is the largest gap measured between the two since early September.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds the generic Republican earning 49% support to Obama's 41%.  Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, and seven percent (7%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

Election 2012: Obama 46%, Perry 34%

Texas Governor Rick Perry now trails President Obama by double digits in a hypothetical 2012 Election matchup. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds Obama earning 46% support to Perry’s 34%.

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 4-5, 2011 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: Republicans 43%, Democrats 38%

For the second week in a row, Republicans hold a five-point advantage over Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot, this time for the week ending Sunday, Dec. 4. 

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

Election 2012: Obama 41%, Huntsman 34%

Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman's level of support remains essentially unchanged, and he continues to trail President Obama by a seven-point margin in a hypothetical Election 2012 matchup. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds Obama earning 41% of the vote to Huntsman's 34%.

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 2-3, 2011 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.

37% Hold Favorable View of Boehner, 31% Say Same of Pelosi

It’s been nearly a year since she was arguably the most powerful person in Congress, but former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi remains the best-known and most unpopular congressional leader. She continues to hold a double-digit lead in terms of unfavorables over John Boehner who took her place as speaker.

Election 2012: Obama 42%, Romney 40%

President Obama and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney are again running neck and neck in an Election 2012 hypothetical matchup.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows the president with 42% of the vote, while Romney picks up 40% support.

Partisan Trends: Democrats Up in November

The number of Democrats in the United States increased by nearly two percentage points in November, while the number of Republicans held steady.

During November, 34.9% of Americans considered themselves to be Democrats, up from 33.1% in October. That’s just a tenth of a point below their best showing of 2011 which came in January.

Rasmussen Reports tracks this information based on telephone interviews with approximately 15,000 adults per month and has been doing so since November 2002. The margin of error for the full sample is less than one percentage point, with a 95% level of confidence.