Current Events

More Voters Think It's Too Easy to Get An Abortion

The gap between pro-choice and pro-life voters has narrowed from recent surveys, and belief that getting an abortion in this country is too easy is stronger than it has been in over a year.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% of Likely U.S. Voters now consider themselves pro-choice, while 41% say they are pro-life. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 5-6, 2015 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.

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Americans Favor Government Water Control But Don’t Trust It

Americans approve of California’s state-mandated water restrictions in the face of an ongoing drought, even though most don’t trust the government to administer the regulations fairly. They also suspect more action will be necessary. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

[Have we heard from you yet? The 2015 Rasmussen Reports reader survey is the most important poll we’ll take all year. Take the survey now.]

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The survey of 800 American Adults was conducted on April 6-7, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Voters Even More Negative About Arab Spring’s Impact

As the violence in Yemen escalates, American voters continue to be skeptical about the political changes in the region brought about by the so-called “Arab Spring” and worry they have made the United States less safe. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 1-2, 2015 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.

Democrats See Mexico As Better Ally Than Israel

Americans continue to view Canada and Great Britain as our best friends, but Israel has tumbled down the list. Democrats by a 10-point margin now see Mexico as a better ally than the Jewish state. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 800 Adults was conducted on March 29-30, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Obamacare: Voters vs. SCOTUS

President Obama yesterday celebrated the fifth anniversary of Congress’ passage of his national health care law, but most Americans still don’t like it.

Fifty-two percent (52%) of Likely U.S. Voters view the law unfavorably, while 44% share a favorable opinion of Obamacare. This includes 15% with a Very Favorable view and 35% with a Very Unfavorable one.

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Afghanistan By The Numbers

President Obama has agreed to new Afghani President Ashraf Ghani’s request to delay U.S. troop withdrawals as America’s longest-running war keeps dragging on. Ghani is expected to give his thanks to the U.S. Congress in a speech today.

President George W. Bush launched the war in October 2001 to end Afghanistan’s harboring of al Qaeda terrorists training against the United States, but 13-and-a-half years later, few Americans believe that goal has been reached.

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60% Say Congress Needs to Sign Off on Any Iranian Nuke Deal

Voters remain lukewarm about the nuclear deal the Obama administration is negotiating with Iran, and most think it needs to be approved by Congress. But they aren’t happy with the letter 47 Republican senators sent to the Iranian government putting the current negotiations in question either. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 16-17, 2015 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.

60% Say Obama’s Deal Unlikely To Keep Iran From Nukes

Voters express little confidence in President Obama’s negotiations to slow Iran’s nuclear weapons program but are almost evenly divided over whether the open letter by Senate Republicans to the Iranian government to stop the deal was a good idea.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 31% of Likely U.S. Voters think Iran is likely to slow or stop its development of nuclear weapons as a result of the treaty the president is now negotiating. That includes only nine percent (9%) who say it’s Very Likely. Sixty percent (60%) believe the administration's deal is unlikely to put the brakes on Iran’s nuclear program, with 33% who say it’s Not At All Likely to work. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 10-11, 2015 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.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

Support Is Down for Enforcement of Existing Gun Laws

More than half of voters now oppose stricter gun control laws, and belief that the country needs stricter enforcement of laws that already exist is also down. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 2-3, 2015 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.

Is Bibi Winning His Case on Iran?

It looks like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is winning the argument so far over the deal President Obama is trying to make with Iran. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 4-5, 2015 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.

Should Obamacare Be Delayed Until Courts Are Through With It?

The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments today in a case that would eliminate the taxpayer-funded subsidies for many of those who have signed up for health insurance through Obamacare. Nearly half of voters think it’s a good idea to hold up the health care law until court cases like this are resolved. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 2-3, 2015 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.

Voters Are Less Opposed To Netanyahu Speech to Congress

Voters are a bit more open to the idea of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressing Congress tomorrow about Iran despite strong protest from the White House, and most consider it important whether their congressional representative is attending.

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The survey of 800 Likely Voters was conducted on February 26-27, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Is Global Warming to Blame for the Cold Weather?

With unusually cold weather hitting much of the country, the question naturally arises: Is this a normal periodic occurrence or is it caused by something out of the ordinary? (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 800 Likely Voters was conducted on February 12-13, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Global Warming vs. Terrorism? Voters Decide

President Obama said in a recent interview that the media overhypes the threat of terrorism and downplays the long-term threat of climate change and epidemic diseases. Voters by far, however, see terrorism as the bigger long-term threat to the United States. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 800 Likely Voters was conducted on February 12-13, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Voters Still So-So About Ukraine, Worry About Relations with Russia

The Obama administration is reportedly considering sending additional military aid including weapons to Ukraine to help it fight pro-Russian separatists. U.S. voters remain cool to that idea and worry about worsening U.S. relations with Russia.

Thirty-five percent (35%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe the United States should provide additional military assistance including weapons to Ukraine. But the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just as many (35%) are still opposed to sending lethal aid to Ukraine, while 30% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 800 Likely Voters was conducted on February 2-3, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Many Voters See U.S.-Israel Relations Deteriorating

While American voters aren’t entirely convinced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should address Congress about Iran despite protest from the White House, a plurality also believes the relationship between the United States and Israel has gotten colder since President Obama took office.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely Voters think Netanyahu should accept Republican congressional leaders’ invitation to address Congress about Iran even if President Obama does not want him to come. Thirty-five percent (35%) disagree and don’t think the Israeli prime minister should address Congress. Twenty-three percent (23%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 800 Likely Voters was conducted on January 29-30, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Voters Expect More Of The Same Under New Saudi King

Few U.S. voters think Saudi Arabia will become a more liberated society following the passing of King Abdullah and the quick succession of his half-brother, King Salman. While fewer voters view the kingdom as an enemy of the United States these days, they criticize its handling of Islamic terrorism and think it gets away with too many human rights abuses.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 22% of Likely U.S. Voters think it is at least somewhat likely that Saudi Arabia will become a freer and more democratic society over the next few years. Sixty-one percent (61%) see those changes as unlikely. This includes just two percent (2%) who think Saudi Arabia will be a more open society and 18% who think that’s Not At All Likely. A sizable 17% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 800 Likely Voters was conducted on January 23-24, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Americans Defend Media’s Right to Say What They Want

Americans have mixed feelings about how media organizations treat religion in this country, but they strongly defend their right to say what they want to.

Just 44% of American Adults think the media in this country are generally respectful of organized religion and those who practice it. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that nearly as many (36%) say the media is not respectful of religions and people of faith. Twenty percent (20%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 800 American Adults was conducted on January 8-9, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Americans Think Charlie-like Attack Likely Here

Americans are hesitant to link the terrorist massacre in Paris this past week to the true beliefs of Islam, but many worry a similar attack on those critical of the religion in the United States could happen in the near future.

Sixty-five percent (65%) of American Adults believe it is at least somewhat likely an attack on those critical of Islam will happen in this country in the next year. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 26% think an attack similar to the one against the satirical Parisian publication Charlie Hebdo which mocked radical Islamicists is unlikely to happen here. This includes 29% who say such an attack is Very Likely and just five percent (5%) who say it’s Not At All Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 800 American Adults was conducted on January 8-9, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Voters to Mexico: Stop Illegal Immigrants or Lose U.S. Aid

Most U.S. voters think the Mexican government doesn’t do enough to stop illegal immigration and drug trafficking and favor stopping foreign aid to our southern neighbor until it does more to prevent illegal border crossings.

Just 14% of Likely U.S. Voters think the Mexican government wants to stop its citizens from illegally entering the United States, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-five percent (55%) say Mexico is not interested in stopping illegal immigration. But 31% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 800 Likely U.S. Voters was conducted on January 5-6, 2015 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.