Current Events

7% Say Feds Very Likely to Close Border If Immigration Plan Becomes Law

Republicans leaders in Congress are now pushing an immigration reform measure that paves a way to citizenship for those here illegally after the border is completely secured. Most voters still favor such a plan but remain highly skeptical that the federal government will actually close the border to stop future illegal immigration.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 57% of Likely U.S. Voters favor a comprehensive immigration reform plan that would give legal status to those who entered the country illegally but have otherwise obeyed the law – if the border is really secured to prevent future illegal immigration. Twenty-five percent (25%) oppose such a plan, while 19% are undecided about it. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 31-February 1, 2014 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.

58% Oppose GOP Plan for 500,000 Guest Workers Every Year

Republicans in the House of Representatives are proposing legislation that would allow the food industry to bring a half-million guest workers from other countries into the United States each year, and most voters don’t like the idea.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% of Likely U.S. Voters oppose legislation that allows food industry companies to hire 500,000 guest workers every year. Just half as many (29%) favor the proposal. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national telephone survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on January 15-16, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

North Korea Now Seen As Top U.S. Enemy

North Korea now has sole possession of first place on the list of top U.S. enemies, with fewer Americans now seeing Iran as a foe.

Eighty-one percent (81%) of American Adults view North Korea as an enemy of the United States, putting it again at the top of the list of 18 countries periodically tracked by Rasmussen Reports. A new national telephone survey finds that just two percent (2%) regard the politically isolated Communist country as a U.S. ally, while 10% think it’s somewhere in between an ally and an enemy. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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Two surveys of 1,000 American Adults each were conducted on January 4-5 and 10-11, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error for each survey is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

25% Favor U.S. Military Action in Iraq or Syria If Al Qaeda Takes Over

One-in-four voters is now prepared to take military action against Iraq or Syria if al-Qaeda-led forces win control there.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 40% of Likely U.S. Voters oppose U.S. military action against Syria or Iraq if either of those countries is taken over by al Qaeda or related terrorists. Twenty-five percent (25%) favor military action given this scenario. A sizable 34% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 7-8, 2014 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.

49% Support U.S. Military Aid for Iraq

The Obama administration has been quietly supplying the Iraqi military with missiles and drones to help fight an al-Qaeda led insurgency that is ratcheting up the violence in that country. Half of U.S. voters approve of that military aid, but they overwhelmingly oppose the return of U.S. troops to Iraq.

Forty-nine percent (49%) of Likely U.S. Voters favor the U.S. government sending drones and missiles to Iraq to help fight the terrorist-led insurgents. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 29% oppose that military assistance, but another 21% 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 26, 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.

33% See China’s Moon Landing as Bad for U.S.

The Chinese landed a lunar probe earlier this week, the first landing on the moon in nearly 40 years, but U.S. voters show no greater enthusiasm for returning to the moon than they did a year ago.

Just six percent (6%) of Likely U.S. Voters think it’s good for the United States that China has landed a space vehicle on the moon, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Thirty-three percent (33%) see the Chinese lunar probe as bad for this country, but a plurality (45%) feels it has no impact. Fifteen percent (15%) 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 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.

17% Expect Better U.S. Relations with Cuba

Many are wondering if President Obama's handshake with Cuban leader Raul Castro at this week's memorial service for Nelson Mandela signals a thaw in the relations between the two countries, but most voters don’t expect much of a change over the next year. 

Only 17% of Likely U.S. Voters believe America’s relationship with Cuba will be better a year from now, while 10% expect it to be worse. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% believe the U.S.-Cuban relationship will be about the same. Eighteen percent (18%) aren’t sure. These findings have changed little over the past four years. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

60% Think U.S. Not Aggressive Enough In Deporting Illegal Immigrants

More than 20 House Democrats last week urged President Obama to halt the deportation of illegal immigrants until Congress passes a comprehensive immigration reform plan, but voters by a two-to-one margin oppose that idea. Most already think the federal government is not vigilant enough in deporting those who are in this country illegally.

Only 29% of Likely U.S. Voters think the government should stop deporting illegal immigrants until Congress passes an immigration reform plan. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 57% oppose a halt to deportations. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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

59% Believe Health Law Problems Unlikely To Be Fixed in Next Year

Despite assurances from the Obama administration over the weekend that the problems with the federal health insurance exchange website have been fixed, voters need more convincing that Obamacare is on the right track.

Only 37% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it’s at least somewhat likely that the current problems with the new national health care law will be fixed within the next year. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% think that's unlikely. This includes 22% who say it's Very Likely those problems will be fixed in the coming year and 35% who say it's Not At All Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 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.

40% Are Less Likely to Vote for an Obamacare Supporter, 38% More Likely

Voters say overwhelmingly that the new national health care law is important to how they will vote in the next congressional election, but one-in-three aren’t sure whether their representative in Congress voted for the law or not. Voters are almost evenly divided over how much influence the law will have over their upcoming vote.

Thirty-eight percent (38%) of Likely U.S. Voters say they are more likely for vote for a member of Congress who supports the health care law. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that slightly more (40%) are less likely to vote for an incumbent congressman or congresswoman who supports the law. Fifteen percent (15%) say a member’s position on the law will have no impact on their vote. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 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.

81% Favor Repealing or Changing Health Care Law

Voters overwhelmingly want to change or repeal the new national health care law. One-out-of-two want to scrap it completely and start over again.

Given the problems associated with the law, a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% of Likely U.S. Voters believe Congress and the president should repeal it and start again from the beginning.  That’s up from 43% support in late October. Another 31% think Congress and the president should go through the law piece by piece to improve it.

Just 16% want to leave the law the way it is, down slightly from 18% four weeks ago.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 1, 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.

51% Oppose Health Law’s Contraceptive Mandate

Half of voters now oppose a government requirement that employers provide health insurance with free contraceptives for their female employees. But they remain closely divided when asked if a business should be allowed to opt out of such a mandate for religious reasons - the subject of a legal challenge of Obamacare now before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 38% of Likely U.S. Voters still believe businesses should be required by law to provide health insurance that covers all government-approved contraceptives for women without co-payments or other charges to the patient.  Fifty-one percent (51%) disagree and say employers should not be required to provide health insurance with this type of coverage. 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 1, 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.

51% Want All U.S. Troops Out of Afghanistan Next Year

The United States has proposed a security deal to Afghanistan that would leave some U.S. troops in that country after next year, but just over half of U.S. voters want all troops out of Afghanistan by then. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the United States should withdraw all troops from Afghanistan by 2014 and leave Afghan troops to fight the Taliban on their own. Thirty-eight percent (38%) would rather some U.S. troops remain in the country after next year. Ten percent (10%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 21-22, 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. 

37% Say U.S. Needs Israel’s Approval Before Making Nuclear Deal with Iran

Most U.S. voters favor the current negotiations with Iran that would reduce that country’s nuclear program in exchange for lifting some economic sanctions. Israel strongly opposes the proposed deal, but voters are closely divided on how important Israel's approval is to the U.S. diplomatic effort.

Though the latest negotiations collapsed over the weekend, 52% of Likely Voters still favor a U.S. deal with Iran if Iran’s cooperation can be verified. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 29% oppose the deal that would lift some economic sanctions in exchange for reductions in Iran's nuclear program. Nineteen percent (19%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 11-12, 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.

46% Think Obama Lied About Impact of Health Law, 45% Disagree

Voters are evenly divided when asked whether President Obama deliberately lied about the impact of the health care law before it was passed by Congress. But they strongly believe Americans should be able to keep their existing health insurance policies.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the president purposely misled Americans about the potential impact of the health care law. Forty-five percent (45%) disagree and think Obama honestly expected the law to work out the way he said it would. Ten percent (10%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 9-10, 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. 

54% Believe Federal Government Encourages Illegal Immigration

Most voters still believe the federal government encourages people to enter the United States illegally.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% of Likely U.S. voters feel the policies and practices of the federal government encourage illegal immigration. Twenty-two percent (22%) disagree, but just as many (23%) are not sure.

26% Favor U.S. Military Action if Syria Fails to Destroy Its Chemical Weapons

Voters generally don’t trust Syria to get rid of all of its chemical weapons as promised, but they still don’t support U.S. military action there even if that's the case.

Thirty-two percent (32%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe it’s at least somewhat likely that Syria will destroy all its chemical weapons capabilities on schedule as promised, including just eight percent (8%) who say it’s Very Likely. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 58% think Syria is not likely to eliminate all of its chemical weapons on schedule, with 24% who say it’s Not At All Likely to do so. Ten percent (10%) aren’t sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 3-4, 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.

40% Say Sebelius Should Be Fired or Resign, 41% Disagree

Voters overwhelmingly want to scrap or change the new national health care law but are evenly divided over whether Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius should lose her job because of the law's troubled debut.

Forty percent (40%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe Sebelius should be fired or resign because of the problems now being experienced with the new health care law. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 41% disagree and say Sebelius should not leave her job due to these problems. Nineteen percent (19%) more are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on October 30-31, 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.

43% Think Benghazi Will Hurt Hillary Clinton’s Candidacy in 2016

As CBS-TV’s “60 Minutes” program highlighted Sunday evening, serious questions remain about the murder a year ago of the U.S. ambassador to Libya, and a sizable number of voters think that incident will hurt Hillary Clinton’s chances for the presidency.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only four percent (4%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe the circumstances surrounding the murder of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans in Benghazi, Libya will help Clinton’s candidacy.  Forty-three percent (43%) think those circumstances will hurt the former secretary of State if she runs for the presidency in 2016, but nearly as many (41%) say they will have no impact. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on October 28-29, 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.

51% Favor Delaying Individual Mandate, 34% Oppose

Just over half of U.S. voters still want to delay the requirement that everyone must have health insurance, but support for delaying that mandate is down, despite the ongoing problems with government exchange websites set up to provide health insurance.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of Likely U.S. Voters think the Obama administration should delay the individual mandate because of the problems experienced by the health insurance exchanges. Thirty-four percent (34%) disagree and oppose any delay in the requirement that every American have health insurance by January 1. Fifteen percent (15%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on October 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.