Current Events

57% Think U.S. Should Stay Out of Political Unrest in Egypt

Voters are much more pessimistic about the government changes in Egypt brought about by the Arab Spring protests, but most believe the United States should stay out of the growing political unrest there.

Fifty-seven percent (57%) of Likely U.S. Voters feel the United States should leave the situation in Egypt alone. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 18% think America should get more involved in the Egyptian political situation, while 25% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 26-27, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage point with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology. 

50% Expect Health Care System To Get Worse Over Next Two Years

While a sizable number of U.S. voters believe today’s health care system is in good shape, half expect it to get worse in the coming years. The partisan differences on the issue are significant.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% of Likely Voters rate the U.S. health care system as good or excellent, including just nine percent (9%) who give it an excellent rating. Nineteen percent (19%) rate the current health care system as poor. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 25, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 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% Say U.S. Should Stay Out of Escalating Gaza Situation

Voters tend to blame the Palestinians for the escalating violence in Gaza but also are slightly more inclined to think the United States should stay out of the situation rather than help Israel.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% of Likely U.S. Voters feel the Palestinians are more to blame for the escalating military conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Just 12% think the Israelis are more to blame, but a sizable 38% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 18-19, 2012 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.

53% Favor Automatic Immigration Checks During Traffic Stops

Over half of voters still think police officers should automatically check someone’s immigration status if they pull them over, but that is the lowest finding to date.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of Likely U.S. Voters think police should automatically check immigration status during traffic stops, down from 60% in August. Thirty-seven percent (37%) do not think police should automatically check immigration status, the highest finding in surveys since November 2007. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 15, 2012 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.

32% Favor Raising Taxes to Shore Up Medicare

Nearly one-out-of-three Likely U.S. Voters (32%) now think raising taxes is the best way to make sure Medicare has enough money to cover all promised benefits. That's the highest finding to date.

Slightly more (34%) believe the best option is raising the eligibility age for future generations, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Ten percent (10%) support cutting the promised level of benefits, and 25% are not sure which is the best option. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 14, 2012 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% Favor A Welcoming Immigration Policy

Most voters continue to welcome newcomers to this country as long as they pose no threat to public safety.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the goal of immigration policy should be to keep out only criminals, national security threats and those who come here to life off the welfare system. Just 25% disagree with an immigration policy like this, while 16% more are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 15, 2012 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% Are Pro-Choice, 38% Pro-Life

More voters than ever now identify themselves as pro-choice when it comes to abortion, and most rate the issue as important to how they vote.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that 54% describe themselves as pro-choice on the issue of abortion, while 38% say they are pro-life. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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This survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 10-11, 2012 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.

Britain, Canada Still Seen As Top U.S. Allies

Canada and Great Britain remain the nations most Americans consider this country’s top allies. Iran and North Korea continue to top the enemies list.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 93% of American Adults now consider the northern neighbor of the United States to be an ally. Only one percent (1%) think of Canada as an enemy, and three percent (3%) rate it somewhere in between. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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These two surveys of 1,000 Adults each were conducted on October 16-17, 2012 and October 18-19, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error for each survey 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.

45% Think U.S.-Muslim Relations Worse Than Four Years Ago

President Obama in June 2009 in one of his first major foreign policy initiatives delivered a highly publicized speech in Cairo reaching out to Muslims worldwide after the conflict of the Bush years. But only 18% of Likely U.S. Voters think U.S. relations with the Islamic world are better now than they were four years ago.

A plurality (45%) of voters believe those relations have gotten worse since then, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Thirty-one percent (31%) say America’s relationship with the Islamic world is about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on September 21-22, 2012 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.

23% Blame Middle East Protests on Anti-Islamic Video

Most voters think the recent protests at U.S. embassies in the Middle East were pre-planned and not a reaction to an anti-Islamic video on YouTube. They also believe overwhelmingly that terrorists are likely to have been involved in the murder of the U.S. ambassador to Libya.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 57% of Likely U.S. Voters feel that the recent embassy protests largely have been planned in advance. Just 23% think they were spontaneous reactions to the anti-Islamic video. Nineteen percent (19%) are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on September 21-22, 2012 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% Think Government Aid Recipients Should Be Required to Prove Legal Residency

Despite the controversy over requiring photo identification at the polls, voters overwhelmingly believe those who receive government services should be required first to show they are in this country legally. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 81% of Likely U.S. Voters think individuals must prove they are legal U.S. residents before receiving government services here. Only nine percent (9%) disagree with such a requirement. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May September 11-12, 2012 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.

72% Put Freedom of Speech Ahead of Not Offending Other Cultures

Voters overwhelmingly rate protecting freedom of speech as more important than not offending other nations and cultures despite claims that the latest outbreak of anti-American violence in the Middle East is due to an amateur YouTube video that mocks Islam.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 72% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it is more important for the United States to guarantee freedom of speech. Only 15% consider it more important for the United States to make sure that nothing is done to offend other nations and cultures. Thirteen percent (13%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on September 13-14, 2012 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 29% Are Even Somewhat Confident Libya Will Punish Ambassador’s Killers

Most Americans believe the Libyan government may have had something to do with the murder this week of the U.S. ambassador there and are not confident that the Libyans will punish his killers. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of American Adults think it’s likely the government of Libya was involved in the murder of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans. Thirty percent (30%) consider that unlikely. This includes 31% who say it’s Very Likely the Libyan government was involved and just seven percent (7%) who believe it’s Not At All Likely. Nineteen percent (19%) are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on September 12-13, 2012 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.

31% Think Victory Possible in Afghanistan

Half of all voters still support an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and are evenly divided as to whether that nation is a vital national security interest for our nation.  

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that a plurality (49%) of Likely U.S. Voters favor an immediate withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Afghanistan, while 30% are opposed. Twenty-one percent (21%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 1-2, 2012 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 40% Expect to Get Full Social Security Benefits

Most voters continue to regard Social Security favorably but lack confidence that they will get all the retirement benefits promised to them.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 60% of Likely U.S. Voters have a favorable opinion of Social Security, while 33% view the government retirement system unfavorably. This includes 29% with a Very Favorable opinion and just 12% with a Very Unfavorable one. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 30-31, 2012 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.

47% Fear Health Care Law More Than Ryan’s Medicare Reform Plan

Democrats hope to make inroads in the senior vote by raising concerns about Mitt Romney running mate Paul Ryan’s Medicare reform proposal, but most seniors are more fearful of President Obama’s health care law than they are of Ryan’s plan.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that when it comes to the future of Medicare, 47% of Likely U.S. Voters are scared more of the health care law than of Ryan’s proposal.  Forty-one percent (41%) are more scared of what Ryan has proposed. Twelve percent (12%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 20-21, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error 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.

63% Oppose Driver’s Licenses, Public Benefits for Illegal Immigrants Who Get Work Permits

Most voters still agree with President Obama’s new policy allowing some young illegal immigrants to get legal work permits, but they strongly oppose also making these young people eligible for driver’s licenses or taxpayer-funded benefits.

Seventy-three percent (73%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe someone brought to this country illegally when he or she was under 16 years old who has no criminal record, has graduated from high school or served in the military should be allowed to apply for a legal work permit. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 19% think someone like this should be deported. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on August 16-17, 2012 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.

56% Put Border Control First

Most voters continue as they have for years to put border control ahead of legalizing the illegal immigrants already in this country.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of Likely U.S. Voters think gaining control of the border is more important than legalizing the status of undocumented workers already living here. Thirty-five percent (35%) put legalizing the status of undocumented workers first. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 6-7, 2012 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.

57% Favor Strict Sanctions On Those Who Hire Illegal Immigrants

Most voters continue to favor sanctions on those who hire illegal immigrants but seem to be a little less enthusiastic about it.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 57% of Likely U.S. Voters now favor strict sanctions for employers who hire illegal immigrants. That's down from 65% in April and the first time that support for strong sanctions against employers has fallen below the 60% mark in regular surveying since March 2009.

More in line with surveying earlier this year are the 25% of voters who oppose strict sanctions on employers. Nineteen percent (19%) are not sure about them. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

56% Think Loan Guarantees for Solyndra Were A Bad Idea

Most voters don’t think the federal government should have invested in the failed alternative energy firm Solyndra which ended up costing taxpayers more than a half-billion dollars. But most also think it’s business as usual for government officials to help companies they like.

Just 16% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it was a good idea for the government to provide loan guarantees for Solyndra, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-six percent (56%) disagree and say it was not a good idea for the government to help fund the company this way. Twenty-eight percent (28%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.