Current Events

63% Oppose Return of U.S. Troops to Iraq

As U.S. troops formally leave Iraq bringing the nearly nine-year-old war to a close, the majority of U.S. voters believe that country is better off than when dictator Saddam Hussein was in power, but they're not so sure Iraq will become a peaceful, democratic nation anytime soon. If civil war breaks out in Iraq, voters strongly believe U.S. troops should not get involved.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that 61% believe the Iraqi people are better off today compared to when Hussein was in power.

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The 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 methodology.

60% Think Federal Government Encourages Illegal Immigration

Voters continue to believe strongly that the federal government’s actions are encouraging illegal immigration even as the Obama administration announces bias charges against a popular Arizona sheriff for his anti-immigration efforts. Also this week, the U.S. Supreme Court sped up its review of the Justice Department’s legal challenge of state laws aimed at stopping illegal immigration.

52% Support Arizona-Like Immigration Law in Their State

The U.S. Supreme Court Monday announced it will decide whether the Arizona immigration law passed last year violates the Constitution, and a new survey finds that half of voters still support a similar immigration law for their own state.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that 52% favor passage of an immigration law similar to Arizona’s in their state. Thirty-four percent (34%) oppose such a law in their state, while 15% more are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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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 ith a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

55% Favor Repeal of Health Care Law

Most voters still want to repeal the national health care law, even though they tend to believe the law won’t force them to change their own health insurance coverage.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 55% of Likely U.S. Voters at least somewhat favor repeal of the health care law passed by Congress in March 2010, while 35% at least somewhat oppose repeal. The intensity remains on the side of the law’s opponents since these findings include 42% who Strongly Favor repeal versus 26% who are Strongly Opposed. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The 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.

55% Say U.S. Should Never Have Been Involved in Iraq

Vice President Joe Biden late last week presided over the transfer of the chief U.S. military facility in Iraq to the Iraqi military, bringing even closer an end to the U.S. war there. Most voters remain convinced that the United States should never have invaded Iraq in March 2003 and believe all U.S. troops should be brought home by the end of this month as planned.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 29% of Likely U.S. Voters believe, looking back, that the United States should have become involved in Iraq. Fifty-five percent (55%) say America never should have gotten involved an even more negative assessment than we found in February.

(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 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.

59% Want US Troops Home from Afghanistan

As trouble with neighboring Pakistan shines a new spotlight on a troubled region, most voters are ready to bring U.S. troops home from Afghanistan.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of Likely Voters nationwide want the troops to come home either immediately or within a year. Twenty-nine percent (29%) oppose any firm timetable and 12% 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 November 28-29, 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.

65% Want to End Aid to Pakistan

Hardly any Americans view Pakistan as an ally of the United States and there is strong support for ending all foreign aid to that country.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 65% of Likely Voters want to all military and financial aid to Pakistan. Only 11% want it to continue while 24% are not sure.

Just 3% view Pakistan as an ally and 25% see it as an enemy. Most (62%) see it somewhere in between.

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

Most Voters Still Favor Health Care Repeal and Think It’s Likely

In the first Rasmussen Reports tracking poll since the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review the constitutionality of the new national health care law, most voters to continue to favor the law’s repeal and think repeal is likely.

Fifty-three percent (53%) of Likely U.S. Voters at least somewhat favor repeal of the law, with 40% who Strongly Favor it. A new national telephone survey shows that 40% at least somewhat oppose repeal, including 28% who are Strongly Opposed.

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 27, 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.

32% Not At All Confident That They’ll Get All Their Social Security Benefits

Most voters continue to feel they are unlikely to receive their full Social Security benefits when they retire but still give the federal retirement program generally favorable marks.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that only 41% of Likely U.S. Voters are at least somewhat confident that the Social Security system will pay them all their promised retirement benefits during their lifetime.

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 19-20, 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. 

35% See ‘Arab Spring’ Changes As Good for the United States

Most U.S. voters don’t view the political changes in countries like Egypt during this year’s so-called Arab Spring as good for the United States, and even fewer expect any of those countries to become U.S. allies.

Just 35% of Likely U.S. Voters say the new governments being established in nations such as Egypt, Libya and Tunisia are good for America.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 24% think those changes are bad for this country, while 12% believe they will have no impact.

(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 nationwide was conducted on November 17-18, 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 High: 65% Oppose Automatic Citizenship for Children Born Here to Illegal Immigrants

Voters oppose more strongly than ever granting automatic U.S. citizenship to a child born to an illegal immigrant in this country.

Now, nearly two-out-of-three Likely U.S. Voters (65%) say if a woman enters the United States as an illegal alien and gives birth to a child here, that child should not automatically become a U.S. citizen.

69% Say Federal Government Lacks Authority To Force Purchase of Health Insurance

As the Supreme Court considers the constitutionality of the health care law, American voters overwhelming reject the notion that the federal government has the authority to force anyone to buy health insurance.

(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 U.S. Voters was conducted on November 15-16, 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.

60% Put Border Control Ahead of Legalizing Undocumented Workers

Most voters continue to believe immigration policy should focus first on border control.  At the same time, they favor a welcoming immigration policy that excludes criminals and other threats to society. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 60% of Likely Voters believe it is more important to gain control of the border than to  legalize the status of undocumented workers already living in the United States.

38% Favor Military Action If Diplomacy Fails to Stop Iran's Nuclear Program

Voters are strongly convinced that Iran will develop nuclear weapons in the near future and are pessimistic about diplomatic efforts to prevent this from happening. But they're narrowly divided over whether U.S. military force should be used if diplomacy fails to dissuade Iran from its course.

Thirty-eight percent (38%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe the United States should use military force to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons if diplomatic efforts fail.

The survey of 1,000 U.S. Likely Voters each were conducted on November 11-12, 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 Low: 50% Expect Costs To Rise Under Health Care Law

Most voters still favor repeal of the national care law, but concern about its impact on the federal deficit and the cost of health care are down to new lows.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that 55% at least somewhat favor repeal of the health care law, with 42% who Strongly Favor it. Thirty-seven percent (37%) at least somewhat oppose repeal, with 26% who are Strongly Opposed.

(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 November 11-12, 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.

Most Believe Reporters Publish Damaging Info First, Check Facts Later

If it hurts a candidate they don’t like, most voters believe that reporters would publish damaging allegations first and seek to verify the facts later.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 54% of likely voters nationwide believe most reporters would follow the “publish first” approach while 34% believe the reporters would try to verify the facts before publishing them.

Just 33% Confident They’ll Get All Their Promised Medicare Benefits

Most voters still have a favorable opinion of Medicare but aren’t confident that they will get all their promised benefits. However, most also aren’t willing to pay more in taxes to make sure those benefits are covered.

54% Favor Repeal of Health Care Reform Law

Most voters nationwide still favor repeal of the national health care law, but fewer than half of those who already have health insurance think the law will force a change in their coverage.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that 54% at least somewhat favor repeal of the health care law, with 42% who Strongly Favor it. Thirty-nine percent (39%) at least somewhat oppose repeal, with 27% who are Strongly Opposed. (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 October 28-29, 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.

49% Oppose Single-Payer Health Care System

Roughly half (49%) of Americans oppose a single-payer health care system where the federal government provides coverage for everyone.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 35% of American Adults favor a single-payer health care system. Sixteen percent (16%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

North Korea, Iran Top List of U.S. Enemies

While Canada and Great Britain are still seen as America’s top allies, most Americans also continue to think of Iran and North Korea as the nation’s worst enemies.