General Politics

Voters More Favorable Toward Women, Gays in Military

Voters have become more accepting of women and gay and lesbian soldiers taking larger roles in the U.S. military than they have been in the past.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 49% of Likely U.S. Voters say the growing role of women in the military services is good for the military, tying February’s high, though that number has stayed in the narrow 45% to 49% range since polling began in late 2013. Just 15% now think women’s growing roles are bad for the military, down from 17%. One-in-three (30%) think it has no impact on the U.S. military. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

One Year Later, 82% Say Government Shutdown Has Had Little Impact on Them

Voters think last year’s partial shutdown of the federal government never should have happened, but the vast majority acknowledges that the shutdown has had little or no impact on them personally. The shutdown began a year ago this week amid protests from President Obama and senior congressional Democrats that it would have a disastrous effect on the U.S. economy, and 26% of Likely U.S. Voters agree that the overall impact of the shutdown has been as bad as predicted. But the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% disagree and say the overall impact has not been as bad as predicted. Twenty-three percent (23%) 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 1-2, 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. 

47% Think Holder More Interested in Politics Than in Justice

Voters think Eric Holder played politics as U.S. attorney general and hope President Obama picks someone who’s not like him to be the nation’s next top law enforcement officer. But those who view the Constitution as “a living document” are much more appreciative of his efforts than those who favor a strict interpretation of that document.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 47% of Likely U.S. Voters believe Holder was more interested in politics than in administering justice in a fair way. Just 28% disagree and think fair administration of justice was Holder’s chief interest. Nearly as many (25%) aren’t sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 27-28, 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.

Voters Favor More Action Against ISIS, but How Will Muslims Feel?

Voters are on board with President Obama's decision to step up action against the radical Islamic group ISIS in the Middle East and think involvement by Muslim nations increase the mission’s chances of success. But voters are less confident how this latest offensive will impact relations between the United States and the Muslim world.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 65% of Likely Voters agree with the president’s decision to increase the use of U.S. military force in the Middle East. Nineteen percent (19%) disagree, while 16% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely U.S. Voters was conducted on September 25-26, 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.

42% Think Romney Would Be Doing A Better Job Than Obama

With President Obama's job approval rating hovering near -20, some inevitably wonder what if the last two presidential elections had turned out differently.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters believe Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney would be doing a better job as president today than Obama is. Thirty-seven percent (37%), however, think Romney would be doing a worse job, while 12% think he would be doing about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

Obama and Hillary: Friends or Foes?

Voters tend to think a Hillary Clinton presidency would be like the Obama presidency when it comes to the major issues and expect President Obama to endorse his former secretary of State. But they’re not so sure the two top Democrats like each other.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 28% of Likely U.S. Voters think Clinton and Obama like each other. Thirty-four percent (34%) say they don’t. Slightly more (37%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 23-24, 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.

GOP Voters Think Republicans in Congress Out of Touch

Democrats continue to feel much more strongly than Republicans that their representatives in Congress are doing a good job fighting for what their party believes in. But most voters in both parties think the current Congress should be thrown out.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 28% of Likely Republican Voters believe Republicans in Congress have done a good job representing GOP values. By contrast, nearly twice as many Likely Democratic Voters (53%) believe Democrats in Congress have done a good job representing their party’s values.

Sixty-two percent (62%) of Republicans think instead that their legislators have lost touch with GOP voters from throughout the nation. Only 33% of Democrats think their congressional representatives have lost touch with the party’s base. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

Voters Think Overworked U.S. Troops Will Soon Be Fighting In Iraq

Most voters believe the U.S. military has too many missions these days and think it’s likely that fighting in Iraq will soon be another job for it to do. But while President Obama is reportedly sending 3,500 military personnel to Africa to fight Ebola, voters say patrolling the border to prevent illegal immigration would be a better use for those forces.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 55% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the U.S. military is overstretched these days. Just 31% think the military can adequately handle the number of missions it has. Fourteen percent (14%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 17-18, 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.

Voters See ‘War on Women’ As Politics, Not Reality

Most voters don’t consider the so-called “war on women” a war at all but see it as just a political tactic. But women are less convinced than men that they share the same political interests.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 22% of Likely U.S. Voters believe there is really a political “war on women” going on. Fifty-nine percent (59%) say the “war on women” is primarily a slogan used for political purposes instead. But 19% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 13-14, 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.

Voters Still Say No to D.C. Statehood

Most voters still don’t think Washington, D.C. should be a state, and they remain closely divided over whether Congress should give up its long-standing veto power over the city’s laws and budget.

The U.S. Constitution designates the nation’s capital as a federal district, not a state, and only 24% of Likely U.S. Voters believe that should be changed. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% oppose statehood for Washington, D.C. Eighteen percent (18%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 15-16, 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.

Most Voters Still Want Government to Cut Spending to Boost Economy

In reacting to the nation’s current economic problems, more voters worry the government won’t do enough than that it will do too much. However, they hope the government’s response is to cut spending, not increase it.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of Likely U.S. Voters are more concerned that the government won't dip enough in responding to the bad economy. Just 38% are more worried that the government will do too much. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

Voters Agree with Obama’s Plans to Fight ISIS

President Obama in a nationally televised speech last week outlined his plans for fighting the radical group that calls itself the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS, also known as ISIL), and voters are mostly supportive of those plans. Just over half also agree with the president that despite its name, the extremist group does not represent the true beliefs of Islam.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 66% of Likely U.S. Voters favor the president's plan for expanding U.S. airstrikes beyond Iraq to Syria to help defeat ISIS. Sixteen percent (16%) oppose this plan, while 18% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

Voters Oppose Tax, Spending Hikes But Think Obama Disagrees

Voters continue to believe cutting taxes and government spending will help the economy, but many still expect the Obama administration to do just the opposite.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% of Likely U.S. Voters believe taxes will go up under the Obama administration. This is up four points from 37% in June which was the lowest level measured in nearly two years. Just nine percent (9%) think taxes will go down, while 38% say they will stay about the same. 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 September 9-10, 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.

Just 63% Know Which Parties Control the House and Senate

Over one-third of Likely U.S. Voters remain unaware which political party controls the House of Representatives and which has a majority in the Senate - less than two months before an election that may put one party in charge of both.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 63% are aware that Republicans have majority control of the House. An identical number (63%) know that Democrats run the Senate.

Twenty percent (20%) mistakenly believe Democrats control the House, while 17% are not sure. Similarly, 18% think the GOP is in charge in the Senate, but 19% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

Do Americans Remember 9/11?

On the 13th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, most Americans continue to believe the country has changed for the worse and are evenly divided as to whether Americans have forgotten the impact of that horrific day.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 14% of U.S. Adults believe the United States has changed for the better since 9/11. Sixty-one percent (61%) believe America has changed for the worse, though that’s down from 67% a year ago. Eleven percent (11%) say the country hasn’t changed, but 14% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on September 6-7, 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.

Americans Feel More Certain Another 9/11 is Looming

The number of Americans who consider another attack on the scale of September 11, 2001 Very Likely is at its highest level since before the killing of Osama bin Laden. But even though the radical Islamic group ISIS continues to make big threats against the United States from the Middle East, Americans still fear an attack from within more than one from outside.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that two-out-of-three American Adults (67%) think it is at least somewhat likely that another 9/11 will take place in the next 10 years, including 34% who consider it Very Likely. The latter figure is up from 30% a year ago and the highest finding since 2010 when 39% felt another major attack was Very Likely. Bin Laden was killed the following May, and concern dropped somewhat. But only 20% of Americans think a similar attack is unlikely in the next decade, with just three percent (3%) who consider it Not At All Likely. Thirteen percent (13%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on September 6-7, 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.

Democrats Are More Likely to Vote Early

Just over half of Americans think they’ll wait to Election Day to cast their ballots even if their state offers early voting.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% of Likely Voters in states that allow early voting say they are likely to take advantage of that opportunity. But 52% say they are more likely to wait until Election Day. Seven percent (7%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

Voters Don’t Want U.S. Troops Fighting ISIS Without International Help

Voters show even more support for continued airstrikes in Iraq against the radical Islamic group ISIS despite a second public beheading of a U.S. journalist in retaliation for those strikes. Nearly half now support sending U.S. combat troops to fight ISIS as part of an international coalition but are less enthused about U.S. troops fighting alone.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 75% of Likely Voters believe the United States should continue its airstrikes against the radical Islamic group ISIS. Just 13% think the United States should discontinue the airstrikes to protect other Americans in the region. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

73% Worry About Obama’s Lack of Strategy for ISIS

Voters regard the radical Islamic terrorist group ISIS as a major threat to the United States and are very worried that President Obama doesn’t have a strategy for dealing with the problem. They remain reluctant to send U.S. troops back to Iraq to take on ISIS, but support is growing.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 67% of Likely U.S. Voters consider the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) a serious threat to this country. Just 13% disagree, while another 20% are not sure. (To see survey questions wording, click here.)

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

Voters Think Justice Department Motivated Mostly by Politics

Most voters have an unfavorable opinion of the U.S. Department of Justice and think it is more interested in politics than in serving justice. Voters are also strongly opposed to more federal control over their local police.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 38% of Likely U.S. Voters have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of the Justice Department, while 53% view it unfavorably. This includes only nine percent (9%) with a Very Favorable view and 26% with a Very Unfavorable one. (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 August 26-27, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.