General Politics

68% Think Election Rules Rigged for Incumbents

More voters than ever now say U.S. elections are rigged to favor incumbents and are unfair to voters.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% of Likely U.S. Voters now say American elections are not fair to voters, up from 46% in April and the highest finding in surveys since 2004. Thirty-nine percent (39%) think elections are fair, but 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 July 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.

34% Think U.S. Support for Israel Hurts America With Other Nations

Most voters want the United States to stay out of the latest flare-up between the Israelis and the Palestinians, with one-out-of-three who believe U.S. support for Israel hurts this country with other nations.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the Palestinians are more to blame for the escalating military conflict in Gaza, while only 15% think the Israelis are chiefly to blame. But a sizable 43% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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58% Think American Society is Fair and Decent

Most voters still think American society is generally fair and decent and believe those who immigrate here should adopt the culture.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% of Likely U.S. Voters think American society is generally fair and decent, while 32% say it’s generally unfair and discriminatory. Ten percent (10%) are not sure. This is in line with surveys since early 2013. Prior to that time, belief that American society was fair and decent regularly ran in the low to mid-60s. (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 July 7-8, 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.

54% Think GOP Takeover of Senate Likely

Most voters now think Republicans are likely to win control of Congress in this November’s elections and believe Americans will see a noticeable change in their lives because of it.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% of Likely U.S. Voters think it is at least somewhat likely that the GOP will win a majority in the Senate this November. That’s a 10-point increase from early January and includes 20% who say it is Very Likely. Twenty-nine percent (29%) consider a Republican takeover of the Senate to be unlikely, but that includes only five percent (5%) who say it is 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 July 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.

55% Think Women Should Be Allowed to Fight on the Front Lines

The U.S. Navy just named its first female four-star admiral last week, and nearly half of voters think the growing role of women in military services is good for the military.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% of Likely U.S. Voters consider the growing role of women in the U.S. military a good thing. That’s up from 45% in April but generally in line with surveys since late last year. Seventeen percent (17%) think more women in the services is bad for the military, while 29% think it has no impact. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

71% Think IRS Likely to Have Destroyed E-mails to Hide Guilt

Most voters think it’s likely the IRS deliberately destroyed e-mails about its investigations of Tea Party and other conservative groups to hide its criminal behavior. Two-out-of-three now believe IRS employees involved in these investigations should be jailed or fired, and most suspect the agency of targeting other political opponents of the Obama administration.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of Likely U.S. Voters believe that the Internal Revenue Service broke the law when it targeted Tea Party and other conservative groups.  That’s up from 49% earlier this year and back to the level seen last September. Little changed from the early surveys are the 22% who think the IRS did not break the law. Slightly more (25%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 26-27, 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.

44% Still Think Benghazi Will Hurt Hillary Clinton in 2016

A plurality of voters continues to believe the Benghazi controversy will negatively impact Hillary Clinton’s expected bid for the presidency, little changed in surveys since last fall.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters think the circumstances surrounding the murder of the U.S. ambassador and three other U.S. Embassy employees in Libya will hurt the former secretary of State if she runs for president in 2016. That compares to 46% in January and 43% who felt that way when we first asked the question last October. Seven percent (7%) think the Benghazi issue will help Clinton if she runs for the White House. Thirty-eight percent (38%) say it will have no impact. 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 June 18-19, 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.

56% Oppose Moving Marathon Bombing Suspect’s Trial Out of Boston

Most voters believe trials should be held in the places where the crimes were committed and oppose moving the trial of the Boston Marathon bombing suspect out of Boston.

The defense lawyers for bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev want to move his trial to Washington, DC because they feel the pool of potential jurors in Boston is too prejudiced, but just 22% of Likely U.S. Voters favor moving that trial out of Boston. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% are opposed to such a move. Twenty-one percent (21%) 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 June 22-23, 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.

64% Favor Death Penalty for Benghazi Killings Suspect

Voters strongly believe the Islamic militant seized Sunday night as a suspect in the murder of the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans in Libya should be tried here and, if found guilty, should be sentenced to death.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that despite the Libyan government’s demand that Ahmed Abu Khattalah be returned to their country, 70% of Likely U.S. Voters believe he should be tried in U.S. courts. Just 14% think the man identified by the Obama administration as the mastermind behind the killings should be returned to the Libyans. Fifteen percent (15%) 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 June 18-19, 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.

55% Expect Government Spending to Go Up Under Obama

Most voters still think government spending will increase under President Obama, but the number who expect tax hikes during the remainder of his second term remains at its recent low. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 37% of Likely U.S. Voters expect their own personal taxes to go up under the Obama administration. That is unchanged from March and ties the lowest level measured since November 2012. A year ago, 47% expected taxes to increase. Still, just nine percent (9%) now expect their taxes to go down under Obama, while 44% predict that they will stay about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 14-15, 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.

63% View Quick Fixes to Obamacare Unlikely

Voters still doubt the problems with Obamacare will be fixed in the near future but also remain closely divided over how the new health care law will influence their vote in the November congressional election.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 63% of Likely U.S. Voters think it is unlikely that most of the current problems with the health care law will be fixed within the next year. This finding has inched up from 59% in December after the troubled rollout of the law and 60% in February. Thirty-five percent (35%) believe the law is likely to be fixed by then. These findings include 12% who say most of the law’s problems are Very Likely to be fixed within a 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 June 8-9, 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.

65% Would Rather Be Called A Good Citizen Than A Patriot

Americans would rather be seen as good citizens than patriots and are closely divided on the role of the government in bringing about needed change.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 25% of American Adults rate being a patriot ahead of being a good citizen. Sixty-five percent (65%) would rather be called a good citizen instead. Surveys of likely U.S. voters have found this sentiment on the rise from 52% in May 2010 to 62% two years ago. (To see survey question wording, click here)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 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.

29% Favor Ban on Hate Speech

Most Americans still worry about so-called hate speech but strongly defend an individual's right to say what he or she wants without government interference

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 67% of American Adults consider hate speech at least a somewhat serious problem in America today, up 10 points from a year ago. This includes 30% who say it is a Very Serious one. Just 27% rate hate speech as a not very or Not At All serious problem. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 5-6, 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.

61% Think America is Too Politically Correct

Mozilla CEO Brendan Eich's recent forced resignation over a political contribution he made three years ago in support of traditional marriage prompted even leading gay columnist Andrew Sullivan to say political correctness has gone too far. More Americans than ever consider the United States too politically correct, and most agree that a company's product is more important than the views of those who run the company.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 61% of American Adults believe America today has become too politically correct. That number has been climbing since October 2010. Just 12% think the United States is not politically correct enough, while 16% think the amount of political correctness is about right. Eleven percent (11%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 5-6, 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.

37% of GOP Voters Say Tea Party Will Hurt Their Party in 2014 Elections

In a survey conducted prior to last night’s stunning defeat of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor by a Tea Party candidate in Virginia, Republican voters are showing slightly less enthusiasm for the movement and its potential impact on this year’s elections. But GOP voters remain strongly convinced that it is important for Republicans in Congress to work with the Tea Party.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 27% of all Likely Voters view the Tea Party movement favorably. Fifty percent (50%) view the smaller government/lower taxes movement unfavorably. A sizable 22% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 4-5, 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 Like New EPA Emissions Controls But Say Congress Needs to OK First

Voters continue to have a love-hate relationship with environmental regulations. Most approve of the EPA’s new restrictions on carbon dioxide emissions even though they expect energy costs to rise as a result, but they also don’t think the agency should be able move ahead on energy controls like this without Congress’ approval.

Fifty-seven percent (57%) of Likely U.S. Voters approve of new environmental regulations to place stricter limits on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just 30% oppose the regulations intended to reduce the emissions 30% by the year 2030 as part of the EPA’s effort to fight global warming. 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 June 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.

56% Want Federal Spending Cuts Across the Board

Most voters still recognize a need for spending cuts in the federal budget, but few are convinced they’ll actually happen. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of Likely U.S. Voters think thoughtful spending cuts should be considered in every program of the federal government. That’s down from 59% in February and 63% in October 2013. One-in-three (31%) disagree, while another 13% 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 May 29-30, 2014 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.

42% Think Snowden Is A Spy

Edward Snowden said in a recent television interview that he is a patriot, but a sizable number of voters think the man who disclosed the National Security Agency’s domestic phone and email surveillance program should be considered a spy instead.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 31% of Likely U.S. Voters have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of the 30-year-old Snowden, while 48% view him unfavorably. This includes seven percent (7%) with a Very Favorable view of the former NSA intelligence analyst and 20% with a Very Unfavorable one. Eight percent (8%) say they have never heard of Snowden, while 13% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 31-June 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.

40% Approve of POW/Taliban Prisoner Swap, 43% Oppose

Most voters oppose hostage negotiations with terrorist groups like the Taliban, but voters are almost evenly divided over the prisoner swap that freed the only known U.S. military POW in Afghanistan.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 40% of Likely U.S. Voters agree with the U.S. government’s decision to release five Taliban leaders from the Guantanamo terrorist prison camp in exchange for the one U.S. military prisoner of war behind held by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Slightly more voters (43%) disagree with that decision. Seventeen percent (17%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

60% Say U.S. Leaders Send Troops Into Danger Too Often

U.S. voters continue to believe the nation’s leaders are too eager to send American soldiers into action, with nearly half who say the United States is already too involved in the affairs of other nations.

Just 33% of Likely U.S. Voters think the current level of U.S. involvement around the globe is about right. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% believe the United States is too involved in the affairs of other countries, while 11% say America is not involved enough. (To see survey question wording, click here.)