General Politics

51% Favor Government Shutdown Until Congress Cuts Health Care Funding

President Obama yesterday criticized congressional Republicans for insisting on spending cuts in any budget deal that continues government operations past October 1, saying they risk "economic chaos." Most voters agree a federal government shutdown would be bad for the economy, but they're willing to risk one until Democrats and Republicans in Congress agree on ways to cut the budget, including cuts in funding for the new national health care law.

Just 20% of Likely U.S. Voters believe a partial shutdown of the federal government would be good for economy, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-six percent (56%) say such a shutdown would be bad for the economy, even though payments for things like Social Security, Medicare and unemployment would continue. Sixteen percent (16%) think it would have no impact. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

30% Say Another 9/11 Very Likely in Next Decade

As the nation observes the 12th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, most Americans continue to believe a similar terrorist attack is at least somewhat likely in the next 10 years. But fewer Americans than ever believe the country has forgotten the impact of the events that horrific day.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 69% of American Adults believe another 9/11 is at least somewhat likely in the next 10 years, with 30% who say it's Very Likely. Twenty-one percent (21%) say another 9/11 is unlikely during the next decade, but that includes only three percent (3%) who say it’s Not At All Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on September 7-8, 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.

47% Trust GOP More on National Security, 32% Trust Democrats More

As President Obama faces increasing opposition over his plans for a military attack on Syria, voters increasingly trust Republicans more to handle issues related to national security.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 47% of Likely U.S. Voters now trust Republicans more when it comes to dealing with national security and the War on Terror. That’s up four points from July and the highest level of trust in the GOP on this issue since October. Just 32% now trust Democrats more, down from 40% and the lowest level of confidence in the president's party since October 2009. One-in-five (20%) are not sure which party they trust more. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

Voters Still Consider NSA Spying As Least Serious Scandal but Most Likely to Linger

Roughly half of voters still think the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of conservative groups, the Obama administration’s handling of the Benghazi matter and the Justice Department’s secret probe of reporters’ records are serious scandals. The National Security Agency’s domestic surveillance program is viewed less seriously but seen as the most likely to be a lingering story.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 39% of Likely U.S. Voters regard the NSA’s secret surveillance of Americans’ phone and e-mail communications as a serious scandal. That’s down slightly from 43% two months ago. Thirty-two percent (32%) now think it’s an embarrassing situation but not a scandal. Twenty-one percent (21%) say it’s no big deal. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

31% Think al Qaeda Weaker Now Than Before 9/11 Attacks

While the debate continues over the presence of al Qaeda fighters among the Syrian rebels, Americans’ confidence in the weakening of that terrorist organization has fallen to levels not seen since before the killing of Osama bin Laden. Most Americans also continue to worry more about a domestic terror attack than one from outside our borders. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 31% of American Adults now believe al Qaeda is weaker than it was before the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack. Belief that al Qaeda was weaker jumped from a low of 25% on the 9/11 anniversaries in 2009 and 2010 to 48% in May 2011 following bin Laden's death.  It rose to 50% in September of that year. This finding was still at 48% a year ago.

Twenty-nine percent (29%) now believe al Qaeda today is stronger than it was before 9/11. Another 29% say the group’s strength hasn’t changed since the attacks 12 years ago. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on September 7-8, 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. 

42% Favor Candidate Who Opposes All Tax Increases

Voters are still in agreement that tax cuts and government spending decreases help the economy, and support for a candidate who would oppose all tax increases is at its highest level in over a year.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters would be more likely to vote for a candidate who promised to oppose all tax increases over one who would only raise taxes on the rich. Forty-one percent (41%) would vote for the one who would only raise taxes on the wealthy. 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 August 27-28, 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% Think U.S. Still Lacks Equal Opportunity

Martin Luther King, Jr. preached about a day when men and women of all races would have equal opportunity in America. Most voters still don’t think that day has come, but they’re closely divided over the role the federal government has played in the process. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 27% of Likely U.S. Voters think America has reached a day of equal opportunity for all. Fifty-nine percent (59%) disagree and say the country has not yet achieved equal opportunity. Thirteen percent (13%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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

10% Think Race Relations Better Since Obama Elected

Voters think America’s a better place since Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous “I have a dream” speech 50 years ago this week, but nearly nine-out-of-10 say race relations have gotten worse or remained about the same since the election of the nation’s first black president.

Sixty-nine percent (69%) of Likely U.S. Voters think race relations in this country are better today than they were 50 years ago. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 13% think those relations are worse today, while just as many (15%) say race relations are about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here). 

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

45% of GOP Voters Think It's Very Important Party Leaders Work With Tea Party

Though most voters in general believe the Tea Party has less influence these days, most Republicans say it’s important for the congressional GOP to work with the grass roots movement. Fifty-four percent (54%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe the Tea Party has become less influential over the past year, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twenty-five percent (25%) say the movement has become more influential, while nearly as many (22%) are undecided.  These findings are similar to those found in January. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 25-26, 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.

42% of Republicans Like Shutdown Strategy to Stop Funding of Health Care Law

Republicans tend to think a GOP congressional threat to shut down the federal government to halt funding for President Obama’s health care law will be good for their party, but other voters disagree. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely Republican Voters think that threatening to vote against a government funding bill unless it cuts off funds for the health care law will help the GOP. Twenty-eight percent (28%) disagree and believe it will hurt their party. Fourteen percent (14%) say it will have no impact, and 16% aren’t sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 25-26, 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.

Voters Remain Conflicted About Manning's, Snowden's Actions

Voters rate the damage done to U.S. national security by recently convicted Army intelligence analyst Bradley Manning and former government contractor Edward Snowden as about even, but a sizable number are undecided. When asked to compare the two, 31% of Likely U.S. Voters believe Snowden’s release of information about the National Security Agency’s domestic surveillance activities hurt national security more, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Nearly as many (27%) believe Manning's leaking of a massive number of secret documents to the WikiLeaks website did more damage to the country's security. But a plurality (42%) is not sure which action was more harmful. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

51% Believe Manning Should Have to Serve Entire Sentence

Chelsea Manning, formerly known as Bradley, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for releasing classified government documents to the website WikiLeaks. A plurality of voters says that punishment is about right and half believe there shouldn’t be a possibility of parole.

Forty-two percent (42%) of Likely Voters believe the 35-year sentence handed down to Manning is about right, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. But one in three voters (32%) says the sentence is not severe enough. Nineteen percent (19%) consider the punishment too severe. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

It should be noted that Rasmussen Reports conducted the poll prior to Manning announcing she identifies as a female and used her original name in the question wording.

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

Many Voters Still Doubt Legitimacy of Town Hall Protests

When members of Congress head home for August recess, most voters think they should use town hall meetings in their districts as a way to hear the views of their constituents.  But voters have mixed feelings about the motives behind those who speak out at these meetings.

Eighteen percent (18%) of Likely Voters have already attended or are likely to attend a town hall meeting with a congressman during this month’s recess, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Seventy-six percent (76%) haven’t or don’t plan on doing so. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

52% Support Required Uniform Cameras For Police Officers

A federal judge last week ruled that New York City Police Department’s stop-and-frisk policy violates the rights of minorities and suggested a trial program that would require on-duty police officers to wear uniform cameras, a practice already utilized in some areas of the country. Just over half of voters nationwide like the idea of police officers wearing cameras but a plurality thinks it wouldn’t have much impact on crime.  Voters are also more likely to view racial profiling as a civil rights violation.

Fifty-two percent (52%) of Likely Voters believe police officers should be required to wear uniform cameras while on duty, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twenty-eight percent (28%) oppose this requirement, while another 20% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

82% Say U.S. Not Winning War on Drugs

Americans continue to overwhelmingly believe the so-called war on drugs is failing, but they are more divided on how much the United States should be spending on it.

Just four percent (4%) of American Adults believe the United States is winning the war on drugs, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Eighty-two percent (82%) disagree. Another 13% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on August 12-13, 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.

52% Recognize U.S. Spends More on Defense Than Any Other Nation

More voters than ever believe that the United States is not spending enough on the military and national security, but they are also less aware of how much the country actually spends in this area.

Thirty-one percent (31%) of Likely Voters believe the United States does not spend enough on the military and national security, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just as many (30%) say the United States spends too much in this area, while another 31% say the amount spent is about right. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

New Low: 39% Think U.S. Elections Are Fair

Belief that U.S. elections are fair continues to fall and has now reached its lowest level in nine years of surveys.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 39% of Likely U.S. Voters now believe American elections are fair to voters. That’s down only one point from May, but prior to that survey, the finding has run in the high 40s and low 50s in surveys since September 2004. Forty-four percent (44%) say U.S. elections are not fair, while 17% more are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

47% Think a Randomly Selected Group Could Do a Better Job Than Congress

More voters than ever now believe a group of people randomly selected from the phone book could do a better job addressing the nation’s problems than the current Congress. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 47% of Likely U.S. Voters think such a randomly selected group could do a better job than Congress, up two points from May and matching the highest finding in regular surveying for nearly five years. One-in-three (33%) disagree and do not think a randomly selected group could do a better job. Twenty percent (20%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

Democrats Tend to Identify More with Their Congress Members Than GOP Voters Do

Thirty-eight percent (38%) of Republican voters think the average Republican in Congress shares their views, while 45% of Democrats believe the average congressional Democrat is about the same as they are. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 25% of Likely GOP Voters think the average congressional Republican is more conservative than the average Republican voter. Thirty percent (30%) think the average Republican in Congress is more liberal than the average GOP voter. 

Twenty-three percent (23%) of Likely Democratic Voters think the average congressional Democrat is more conservative than the average voter in their party, while 22% say that member of Congress is more liberal. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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

17% of GOP Voters Think Republicans in Congress Should Put Working with Obama First

Most Republican voters continue to think their representatives in Congress are not listening to them and feel overwhelmingly that they should stand up for what the GOP believes in. Most Democrats like the job their congressional representatives are doing. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 65% of Likely Republican Voters think Republicans in Congress have lost touch with GOP voters from throughout the nation over the last several years. Just 24% think their legislators have done a good job of representing Republican values. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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