General Politics

65% Favor Across-the-Board Spending Cuts

Voters continue to like the idea of across-the-board cuts in federal government spending and are notably less enthusiastic if the defense budget is exempted.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 65% of Likely U.S. Voters think thoughtful spending cuts should be considered in every program of the federal government as the nation searches for solutions to the budget crisis. Just 20% disagree, although another 15% are undecided. (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 points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

48% Think New Tax Money Will Go to New Programs, Not Deficit Reduction

Voters are a little less suspicious of how new tax revenues may be used. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that a plurality (48%) of Likely U.S. Voters continues to believe that if Congress and the president raise taxes to reduce the federal deficit, they are likely to use the money for new government programs instead. Thirty-eight percent (38%) disagree and believe new tax money raised to reduce the deficit will be used for that purpose. 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 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.

66% Want Both Tax Hikes and Spending Cuts in Budget Deal

Voters are looking for a deal to reduce the budget deficit that will include more spending cuts than tax hikes. They expect a deal that will offer the reverse. And, voters are confident that the tax hikes will be real but aren’t so sure about the spending cuts.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 66% of voters nationwide favor a mix of tax hikes and spending cuts to help reduce the federal budget deficit.  Twenty-four percent (24%) want spending cuts only and 4% would prefer only tax hikes. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

33% Say U.S. Legal System Puts National Security Ahead of Individual Rights

One third (33%) of Likely U.S. Voters now believe the legal system in this country worries more about protecting national security rather than about individual rights. Twenty-five percent (25%) think the U.S. legal system worries too much about protecting individual rights instead, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That’s down five points from last month but generally in line with findings prior to that. Thirty percent (30%) think the balance is about right. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

46% See Congressional Democrats’ Agenda As Mainstream, 37% Say Same of GOP’s

As Congress enters a lame duck session, voters view the Democratic agenda as more mainstream than the Republican one.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 46% of Likely Voters believe it is more accurate to describe the agenda of Democrats in Congress as mainstream, while 41% see it as extreme. Another 13% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

55% Rate Government Response to Hurricane Sandy Positively

Most voters give positive marks to the governmental response to Hurricane Sandy on the Atlantic Coast. But they’re almost evenly divided when asked whether states or the federal government should be responsible for most post-storm cleanup costs.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 55% of Likely U.S. Voters rate the way government agencies responded to the areas affected by Hurricane Sandy as good or excellent. Only 15% view that response as poor. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 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% Have Favorable Opinion of Hillary Clinton

Two of the most influential members of President Obama's Cabinet, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, will reportedly be leaving their posts soon. Clinton continues to be the most popular Cabinet member, while Geithner remains one of the least-liked.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that Clinton is viewed favorably by 56% of Likely U.S. Voters and unfavorably by 40%. This includes 33% with a Very Favorable opinion of her and 22% with a Very Unfavorable one. Only four percent (4%) have no opinion of the former first lady and U.S. senator from New York. (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.

52% View Petraeus Resignation As Appropriate

Most voters agree CIA Director David Petraeus should have resigned after it was discovered he was having an extramarital affair, but they also feel there’s little likelihood the affair exposed any of the nation’s top secrets.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it is appropriate for Petraeus, to have resigned. Just 29% disagree, while another 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 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.

42% See Need for Big Cuts in Defense, Entitlements to Reduce Deficit, 31% Don’t

Voters still tend to think defense spending and entitlement programs need to go on the chopping block to reduce the record federal deficit, but they’re not overly confident that President Obama and Congress will reach a long-term agreement to make those cuts.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it is necessary to significantly reduce the cost of entitlement programs and military spending to reduce the long-term federal deficit. But 31% disagree and don’t see a need for major cuts in these areas. Nearly as many (27%) 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 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.

51% Think Deal To Avoid ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Likely by January 1

President Obama will hold a press conference today to push his deficit-cutting plan as lawmakers in Washington battle over ways to prevent the massive tax hikes and spending cuts scheduled for January 1.  Given the partisan bickering, a bare majority of voters thinks a deal to avoid going over the so-called “fiscal cliff” is likely to emerge before then.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of Likely U.S. Voters now believe it is likely that Congress and the president will agree on a plan to stop the tax increases and spending cuts before the first of the year. Forty-two percent (42%) think a deal is unlikely to emerge. These findings include only 15% who feel a deal is Very Likely and just as many (14%) 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 November 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.

53% Favor Bush Tax Cuts For All But The Wealthy

Most voters favor continuing the so-called Bush tax cuts but not for higher-income Americans.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% of Likely U.S. Voters prefer extending the Bush administration tax cuts for all Americans. But 53% favor continuing those tax cuts for everyone except the wealthy. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The 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.

As Fiscal Cliff Looms, Voters Want to Extend Tax Cuts Past 2012

There’s been a lot of talk around the so-called “fiscal cliff”, the result of a potential combination of tax increases and automatic cuts in government spending scheduled to begin on January 1. Most voters believe Congress and the president should work to extend the tax cuts set to expire at the end of this year, but don’t think they should allow the automatic spending cuts to take effect at that time.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 60% of Likely Voters believe the government should extend the variety of tax cuts, including those implemented during the George W. Bush administration, past the end of the year. Just 28% believe Congress and the president should let those tax cuts expire. Another 12% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 8-9, 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.

Voters More Conservative on Fiscal Issues Than Social Issues

As voters headed to the polls this week, they remained a bit more conservative on fiscal matters than social issues. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 44% of Likely Voters are ideologically conservative on fiscal issues such as taxes and government spending. Thirty-six percent (36%) see themselves as moderate on those issues, while 17% say they are have liberal views on those topics. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 2,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 6, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 2 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% Say U.S. Doesn’t Spend Enough on Defense, 27% Say Too Much

With big defense spending cuts looming unless President Obama and the lame-duck Congress reach a deficit-cutting agreement, voters remain evenly divided over whether the United States spends too much or too little in this area. Slightly more rate the level of defense spending as about right.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 29% of Likely U.S. Voters think the United States spends too much on the military and national security, but that’s down eight points from 37% in October 2011.  Nearly as many (27%) say the country doesn’t spend enough in this area. Thirty-eight percent (38%) view the amount spent on defense as about right. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 6, 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.

30% Say Election Is Causing More Stress In Their Family

One-in-four Americans (27%) say the upcoming election has negatively affected their personal relationship with a friend or family member, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

Forty-five percent (45%) say they have gotten into a heated argument with a friend or family member about the election. Most (52%) have not. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Perhaps, not surprisingly, men (53%) are more likely to have gotten in a heated argument than women (39%) are.

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on October 24-25, 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.

60% Say Federal Government Does Not Have the Consent of the Governed

Even with Americans poised to pick a president and one-third of the nation’s senators, most voters continue to feel the federal government does not have the official approval of its citizenry. One of the central tenets of the Declaration of Independence is that “governments derive their only just powers from the consent of the governed,” but just 25% of Likely U.S. Voters think the federal government today has that consent. Sixty percent (60%) believe the federal government does not have the consent of the governed. Fifteen percent (15%) 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 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.

57% Think U.S. Elections Are Fair

With Election Day less than two weeks away, more voters than ever believe elections are fair but still think the rules are rigged to help incumbent members of Congress.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 57% of Likely U.S. Voters believe American elections are fair. Thirty percent (30%) think elections are not fair to voters. 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 October 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.

Who Will Win? 51% Say Obama, 39% Romney

Fifty-one percent (51%) of Likely U.S. Voters still think President Obama is the likely winner of the presidential race, while 39% expect Mitt Romney to come out on top, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

Confidence in Romney has been inching up and is now at its highest level in surveys since late August. The 12-point gap between the candidates is the narrowest yet, down from 20 points just two weeks ago. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

Tea Party, Liberal Are Still Most Negative Political Labels

Linking a candidate to the Tea Party is still the most negative political label as far as voters are concerned, with liberal number two on the negative scale. Conservative and moderate are the most positive labels. But, not surprisingly, there remains a strong difference of opinion between Republicans and Democrats.

Rasmussen Reports periodically asks Likely U.S. Voters to rate political labels, and the latest national telephone survey finds that 44% regard Tea Party as a negative description for a candidate. Twenty-six percent (26%) consider it a positive and another 26% somewhere in between. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

71% Favor Requiring Voter ID at the Polls

Support remains high for requiring voters to prove their identity at the polls, but more voters than ever believe requiring photo identification is discriminatory. However, there are wide partisan differences of opinion on this issue.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 66% of Likely U.S. Voters believe voter fraud is a serious problem in America today, with 33% who say it is a Very Serious one. Twenty-eight percent (28%) disagree, but that includes just 12% who say it’s Not At All Serious. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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