General Politics

20% Say U.S. Government Has Consent of the Governed

Nearly two-thirds of U.S. voters feel the federal government has lost touch with the people it represents.  They also overwhelmingly believe the average member of Congress is more concerned with listening to their party leaders than their constituents. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 20% of Likely U.S. Voters say the federal government has the consent of the governed.  Sixty-three percent (63%) disagree while 17% more are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on October 30-31, 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 methodolo

Romney Still Viewed As Most Mainstream of Presidential Candidates

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney continues to be regarded by voters as closer to the political mainstream than other leading candidates running for the White House. Voters are evenly divided on whether President Obama, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, or businessman Herman Cain are in the political mainstream but tend to see Texas Governor Rick Perry’s views as extreme.

Forty-eight percent (48%) see Romney’s views as mainstream. Only 23% think his views are extreme while 29% aren’t sure.

(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 30-31, 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.

72% Think Middle-Class Tax Hike Likely In Any Budget-Cutting Deal

Voters have very little confidence that the bipartisan congressional super committee will find a way to significantly cut the federal deficit and believe overwhelmingly that taxes will be raised on the middle class in whatever budget-cutting deal Congress and the president reach.

As a result of last summer’s debt-ceiling deal, the 12-member super committee was created to find a way by Thanksgiving to cut the deficit by $1.2 trillion over the next 10 years, but just 19% of Likely U.S. Voters think the group is even somewhat likely to agree on a deficit-cutting plan by then.

The national telephone 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 witha 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

64% Say U.S. Society Fair and Decent

Most voters expect those who move here to adopt America's culture but still believe American society is fair and decent.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that nearly two-out-of three Likely U.S. Voters (64%) think society in this country is fair and decent. Twenty-six percent (26%) disagree and feel American society is unfair and discriminatory.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

50% Prefer Candidate With Political Experience

Despite some candidates campaigning as political “outsiders”, half of voters nationwide still prefer a candidate with some political experience over one who has never held office. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters shows that 50% would rather vote for a candidate who has political experience over one who has never held office. Twenty-five percent (25%) would rather vote for someone who has never held office, while 24% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

64% Say Federal Government Has Too Much Power and Money

Americans nationwide feel stronger than ever that the government has too much power and money and very few believe it spends taxpayer money the right way.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of U.S. Adults shows that 64% think the government has too much power and money while just nine percent (9%) says it has too little of both. Nineteen percent (19%) think the government has about the right amount of power and money. (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 Adults was conducted on October 23-24, 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.

Voters Lukewarm Towards Eliminating Cabinet Departments to Reduce Spending

Texas Congressman and GOP presidential hopeful Ron Paul unveiled his latest budget plan that would significantly shrink the size of the federal government by eliminating several cabinet agencies. Paul’s campaign estimates that the plan could cut $1 trillion of the federal budget in one year. Voters aren’t strongly in favor of cutting these agencies, though there is some partisan disagreement.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that a plurality (46%) favors eliminating the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban development department, but nearly as many (42%) are opposed. Another 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 October 24-25, 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.

Just 2% Say Endorsements Top Policies in Voting Booth

Nearly one-half (48%) of Likely U.S. Voters now say Obama is the politician whose endorsement would be least likely to make them vote for a candidate. The president owes his “lead” over others largely because Republicans are united in their opposition to the president. Democrats are evenly divided between former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and former President George W. Bush as the least valuable endorser.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 20% say Palin’s the politician whose endorsement in their state would make them least likely to vote for the person she endorsed. Nearly as many (18%) say the same of an endorsement by Bush.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

55% Want U.S. Troops Out of Europe

Voters are increasingly skeptical of the level of spending on the military and national security, and they feel more strongly than ever that the United States should remove its troops from Western Europe.

Fifty-five percent (55%) of Likely U.S. Voters now say America should bring home the troops that have been stationed in Europe since the end of World War II.

66% Oppose Forgiveness of Student Loans

One of the loudest demands by the Occupy Wall Street protesters is for forgiveness of the nearly $1 trillion worth of student loans, but Americans strongly oppose forgiving that debt. Even as President Obama talks about easing the burden on those with student loans, in fact, Americans are more inclined to think the government should help those who haven’t gone to college instead.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 21% of American Adults think the federal government should forgive the nearly $1 trillion in loans it made or guaranteed to help students pay for a college education. Sixty-six percent (66%) oppose the forgiveness of all student loans.Thirteen percent (13%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

41% Say Their Views Closer to Tea Party’s Than to Wall Street Protesters’

The Occupy Wall Street protesters have been compared by some with the Tea Party protests that erupted more than two years ago in reaction to Washington’s big government spending plans. Americans are evenly divided in their opinions of those currently protesting against Wall Street but tend to see their own views as more in line with those of the Tea Party.

27% Say They’re Conservative On Both Fiscal and Social Issues

The bad economy, a change in presidents, bailouts, health care, the Tea Party and now another presidential cycle, you name it. Still, the basic fiscal and social ideologies of U.S. voters remain largely unchanged.

41% Now Agree With Obama’s Decision To Take Military Action in Libya

Polls show a bounce in support for President Obama’s policy in Libya following the death of the country’s longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi, but most voters still don’t expect the new Libyan government to become an ally of the United States.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey, taken following news reports of Gadhafi’s death, finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters now rate the Obama administration’s response to the situation in Libya as good or excellent, up 12 points from a week ago.

38% Think It’s A Plus To Compare A Candidate To Bill Clinton

Describing a political candidate as being “like Bill Clinton” isn’t up there in popularity with a comparison to Ronald Reagan, but it’s much better than being called “a centrist,” a phrase often used for politicians willing to compromise.

Thirty-eight percent (38%) of Likely U.S. Voters consider it a positive label if a candidate is compared to Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 24% consider such a comparison a negative, and 35% rate it somewhere in between the two.

17% See War with Iran As Very Likely Within Five Years

Most voters are aware that the United States has accused Iran of attempting to assassinate the ambassador from Saudi Arabia in this county and think there’s a good chance America will be at war with Iran in the near future.

Fifty-five percent (55%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe it is at least somewhat likely that the United States will end up in a war with Iran in the next five years or so. However, only 17% think it’s Very Likely. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 32% feel a war with Iran is unlikely in the next five or so years, but that includes only five percent (5%) who think it is Not At All Likely.

44% Have Favorable View of Christie, 29% Like Rubio

Most Republicans have favorable opinions of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and freshman Florida Senator Marco Rubio, but for a sizable chunk of voters both men are largely unknown.

New Low: 32% Support Obama’s Decision To Take Military Action in Libya

As fighting drags on in Libya, support for U.S. military action there and confidence that a change of government in the North African country will be good for the United States have fallen to new lows.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 32% of Likely U.S. Voters now agree with President Obama’s decision to take military action in Libya, down from 45% support in mid-March just after it began and 39% last month following premature news reports that Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi had been defeated.

Occupy Wall Street Protesters: 36% Favorable 41% Unfavorable

Most Americans still aren’t following news of the Occupy Wall Street protests very closely and have mixed opinions of both the protesters and their authenticity.

Thirty-six percent (36%) of the nation’s Likely Voters have a favorable opinion of the Occupy Wall Street protesters while 41% offer an unfavorable opinion. Last week, a survey of Adults found a slight plurality offering a favorable opinion.  Because  the new survey was of Likely Voters and the prior one was of adults, the results are not precisely comparable. Additional tracking will measure whatever trends might emerge.

51% Say Democratic Agenda In Congress Is Extreme, 47% Say Same of GOP's

Voters still tend to see the congressional agendas of both major political parties as out of the mainstream and view President Obama and the average member of Congress as out of step with them ideologically.

72% Think Presidential Campaigns Run Too Long

As the nation braces itself for another race for the White House, voters say enough is enough.