If it's in the News, it's in our Polls. Public opinion polling since 2003.

Politics

Most Recent Releases

August 22, 2016

Most Still Oppose End to U.S. Control of Internet

Most voters continue to oppose the U.S. government’s decision to cede its last vestige of control over the internet to an international authority and worry that some countries may try to censor web content. 

August 22, 2016

Most Voters Say No to Further U.S. Nation-Building Efforts

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump says he would put an end to “nation building," a term that in recent years has been used to describe stepped-up efforts to establish democracies in the Middle East by use of the U.S. military and U.S. taxpayer dollars. Few voters believe the government's nation-building efforts have been a success, and most agree with Trump that they should be ended.

August 19, 2016

Most Support Trump’s Call for Immigration Restrictions, Screening Test

Most voters support Donald Trump’s plan for temporarily restricting immigration from countries with a history of terrorism and for testing to screen out newcomers who don’t share America’s values. Most also agree that such a test is likely to reduce the number of terrorists entering the United States.

August 18, 2016

Voters Say It’s Important for Clinton, Trump to Hold Press Conferences

Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton hasn’t had a formal press conference since late last year, largely avoiding media questions for the entire primary season. Republican nominee Donald Trump’s routine press conferences often seem to do him more harm than good. Do voters want presidential candidates to meet the press? 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 82% of Likely U.S. Voters think it is important for the major presidential candidates to hold regular press conferences to answer questions from reporters, with 48% who say it is Very Important. Just 17% view regular press conferences as unimportant, and that includes only three percent (3%) who feel they are Not At All Important. (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 August 15-16, 2016 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.

August 17, 2016

Is Trump to Blame for His Bad Media Coverage?

Most voters still think the media is more interested in controversy than in the issues when it comes to the presidential race, and supporters of Donald Trump strongly believe the coverage of his public comments is a classic example. Most Hillary Clinton supporters say Trump’s just a sloppy speaker. 

August 16, 2016

Most Think Hillary Likely to Have Done Favors At State for Clinton Foundation Donors

Following news reports that federal investigators are taking a deeper look at the charitable foundation established by Bill and Hillary Clinton, voters are even more suspicious that the Democratic presidential nominee traded favors to donors while she was secretary of State. 

(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 August 11 and 14, 2016 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.

August 16, 2016

Most Like the NRA But Aren't Moved by Its Endorsement

Most voters share a favorable opinion of the National Rifle Association and say their Second Amendment constitutional right to own a gun is important to their vote in the coming elections. But even among voters who rate the second Amendment highly, the NRA's endorsement of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump isn't critical to how they will vote.

August 15, 2016

Most Still Don’t Trust Clinton or Trump

Democrats trust Hillary Clinton more than Republicans trust Donald Trump, but most unaffiliated voters don’t trust either one of them.

August 15, 2016

Voters Are Much More Eager to Vote This Year

Are the stakes higher this election season? Voters seem to think so.

August 12, 2016

Most Still Question Iran Nuclear Deal

Opponents of the Iran nuclear deal reached last year are accusing the Obama administration of paying a secret ransom to Iran after it was revealed that the United States sent $400 million in cash on the same day four U.S. detainees were released by the Iranian government. The president denies the ransom allegations, saying the payment was related to an older dispute, but most voters continue to express pessimism about the nuclear deal.

August 12, 2016

Even More Voters Now See America As A Divided Nation

Voters don’t share President Obama’s upbeat assessment of the nation and strongly believe the United States is coming apart. Even the majority of his fellow Democrats share that gloomy assessment.

August 11, 2016

Most Say No to Unemployment Benefits For Striking Union Workers

New Jersey last week moved a step closer to making striking union workers eligible for unemployment benefits, but most voters don't welcome that idea where they live.

August 11, 2016

Most Want to See Clinton, Trump Tax Returns, Medical Records

Republicans are again asking questions about Hillary Clinton's health, while Democrats continue to insist that Donald Trump release his tax returns. Most voters still believe major White House hopefuls should make public recent tax returns, but now most also think they should release their medical records, too.

[Rasmussen Reports analysts Amy Holmes  and Fran Coombs are available for interested media. Please call 732-776-9777 ext. 205 for interviews.]

August 10, 2016

Most Say Union Leaders Out of Touch With Members

Most voters – including those who are now or have been union members - believe the majority of union leaders are out of touch with their membership nationwide.

JStone / Shutterstock.com
August 10, 2016

Voters See Trump As His Own Worst Enemy

Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan wrote earlier this year that the only person who can beat Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is Trump himself, and so far voters think that's exactly what he's doing.

August 9, 2016

Most Still Oppose Government Prosecution of Global Warming Critics

Attorneys general in 15 states are attempting to prosecute corporations and individuals that they believe are misleading the public about global warming. Their action which critics claim is a violation of freedom of speech has prompted a congressional investigation. Most voters continue to believe the scientific debate about global warming is not over and oppose government action against those who question it.

August 9, 2016

GOPers Favor Ryan’s Reelection But Think Party Should Be More Like Trump

Republicans still prefer a party that’s more like Donald Trump but hope nevertheless that House Speaker Paul Ryan defeats his anti-establishment opponent in today’s Wisconsin GOP primary.

August 8, 2016

Pence vs. Kaine, and the Winner Is …

If the presidential contest suddenly boiled down to a battle between the two vice presidential candidates, Republicans have the edge.

August 8, 2016

Democrats, Republicans Driven By Different Issues This Election

The economy remains the number one issue for all voters this election cycle, but Republicans are a lot more worried about national security than Democrats and unaffiliated voters are.

August 5, 2016

Most Still Say U.S. At War With Radical Islamic Terrorism

President Obama and Hillary Clinton still won't say it, but most voters continue to believe the United States is at war with radical Islamic terrorism.