Politics

65% Oppose Tolls on Interstate Highways

President Obama is asking Congress to lift the ban on tolls on Interstate highways to help fund road repairs. Most Americans think that’s a bad idea, perhaps in large part because they doubt the toll revenue will be spent the right way.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 22% of American Adults favor putting tolls on Interstate highways for infrastructure maintenance. Three times as many (65%) are opposed to turning the nation’s Interstates into toll roads, something that has been banned since 1956 when the highway system was created. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

51% Worry Government Won’t Do Enough to Help Economy

Half of voters still fear the government won’t take the necessary steps to help the economy, and most continue to think spending cuts are the way to do it.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 38% of Likely U.S. Voters are worried the federal government will do too much in reacting to the nation’s economic problems. Fifty-one percent (51%) are more worried the government will not do enough. Eleven percent (11%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 3-4, 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.

28% Have Favorable Opinion of the Federal Government

Fewer voters look favorably on the feds these days.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 28% of Likely U.S. Voters have a favorable opinion of the federal government. Most voters (67%) continue to view the federal government unfavorably. These findings include just three percent with a Very Favorable impression of the federal government and 31% with a Very Unfavorable one. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

56% Favor the Death Penalty

Most Americans still support the death penalty despite the recent botched lethal injection given to the convicted murderer of a 19-year-old woman in Oklahoma. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of American Adults favor the death penalty, down slightly from 59% in March of last year, while 28% oppose it. Sixteen percent (16%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

28% Are Willing To Pay Higher Utility Bills to Reduce Coal Usage

A top White House adviser said yesterday that there is nothing Congress can do to stop President Obama from reducing coal plant emissions, even though industry officials insist this will close power plants and drive up energy costs. Most voters are unwilling to pay more to reduce coal usage for energy production, but they’re evenly divided when asked if America should start phasing out coal-fired plants.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 20% of Likely U.S. Voters correctly recognize that 40% of America’s electricity is now being produced by coal-burning power plants. Forty-three percent (43%) believe coal produces more of the nation’s electric power than that, with 16% who peg it at 80%. Just 13% think coal-fueled plants produce less than 40% of the country’s electricity, but 24% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

51% Think Benghazi Merits Further Investigation; 34% Disagree

Most voters suspect the Obama administration hasn’t been completely forthcoming about how it reacted to the murder of the U.S. ambassador to Libya and several other Americans in Benghazi, Libya. Just over half think the Benghazi matter deserves further investigation.

Only 32% of Likely U.S. Voters are satisfied with the administration’s explanation of its response to the Benghazi situation in September 2012, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty percent (50%) are not satisfied with the administration’s explanation. Eighteen percent (18%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 3-4, 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% Have Voted for an Independent Candidate

Considering that over half of voters agree neither party in Congress is the party of the American people, it's not surprising that more now say they have voted for an independent candidate.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of Likely U.S. Voters have voted for a candidate not affiliated with either major political party. That's up six points from 50% four years ago before the last mid-term congressional elections. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

41% Are Fiscal Conservatives

Voters remain conservative on money issues and continue to be more conservative when it comes to social policy.

A new Rasmussen Reports national survey finds that 41% of Likely U.S. Voters identify themselves as conservative on fiscal issues such as taxes, government spending and business regulation. That's unchanged from December which marked the lowest number of fiscal conservatives in over a year. However, just 14% are liberal in this area, while 40% view themselves as moderates. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

35% Say Their State Government is Too Big

Americans report a slightly better budget picture in their state compared to two years ago, but one-out-of-three think their state government still needs to go on a diet.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 27% of American Adults believe the budget situation in their state is better than it was a year ago, unchanged from June 2012. But while 54% said in that earlier survey that their state budget situation was worse, just 37% feel that way now. Twenty-four percent (24%) say their state’s budget picture is about the same as it was a year ago, compared to 15% in 2012. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure. (To see survey wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on April 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.

41% Think ‘Arab Spring’ Changes Bad for U.S.

Many hoped that the “Arab Spring” protests that began three years ago would lead to a new era of democracy in a number of Islamic countries, but U.S. voters now see that as increasingly unlikely and think the changes there have been bad for America.

Just nine percent (9%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe the changes in countries such as Egypt, Libya and Tunisia have been good for the United States, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.  Forty-one percent (41%) think the rise of new governments in those countries has been bad for America instead. Twenty-six percent (26%) say the changes have had no impact, while nearly as many (24%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 29-30, 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.

52% Say U.S. Not Aggressive Enough in Deportations; 14% Say Too Aggressive

The Obama administration is considering a reduction in the number of illegal immigrants it deports, pending passage of an immigration reform plan now stalled in Congress. But most voters still believe the federal government is not aggressive enough in this area already and should not halt deportations while it waits on Congress to act.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 14% of Likely U.S. Voters think the U.S. government is too aggressive in deporting those who are in this country illegally. Fifty-two percent (52%) believe the government is not aggressive enough in deporting illegal immigrants. Twenty-two percent (22%) view the current number of deportations as about right. Eleven percent (11%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

36% Think Federal Government Owns Too Much of America

The federal government owns over a quarter of the land in the United States, and Americans are closely divided when asked if the government should give up some of it.

Thirty-six percent (36%) of American Adults believe the federal government owns too much property in this country, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just 11% think the government doesn’t own enough. Thirty-eight percent (38%) consider the amount of land owned by the federal government to be about right. Fifteen percent (15%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

51% Oppose FCC Regulation of the Internet; 18% Favor

Just over half of voters continue to oppose federal government regulation of the Internet and feel Internet users are best protected by the free market, not the government.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 18% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the Federal Communications Commission should regulate the Internet like it does radio and television. Fifty-one percent (51%) oppose FCC supervision over the Internet, while 31% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 25-26, 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% Favor Government Oversight of Political Ads and Candidates’ Comments

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week in a case aimed at overturning an Ohio law that makes it a crime to make false statements in a political campaign. But most voters favor government policing of the truthfulness of campaign ads and statements.

Fifty-five percent (55%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe the government should be allowed to review political ads and candidates’ campaign comments for their accuracy and punish those that it decides are making false statements about other candidates. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 31% oppose such government oversight. 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 April 23-24, 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.

32% in Florida Would Vote for Rubio for President, 20% Undecided

Marco Rubio’s name has been on virtually every short list of Republican presidential candidates since he was elected to the Senate in 2010, but voters in his home state of Florida are not enthusiastic about him seeking the White House.

A new Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey finds that only 21% of Likely Florida Voters think Rubio should run for the presidency in 2016. Fifty-two percent (52%) oppose a presidential bid by the first-term senator and former speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. Twenty-six percent (26%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Florida was conducted on April 21-22, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 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% Think Neither Political Party Represents the American People

Voters continue to believe Democrats have more of a plan for the future than Republicans do, but most again say neither party represents the public. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of Likely U.S. Voters think it is fair to say that neither party in Congress is the party of the American people. That’s up six points from 47% last October and matches the previous high found in June 2012 during the last national election cycle. Just 28% disagree, while 19% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely U.S. Voters was conducted on April 19-20, 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.

New High: 61% Favor Building the Keystone XL Pipeline

Support for building the Keystone XL pipeline is now at its highest level ever.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 61% of Likely U.S. Voters now at least somewhat favor building the major oil pipeline from Canada to Texas, while just 27% are opposed. This includes 37% who Strongly Favor the project and 10% who Strongly Oppose it. Thirteen percent (13%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 21-22, 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.

58% Oppose U.S. Involvement in Ukraine

Voters remain unenthusiastic about the Obama administration’s handling of the political situation in Ukraine, and most still resist further U.S. involvement there.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 27% of Likely U.S. Voters think the United States should get more directly involved in the situation in the Ukraine if the political violence continues there. Fifty-eight percent (58%) say the United States should leave the Ukrainian situation alone. Sixteen percent (16%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 16-17, 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 Voters Fear the Federal Government

Thirty-seven percent (37%) of Likely U.S. Voters now fear the federal government, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Forty-seven percent (47%) do not, but another 17% are not sure.

Perhaps in part that’s because 54% consider the federal government today a threat to individual liberty rather than a protector. Just 22% see the government as a protector of individual rights, and that’s down from 30% last November. Slightly more (24%) are now undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

91% of Democrats See Hillary As Likely 2016 Nominee

Hillary Clinton’s favorables are down slightly from her years as secretary of State, but voters still strongly believe she will win the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 if she wants it.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of Likely U.S. Voters have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of Clinton, while 44% view her unfavorably. This includes 27% with a Very Favorable opinion of the former first lady and senator and 29% with a Very Unfavorable one. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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