Politics

California GOP Primary: Romney 43%, Santorum 23%, Gingrich 15%, Paul 8%

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney holds a 20-point lead over Rick Santorum in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at the delegate-rich California Republican primary.

A new statewide telephone survey of Likely GOP Primary Voters in the Golden State finds Romney earning 43% support, while the former Pennsylvania senator receives 23% of the vote.  Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is a distant third with 15% support, and Texas Congressman Ron Paul runs last with eight percent (8%).  Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, and eight percent (8%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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This California survey of 750 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on March 12, 2012 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.

Texas GOP Primary: Romney 32%, Santorum 30%, Gingrich 19%, Paul 9%

Looking down the road to one of the biggest delegate prizes of them all, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum are in a near tie in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at the Texas Republican Primary. A new telephone survey of Likely Republican Primary Voters in Texas finds Romney earning 32% support to Santorum’s 30%. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich picks up 19% of the vote, and Texas Congressman Ron Paul runs fourth with nine percent (9%). Three percent (3%) like another candidate in the race, and seven percent (7%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

This Texas survey of 750 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on March 12, 2012 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.

Just 29% Believe Limbaugh Apology Was Sincere

Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh’s recent comments about a female Georgetown University law student who argued in support of the Obama administration's contraception mandate sparked controversy and caused some advertisers to quit his show. Yet while most voters are critical of Limbaugh's comments, they are evenly divided over whether talk show hosts in general have a responsibility to not offend anyone. 
 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters shows that only 29% believe Limbaugh’s apology for his recent comments was sincere. Fifty-three percent (53%) do not think his apology was sincere, and another 18% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

59% View Obama As More Liberal Than They Are

The number of voters who consider President Obama more liberal than they are has risen this month to its highest level since last October.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of Likely U.S. Voters now think, in political terms, that the president is more liberal than they are. That's up from 52% last month and an all-time low of 51% in December.  In March 2011, a high of 61% felt the president was more liberal.

Eleven percent (11%) feel the president is more conservative than they are, and 25% say his views are about the same as their own.  (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 nationwide was conducted on March 7-8, 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.

37% Say Their Views More Like Obama’s; 53% Pick One of GOP Contenders

Ask voters which presidential contender’s views are more like their own, and just 37% say President Obama. Most (53%) say they think more like one of the four Republican presidential hopefuls. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 16% of Likely U.S. Voters say when it comes to the important issues facing the nation, their views are more like former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney’s. An identical number (16%) say they think more like Rick Santorum. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on March 9-10, 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 Evenly Divided On Obama’s Handling of Economy

The number of voters who give President Obama positive marks for his handling of the economy is at its highest level in over two years of regular tracking.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters rate the president’s handling of economic issues as good or excellent, up two points from a month ago and his best showing since mid-February 2010.  Forty-two percent (42%) still rate Obama’s performance in this area as poor, but that's the lowest level of criticism since last June. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 5-6, 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.

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending March 9, 2012

Following Super Tuesday, the perception is growing that Mitt Romney will be the Republican presidential nominee. By week’s end, Romney had moved ahead of the president in head-to-head polling.

In Alabama, the GOP Primary race is essentially a three-way tie, while Romney leads by eight in Mississippi.  Nationally, Romney now leads Rick Santorum by 12 points.  Regardless of who they want to win, 80% of Republican Primary Voters believe Romney will be the party's nominee.

Romney leads Obama by five points in a hypothetical 2012 matchup. Saturday's numbers show Romney at 48%, Obama at 43%. That’s Romney’s largest lead since December and it comes at a time when the president’s job approval has been slipping a bit. Matchup results and the president’s Job Approval ratings are updated daily at 9:30 a.m. Eastern (sign up for free daily e-mail update).

This is taking place as the economy remains far and away the most important thing on voters' minds this election season.  Eighty-two percent (82%) of Likely U.S. Voters see the economy as a Very Important issue in terms of how they will vote in the next election. Nothing else comes close.

Mississippi Primary: Romney 35%, Santorum 27%, Gingrich 27%, Paul 6%

Rasmussen Reports’ first Republican primary survey in Mississippi shows former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney leading his closest competitors by eight points. A new statewide telephone survey of Likely GOP Primary Voters in the Magnolia State shows Romney with 35% of the vote, while former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich each draw support from 27%. Texas Congressman Ron Paul runs last with six percent (6%). One percent (1%) prefers some other candidate, and four percent (4%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

This Mississippi survey of 750 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on March 8, 2012 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.

Alabama GOP Primary: Gingrich 30%, Santorum 29%, Romney 28%, Paul 7%

Alabama Republicans are up to bat next, and right now it’s a near three-way tie going into next Tuesday’s primary.

The first Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Republican Primary Voters in Alabama finds Newt Gingrich barely ahead with 30% support to 29% for Rick Santorum and 28% for Mitt Romney. Texas Congressman Ron Paul trails with seven percent (7%) of the vote. One percent (1%) prefers some other candidate, and six percent (6%) remain undecided. (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.

This Alabama survey of 750 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on March 8, 2012 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.

64% Have No Opinion of Energy Secretary Steven Chu

Energy Secretary Steven Chu assured a congressional committee Thursday that the Obama administration wants to lower gas prices after  comments he made last week suggested that the administration is more interested in reducing oil dependence than in lowering the price at the pump. Yet despite his central role in dealing with one of the country's current economic priorities, most voters still don't know enough about Chu to have any kind of opinion of him.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 14% of Likely U.S. Voters have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of Chu, while 21% view him unfavorably. This includes four percent (4%) with a Very Favorable view of the Nobel Prize-winning Cabinet secretary and 12% with a Very Unfavorable one. However, even though Chu has been a member of President Obama's Cabinet for over three years now, 64% have no opinion of him. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on February 26-27, 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.

15% View Russia’s Putin Favorably

Vladimir Putin’s back as president of Russia following Sunday’s elections, but that doesn’t mean Americans like him any more than they did when he was out of office.

Sixty-one percent (61%) of American Adults, in fact, share at least a somewhat unfavorable opinion of Putin, while just 15% view him at least somewhat favorably, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. This compares with unfavorables of 52% and favorables of 11% last September. But back then 36% had no opinion, compared to 23% now.

The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on March 6-7, 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.

43% Say New Candidate Should Enter GOP Race; Most Republicans Disagree

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney may be winning the Republican presidential race, although he appears to be making himself a little less popular in the process. A plurality of voters think it would be better for the GOP if a new candidate jumped in the race, but most Republicans don’t agree.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of Likely U.S. Voters now hold at least a somewhat favorable opinion of Romney, but that includes just nine percent (9%) with a Very Favorable view of him. Forty-nine percent (49%) regard Romney at least somewhat unfavorably, with 23% who share a Very Unfavorable opinion. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 5-6, 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% Give Obama Good or Excellent Marks for Leadership

Views of President Obama's leadership have narrowed again since his State of the Union address in January.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters now rate Obama’s leadership as good or excellent. This is down from 48% in January, his highest positives since September 2009. But nearly as many (40%) view him as a poor leader, up from 34% in January. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

Nebraska Senate: Bruning (R) 55%, Kerrey (D) 33%

Democrats hoped to give themselves a shot at holding onto a U.S. Senate seat in Nebraska by talking retired Senator Bob Kerrey into running, but the first Rasmussen Reports survey of the race finds Kerrey trailing all three of his leading Republican opponents. A new telephone survey of Likely Nebraska Voters finds state Attorney General Jon Bruning earning 55% support to Kerrey's 33%. Four percent (4%) like another candidate in the race, and seven percent (7%) remain undecided.  (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.

This Nebraska survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted March 5, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Obama, Romney Run Near Even When It Comes to Major Issues

It’s a neck-and-neck race between President Obama and Republican front-runner Mitt Romney when it comes to voter trust on several major issues including the economy.

Voters continue to  rate the economy well ahead of other issues in terms of importance to their vote in the upcoming election, and 45% of Likely U.S. Voters trust Romney more than the president when it comes to economic issues. But a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that nearly as many (44%) trust Obama more. Eleven percent (11%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

65% Now Expect Romney To Be The Republican Nominee

Voters are even more convinced that former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney will be the Republican presidential nominee after his primary wins last week in Arizona and Michigan. Will Super Tuesday change that?

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 65% of Likely U.S. Voters believe Romney is likely to win the GOP nomination. That’s up from 54% a week earlier.  Just 14% expect Romney’s leading rival, former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, to emerge as the party’s standard-bearer, down from 24% in the previous survey.

Only five percent (5%) think former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will be the Republican nominee, and four percent (4%) predict Texas Congressman Ron Paul will be the eventual winner. Three percent (3%) say some other candidate is likely to be nominated, and eight percent (8%) are undecided. These findings are little changed from those in late February. (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 national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 3-4, 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% in Massachusetts Consider State's Health Care Reform A Success

More Massachusetts voters now think health care reform in the state has been successful, but just as many favor repeal of the national health care law passed into law two years ago.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Massachusetts Voters finds that 48% say health care reform in the Bay State has been a success. That's up from 26% in June 2009.  Twenty-eight percent (28%) think the reform effort has been a failure, down from 37% in the earlier survey. Almost as many (23%) 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 500 Likely Voters in Massachusetts was conducted on February 29, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Georgia GOP Primary: Gingrich 37%, Romney 27%, Santorum 18%, Paul 10%

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is still comfortably ahead in the Republican race in his native state of Georgia with tomorrow’s Super Tuesday primary just hours away.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Georgia Republican Primary Voters, taken last night, shows Gingrich with 37% of the vote to former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney’s 27%. Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum remains in third place with 18% support, and Texas Congressman Ron Paul runs last with 10%. Two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate, and six percent (6%) are still undecided. (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.

This Georgia survey of 750 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on March 4, 2012 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% Favor Repeal of Health Care Law

While Congress continues to battle over President Obama’s contraceptive mandate, most voters still favor repeal of the national health care law.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of Likely U.S. Voters at least somewhat favor repeal of the health care law, including 42% who Strongly Favor repeal.  Forty-two percent (42%) oppose repeal, with 30% who are Strongly Opposed.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

Ohio GOP Primary: Santorum 32%, Romney 31%, Gingrich 13%, Paul 13%

Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney are tied in Ohio with the Super Tuesday primary vote just 24 hours away. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Republican Primary Voters in Ohio shows Santorum earning 32% support to Romney’s 31%. The survey was taken Sunday night. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Congressman Ron Paul run far behind, each with 13% of the vote. Three percent (3%) prefer another candidate, and six percent (6%) remain undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

This Ohio survey of 750 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on March 4, 2012 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.

(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.