18% Favor Military Draft, 30% Support Required Year of Public Service
Support among voters for a military draft is at its lowest level in several years, but nearly one-out-of-three voters favor mandatory public service.
Politics
Most Recent Releases
July 8, 2011
July 7, 2011
Plurality Sees Both Republicans, Democrats in Congress as Extreme
For the second month in a row, slightly more voters describe the Republican agenda in Congress as being more extreme than mainstream. Voters have consistently felt this way about the agenda of congressional Democrats.
July 7, 2011
75% See Vital U.S. Interests As Only Reason For Committing Military Forces to Overseas Action
Compared to the four presidents who followed him, Ronald Reagan had a more limited view of when to send U.S. military force into action overseas and voters today still embrace the more restrained use of force that he advocated.
July 6, 2011
52% Say Finding New Sources of Energy More Important Than Reducing Amount Consumed
While a majority of U.S. voters still feel discovering new sources of energy is more important than reducing energy consumption, the number who feel this way has fallen to a new low. Voters also continue to believe there’s a conflict between economic growth and environmental protection.
July 5, 2011
Generic Republican Candidate 44%, Obama 44%
For the first time this year, a generic Republican candidate and President Obama are tied in a hypothetical 2012 election matchup.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds a generic Republican candidate picking up 44% of the vote, while Obama receives identical 44% support. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, and another eight percent (8%) are undecided.
July 5, 2011
22% View Geithner Favorably
Following news reports that he may be leaving his post this fall, favorable ratings for U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner tie their lowest level to date.
July 3, 2011
Full Month Approval Ratings for President Slip in June
When tracking President Obama’s job approval on a daily basis people sometimes get so caught up in the day-to-day fluctuations that they miss the bigger picture. To look at the longer-term trends, Rasmussen Reports compiles the numbers on a full-month basis, and the results can be seen in the graphics below.
July 2, 2011
What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending July 2, 2011
As the United States prepares to celebrate its 235th birthday, Americans still overwhelmingly agree with the ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence. Ninety percent (90%) agree that “we are all endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights, among them life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Americans also strongly support the beliefs that we are all created equal and the government’s derive their only just authority from the consent of the governed. Men tend to be stronger supporters of these views than women, but majorities of just about all demographic groups agree.
July 1, 2011
57% View Hillary Clinton Favorably
Globe-trotting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was in Hungary this week urging greater democratic freedoms, remains the most well-known and well-liked member of President Obama’s Cabinet among voters back at home.
July 1, 2011
Americans Under 40 Skeptical About Receiving Promised Social Security Benefits
Just 26% of voters under 40 believe it’s even Somewhat Likely they will receive all of their promised Social Security benefits. That includes only 5% who say it’s Very Likely those benefits will be paid.
July 1, 2011
51% Say Gov't Should Force Oil Companies To Use Profits To Develop Alternative Energy
Voters strongly believe the United States is not doing enough to explore alternative sources of energy, and most still think oil companies should devote big money to searching for those types of energy.
July 1, 2011
Americans Still Agree With Ideals Set Forth in the Declaration of Independence
The upcoming Fourth of July holiday marks the 235th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence's adoption by the Continental Congress, and most Americans still agree with the central tenets of the document that declared the nation's independence from Great Britain. Whether the United States meets those lofty goals is subject to debate.
June 30, 2011
Most Americans Give Constitution High Marks, Say Don't Change It
Most Americans still believe the U.S. Constitution has a positive impact on American life and think it should be left as is. But a sizable number also feels the document does not put enough restrictions on government.
June 30, 2011
65% Believe Americans Should Have Right to Pick Own Social Security Retirement Age
While politicians argue whether to increase Social Security taxes or raise the retirement age for eligibility, voters think such decisions should be made closer to home.
June 30, 2011
10% Would Base Their Vote On A Candidate’s Religion
Voters say overwhelmingly that they would not vote for or against a political candidate solely because of the religion he or she practices.
June 29, 2011
Most Americans Fear A Government That Is Too Powerful
As the nation prepares to celebrate Independence Day, more Americans than ever see danger in a government that is too powerful.
June 29, 2011
63% Say Medicare Costs Can Be Reduced Without Hurting Quality of Care
Most voters think it’s possible to cut Medicare costs without damaging the existing quality of care but believe it can’t be done unless the overall cost of health care in America comes down.
June 29, 2011
75% Say U.S. Not Doing Enough To Develop Its Gas And Oil Resources
Most voters continue to feel America needs to do more to develop domestic gas and oil resources. They also still give the edge to finding new sources of oil over reducing gas and oil consumption.
June 29, 2011
63% Favor Death Penalty, 47% Say It Deters Crime
Support for the death penalty remains high, and adults are a bit more confident that capital punishment helps deter crime than they were a year ago.
June 28, 2011
Generic Republican Candidate 46%, Obama 42%
A generic Republican candidate now holds a four-point lead over President Obama in a hypothetical 2012 election matchup. It's the fifth week in a row that the GOP candidate has been ahead and the widest gap between the candidates to date.
