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

Politics

Most Recent Releases

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June 28, 2011

66% Say U.S. Society Fair and Decent

Most voters continue to believe U.S. society is generally fair and decent, but they aren’t quite as convinced that President Obama shares their views.

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June 28, 2011

42% View Retiring Defense Secretary Gates Favorably

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, the only holdover from the Cabinet of President George W. Bush, is stepping down from his post this week with his favorables largely the same as they were when President Obama decided to keep him two-and-a-half years ago.

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June 28, 2011

30% Favor Tax Hikes To Keep Social Security, Medicare Solvent

Voters are closely divided over whether increasing taxes or raising the eligibility age is the best way to keep the government’s retirement programs financially afloat.

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June 28, 2011

47% See U.S. Justice System As Fair To Most Americans, 34% Don't

Less than half of adults nationwide believe the U.S. system of justice is fair to most Americans. But far more think the problem with the system is not that the innocent are treated unfairly but that the guilty go free.

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June 27, 2011

73% Say Woman President Likely in Next 10 Years

Voters are more willing than ever to elect a woman president, and most think there’s a good chance a woman will win the White House in the next 10 years.

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June 27, 2011

65% Say Current Taxes Not Enough to Fund Medicare, Social Security Promises

Most voters consider it essential for taxes to fund all promised Social Security and Medicare benefits and understand that the current level of taxation is not enough to keep those promises. But they're not overly sure they need to pay more taxes to keep those programs going.

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June 26, 2011

48% Say Al Qaeda Weaker Now Than Before 9/11

Nearly one-half (48%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the al Qaeda terrorist organization is weaker today than it was before the September 11, 2001 attacks on America.

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June 25, 2011

46% Say Obama Doing Poor Job on the Economy

Nearly half of U.S. voters give President Obama poor marks for his handling of the economy, but he continues to earn higher respect for his performance in the area of national security.

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June 25, 2011

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending June 25, 2011

Americans appear more pessimistic about the economy than they have been in months and also express little confidence that their elected leaders will do anything about it.

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June 24, 2011

29% Say Legal System Puts Individual Rights Over National Security

Voters appear less concerned these days with protecting individual rights when it comes to national security and public safety.

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June 24, 2011

51% Want All U.S. Troops Out of Afghanistan Within A Year

President Obama this week announced that the United States will withdraw 10,000 troops from Afghanistan this year and will bring another 23,000 home by the end of next summer. But most voters don't think the president has gone far enough.

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June 24, 2011

One-in-Three Voters View Social Security, Medicare Unfavorably

Medicare and Social Security are big helps to most retired Americans, but one-third of voters don’t care much for either of the long-standing government programs.

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June 23, 2011

61% Are Still Angry At The Media

Most voters are still angry at the media, but they’re less convinced that the majority of reporters are biased in favor of President Obama.

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June 22, 2011

46% Say Average Reporter Is More Liberal Than They Are

Voters still think most reporters are politically biased and tend to view them as more liberal than they are.

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June 22, 2011

25% Favor Abolishing EPA, 61% Oppose

Though voters nationwide place more importance on jobs than environmental protection, just one in four thinks the Environmental Protection Agency should be abolished.

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June 22, 2011

Most Favor Immigration Police Checks, Tough Sanctions on Those Who Hire or Rent to Illegal Immigrants

Alabama this month became the latest state to authorize routine police checks of immigration status and to require employers to verify that those they hire are in this country legally. Voters continue to strongly support tougher enforcement in both areas.

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June 21, 2011

44% Give Obama Positive Marks On Leadership

Voter perceptions of President Obama’s leadership skills remain relatively stable.

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June 21, 2011

Most Americans Put Deficit Reduction Ahead of Increasing Food Safety Inspections

Just a few days after the House of Representatives passed a bill that slashes spending on food safety and nutrition programs, most Americans say reducing the deficit is more important than increasing food safety inspections. Either way, Americans are mostly confident their food is safe.

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June 21, 2011

Mixed Reviews for EPA—47% Favorable, 45% Unfavorable

Protecting the environment is a concept most Americans embrace, but they’re not so sure about the agency set up to handle that mission.

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June 21, 2011

Generic Republican Candidate 45%, Obama 43%

For the fourth week in a row, a generic Republican candidate holds a very slight advantage over President Obama in a hypothetical 2012 election matchup.