Romney, Huckabee Even With Obama, Other GOP Hopefuls Trail
An early look at potential 2012 match-ups indicates that the election is likely shaping up as a referendum on President Obama. That’s typical when an incumbent runs for reelection.
Politics
Most Recent Releases
February 6, 2011
February 5, 2011
Military Aid to Iceland? Most Americans Say Yes
The United States has military defense treaties with over 50 nations around the globe from obvious ones like the United Kingdom and Germany to less predictable ones like Costa Rica and Iceland. What do Americans think we should do if these countries are attacked?
February 5, 2011
What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending February 4, 2011
The drama on the streets of Cairo has many Americans thinking about national security and the role our country plays in the world these days.
February 4, 2011
Half Want Troops Out of Europe, Japan, But South Korea's Another Story
A plurality of voters think the United States should remove troops from Western Europe and Japan and let them defend themselves. But when it comes to South Korea, most voters think we should stay.
February 4, 2011
54% Say States Should Have Right To Opt Out of Health Care Law
More than half the states are challenging the constitutionality of the new federal health care law in court, many focusing on the requirement that every American must have health insurance. More voters than ever oppose that requirement and think states should have the right to opt out of some or all of the health care law.
February 4, 2011
32% of Voters Are Both Fiscal and Social Conservatives
In today’s economic climate, few voters consider themselves liberals on fiscal policy issues, but there’s a little more divergence of opinion when it comes to social issues.
February 3, 2011
When It Comes to Military Strategy, Voters Put American Interests Ahead of World Peace
Most U.S. voters believe the country’s military strategy should focus on defending the United States and its interests, but a sizable number thinks the strategy should concentrate on keeping the world peaceful instead. Either way, voters see economic challenges as a much bigger threat to the United States than challenges on the military front.
February 3, 2011
Health Care Law Makes Sebelius A Power, But Many Voters Seem Unaware of Her
The new national health care law has made her one of the most powerful women in America, but nearly half the country’s voters don’t seem to know who she is.
February 3, 2011
81% Worry Egypt’s Problems Will Push Up Price of Gas
Voters are worried that they’ll pay a lot more at the pump because of the ongoing political unrest in Egypt.
February 2, 2011
65% Say U.S. Has World's Most Powerful Military
Most U.S. voters believe America's military is the most powerful in the world.
February 2, 2011
41% Give Obama Good Marks On Response to Crisis in Egypt
Voters give mixed marks to President Obama’s response to the crisis in Egypt, and many think United Nations involvement would make things worse.
February 2, 2011
Obama’s Full-Month Rating Improves in January
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.
February 1, 2011
Americans Put U.S. Security Ahead of Free Elections When It Comes To Choosing Allies
President Lyndon Johnson once reportedly said of certain right-wing dictators who were U.S. allies at the time, “They may be bastards, but they’re our bastards.” Most Americans seem to share the late president’s realistic assessment of U.S. foreign policy.
February 1, 2011
Voters Underestimate How Much U.S. Spends on Defense
Voters are fairly evenly divided as to whether the federal government spends too much or too little on national defense, but most also appear to dramatically underestimate how much is actually spent.
February 1, 2011
Majority of Voters Still Question Health Care Waivers, Think They Should Be Given To All
Voters remain concerned that the new health care law will cause some employers to drop their health insurance coverage, and most still question the exemptions to the law the Obama administration is granting to some businesses.
January 31, 2011
GOP Voters Want Presidential Candidate With Private Sector Experience
Most Republican Primary voters are looking for experience in both the private sector and government in a potential presidential candidate. Private sector experience carries a bit more weight. They are also looking for someone who shares their views rather than simply picking someone who is electable.
January 31, 2011
53% Support Decision to Abandon Color-Coded Threat Alerts
For many Americans, the national color-coded terror alert system had become little more than a joke, so it's not surprising that a majority of voters agree with the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to abandon that system in favor of more specific warnings. A plurality also approves of the department’s reported interest in focusing more security on rail, ships and mass transit.
January 31, 2011
58% Favor Repeal of Health Care Law, But Confidence in Repeal Is Down
Most voters continue to favor repeal of the national health care law, but now that the Republican-run House has voted to repeal and sent it on to the Democratic-controlled Senate for action, confidence that the law ultimately will be repealed has fallen to its lowest level in four months.
January 31, 2011
Most Americans Fear Fallout From Egypt Crisis But Want America To Stay Out of It
Most Americans expect the unrest in Egypt to spread to other Middle Eastern countries and think that will be bad for the United States. But a sizable majority also believe the United States should keep its nose out of Egypt’s current problems.
January 30, 2011
46% of GOP Primary Voters Who Favor Palin Might Back Third-Party Option If She Isn’t Nominated
Nearly half of the Republican Primary voters who support Sarah Palin say they are at least somewhat likely to vote for a third-party candidate if she does not win the GOP presidential nomination.
