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Politics

Most Recent Releases

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August 5, 2008

Local Television, Cable News Are Primary Sources of Campaign Coverage for Most Americans

Television is the news source of choice for most Americans for information on the 2008 presidential campaign, with local stations having a slight edge over their cable competitors, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

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August 5, 2008

Voters’ Trust for McCain on Key Issues Growing

John McCain is now trusted more than Barack Obama on nine out of 14 electoral issues tracked by Rasmussen Reports. The latest national telephone surveys find that McCain has the biggest advantage on the war in Iraq, by a 51% to 39% margin.

August 5, 2008

58% of Adults Want Troops Home from Iraq Within Year

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 58% of Americans want the troops brought home from Iraq within a year.

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August 4, 2008

Voters Like Obama’s Energy Credit for Working Families, But Give Mixed Reviews to Windfall Profits Tax

With Barack Obama launching an energy offensive this week to regain ground lost to John McCain and the Republicans, the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that most voters favor the presumptive Democratic nominee’s proposal for a $1,000 energy credit for working families.

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August 4, 2008

Affirmative Action Important to 54% of Voters; 58% Reject Programs that Give Special Treatment

John McCain’s rejection of affirmative action as presently constituted drew stony silence from a black audience on Friday, but even Barack Obama has problems with the government’s use of a quota system to advance women and minorities. Both men are careful, too, to suggest that something needs to take its place.

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August 3, 2008

Only 22% Say McCain Ad Racist, But Over Half (53%) See Obama Dollar-bill Comment That Way

Sixty-nine percent (69%) of the nation’s voters say they’ve seen news coverage of the McCain campaign commercial that includes images of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton and suggests that Barack Obama is a celebrity just like them. Of those, just 22% say the ad was racist while 63% say it was not.

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August 2, 2008

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending August 1, 2008

Barack Obama’s travels abroad were the focus of the news a week ago, but our latest polling finds that it really didn’t make any difference in the numbers at all.

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July 31, 2008

30% of Conservative Democrats Say They’ll Vote for McCain

Thirty percent (30%) of conservative Democrats say they’re voting for John McCain. Rasmussen Reports data also shows the Republican hopeful picking up support from 19% of White Democrats and 15% of Democrats over the age of 50.

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July 30, 2008

More Voters than Ever Say They Would Vote for Black Candidate, Still Not Sure About Friends

Since Barack Obama has sealed the Democratic nomination, more voters say they are willing to vote for an African-American presidential candidate than ever before.

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July 30, 2008

Obama Trip: No Gain for the Democrat, No Pain for McCain

Voters view Barack Obama’s highly publicized trip to Europe and the Middle East last week as a complete wash from a political standpoint, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

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July 30, 2008

In White House Race, Twice As Many Voters Uncommitted Compared to Four Years Ago

When given a choice between Barack Obama and John McCain for President, 14% of voters are uncommitted. That figure includes 6% who say they’d vote for some other candidate and 8% who are undecided.

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July 29, 2008

50% Oppose Tax Increases, Favor Pro-Growth Policy Over One That Guarantees Tax Fairness

With taxes front and center this week in the U.S. presidential campaign, 50% of Americans still see tax increases as bad for the economy and an identical percentage favor a tax policy focused on economic growth rather than fairness.

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July 29, 2008

Americans, Split on Which is More Important – Offshore Drilling or Crackdown on Speculators

Voters are nearly evenly divided on which is more important– cracking down on speculators or lifting the ban on offshore drilling -- as the debate comes to a head in Congress this week over how to fight rising gas and oil prices. As far as public opinion is concerned, the best answer would be to do both.

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July 28, 2008

36% of Voters Say Racism Bigger Problem in U.S. than Sexism

CBS News’ beleaguered anchor Katie Couric says sexism is more common and more acceptable in society than racism, but voters do not agree.

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July 28, 2008

Edwards, Clinton are Top Favorites – and Top Unfavorites – For Obama Veep Slot

When it comes to whom voters like among Barack Obama’s possible running mates, it’s all about the also-rans. A new Rasmussen Reports national survey finds that 56% have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of former North Carolina Senator John Edwards, including 21% who view him Very favorably.

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July 28, 2008

Huckabee, Lieberman Have Highest Favorables among Possible McCain Veep Choices

John McCain’s camp signaled last week that the Republican might name a running mate to deflect some of the media glare from Barack Obama’s overseas trip, but ultimately no names were announced. Meanwhile, at least one of the key contenders for the job, Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, announced that he is not interested.

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July 26, 2008

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending July 26, 2008

Barack Obama was the political news this week, despite John McCain’s best efforts to get some of the media focus directed his way.

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July 25, 2008

Most Voters Say Olympics Not the Forum for Political Protests

Just over half of all voters (51%) approve of President Bush’s decision to attend the Opening Ceremony, while 22% disapprove. Men are slightly more likely to approve of the President’s decision than women.

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July 25, 2008

52% say Bringing Troops Home More Important than Winning the War

Despite growing confidence that the U.S. and its allies are winning the war on terror, most Americans (52%) still believe it’s more important for the next president to bring the troops home from Iraq than win the war there.

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July 25, 2008

55% Rate Obama’s Berlin Speech Good or Excellent

Over half of Americans (55%) rate Barack Obama’s historic speech in Berlin yesterday good or excellent, and the Democratic presidential candidate is experiencing a modest bounce over John McCain nationally in the latest Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.