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Politics

Most Recent Releases

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July 7, 2008

Americans Give Low Marks to U.S. Health Care, but 69% Rate Their Health Insurance Good or Excellent

More than two out of three Americans (68%) rate health care in this country as fair or poor, but a near identical number (69%) give good or excellent marks to their health insurance coverage and are very reluctant to change it.

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July 7, 2008

Voters Divided As to Whether Women or African-Americans Face More Discrimination

Voters are evenly divided on whether women or African-Americans are more discriminated against today. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 32% believe African-Americans face more discrimination and 31% believe women do. Thirty-eight percent (38%) are not sure.

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July 7, 2008

55 mph is So 70s: Voters Oppose Lowering National Speed Limit

A proposal to conserve energy by reducing the nationwide speed limit to 55 miles-per-hour is strongly opposed by the nation’s voters. Voters continue to prefer solutions that lead to finding more energy rather than relying upon conservation efforts. Majorities support both drilling for oil in both offshore wells and in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge.

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July 6, 2008

The Value of Party Weighting for a Tracking Poll

As we have noted many times, there is a disagreement within the polling industry as to whether or not polling firms should “weight” or adjust their sample to reflect a specific mix of Democrats, Republicans, and unaffiliated voters

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July 5, 2008

What They Told Us: Week Ending July 4, 2008

The economic news remained grim this week on both the employment and small business fronts with no end in sight to rising gas prices. But, going into the July 4 weekend, Americans were still feeling good about the United States and what it stands for.

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July 5, 2008

Libertarians Favor Obama and Other Looks at Election 2008

Libertarian voters make up 4% of the nation’s likely voters and they favor Barack Obama over John McCain by a 53% to 38% margin.

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July 3, 2008

Only 17% See Working For Government As A Higher Calling

Even as both presidential candidates urge Americans to undertake more public service, over half of U.S. voters reject the idea that such duty is better than working in the private sector, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Only one out of six voters view work for the government as a higher calling.

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July 3, 2008

Most Americans Still Hold These Truths to Be Self-Evident

In the early summer days of 1776, a group of men gathered in Philadelphia to craft a document that has become one of history’s great declarations of liberty. In an time and place where challenging the King was considered treason, the Continental Congress declared that the King had no right to claim authority over them.

July 3, 2008

59% of voters say Constitution is Just Fine; 39% Say it Doesn’t Restrict Government Enough

Three out of five Americans think the U.S. Constitution is fine as is, but 39% fear it doesn't place enough restrictions on the government, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

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July 2, 2008

Most Voters Disagree With Harry Reid’s Fossil Fuel Comments

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's pronouncement that using coal and oil is making us sick may be the number one video on YouTube, but most voters disagree, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

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July 2, 2008

Most Americans Proud of U.S. History, Say Other Nations Should Follow America’s Lead

Three out of four Americans are proud of their country’s history, and nearly as many feel the world would be a better place if more nations were like ours.

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July 1, 2008

42% Think Obama’s Public Funding Decision Was Smart, 40% Find it Hypocritical

Americans’ opinions are split on Barack Obama’s recent decision to opt out of public funding for his presidential campaign. A recent Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 42% of adults believe his decision was smart, while 40% think it was hypocritical.

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June 30, 2008

McCain, Obama Talk Immigration, Media Misses the Point

Following the lead of the United States Senate, most media coverage of the immigration debate misses the point. For example, a recent Associated Press story noted that since both Presidential candidates support a path to citizenship, immigration reform won’t be a “major point of differentiation” between them.

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June 29, 2008

Support for Offshore Drilling Dips Slightly to 59%

The good news for Barack Obama is that support for offshore drilling of oil wells has declined just a bit over the past week. The bad news for the presumptive Democratic Presidential Nominee is that only Democrats are changing their mind.

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June 28, 2008

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - June 28, 2008

The United States Supreme Court generated plenty of news this past week by releasing its end of session rulings. For the most part, voters weren’t terribly impressed. Just 26% gave the Justices good or excellent marks for their work down from 31% two weeks ago and 41% a month ago.

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June 27, 2008

Voters Agree With Court Gun Ruling and Think McCain Does Too

On the evening the Supreme Court announced its landmark decision on the Second Amendment and gun control issues, 68% of voters said they followed news coverage of the story Somewhat or Very Closely.

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June 26, 2008

Why Polls Sometimes Show Different Results

Since Barack Obama clinched the Democratic Presidential Nomination, most polls have shown the Illinois Senator with a modest lead over John McCain, typically around five percentage points. However, two recent polls, one by Newsweek and one by the Los Angeles Times, have shown Obama with a double digit lead.

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June 25, 2008

Just 37% Believe Clinton Wants Obama to Win

Just 37% of voters nationwide think that Hillary Clinton wants Barack Obama to win the White House this November. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 33% disagree and say that Clinton does not want an Obama victory. Thirty percent (30%) are not sure.

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June 24, 2008

58% Favor Financial Incentives for Private Companies to Reduce Oil Costs, but McCain Incentive Plans Get Lukewarm Reviews

Sixty-five percent (65%) of voters say that the federal government should get “actively involved in efforts to reduce the price of gas and oil.” The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey also found that 58% believe the most effective way for the government to get involved is to provide financial incentives that will encourage private companies to find solutions.

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June 23, 2008

Most Still See United States as Land of Opportunity

Fifty-five percent (55%) of American adults say that just about anyone who really wants to work can find a job in the United States. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 31% disagree.