Voters See No Positive Change in Obama's Performance
Like his daily job approval ratings, voter reviews of President Obama's handling of the economy and national security have generally changed very little during his years in the White House.
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April 29, 2015
April 29, 2015
63% Think Hillary Clinton May Have Helped Foreign Donors As Secretary of State
Just over half of voters do not trust Hillary Clinton, but even more think she used her position as secretary of State to benefit some of those who gave money to her Clinton Foundation.
April 29, 2015
What Creates Jobs by John Stossel
I took a camera to Times Square this week and asked people, "What creates jobs?" Most had no answer.
April 29, 2015
73% Think Newcomers Should Adopt America's Culture, Language
Most voters still consider America an equitable place to live and feel strongly that newcomers to this country should adopt our way of life.
April 28, 2015
Americans See Free Trade As Good for Business, or Do They?
Americans are conflicted on free trade. Most think the government doesn’t do enough to protect U.S. businesses, but at the same time they think those businesses will do better against foreign competitors with a wide-open market.
April 28, 2015
Bipartisanship Is Busting Out All Over By Michael Barone
Like spring, bipartisanship is busting out all over. Even more so maybe: Washington in a time of alleged global warming is suffering through a chilly, wet springtime, but bipartisanship is sprouting up like gangbusters.
April 28, 2015
Gingrich Is Right: Double Medical Research Budget By Froma Harrop
Newt Gingrich recently recalled the bipartisan deal that doubled the budget for the National Institutes of Health -- with fondness. This was about 20 years ago, when Bill Clinton was president, and Republicans under Gingrich had just taken over Congress.
Never a member of the Gingrich fan club, I nonetheless join other liberal-minded observers in hailing the former House speaker not only for not disowning that investment in national greatness but for urging an encore. Gingrich, bless his black little heart, wants the budget doubled again.
April 28, 2015
Voters Expect Last Year's Inaction To Invite More Illegal Immigration
Voters strongly suspect that the government's failure to stop a flood of young illegal immigrants from entering the country last year will lead to more of the same in the warm months ahead.
The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 19-20, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
April 27, 2015
26% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction
The number of voters who think the country is heading in the right direction has fallen to its lowest level since mid-December.
Twenty-six percent (26%) of Likely U.S. Voters now think the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending April 23.
This finding is down six points from 32% the week before and down from 29% for the three weeks prior to that. The previous low for the year was 27% in mid-March. In January and February, 30% or more of voters said the country was heading in the right direction after generally being in the mid- to high 20s since mid-June 2013.
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The national telephone survey of 2,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from April 19-23, 2015. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Crosstabs and historical data are available to Platinum Members only.
April 27, 2015
Most Favor Increased Use of Drones Against Terrorists
Despite President Obama’s acknowledgement last week that a U.S. drone attack on an al-Qaeda camp killed two hostages, including an American, voters remain strongly supportive of using the armed unmanned aircraft. Most also still believe the United States should use them even more. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 23 and 26, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
April 27, 2015
Voters Call for More Insurance Options Than Health Care Law Allows
Most voters still don’t like Obamacare and want more freedom in their health insurance choices than the law currently gives them.
Fifty-four percent (54%) of Likely U.S. Voters view the national health care law unfavorably, with 37% who have a Very Unfavorable opinion of it. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 42% regard the law favorably, including 19% with a Very Favorable view. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 23 and 26, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.0 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.
April 25, 2015
What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending April 25, 2015
Only 37% of Likely U.S. Voters think America’s best days are still to come. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for the nation’s future.
Surprisingly, that’s the highest level of “optimism” in two years. But 45% still think the country’s best days have already come and gone. Consider, too, that even in January 2004, just over two years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, 48% still felt America’s best days were in the future, and only 35% believed they had already passed us by.
April 24, 2015
Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 39%, Democrats 38%
Republicans have a one-point lead on the latest Generic Congressional Ballot.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending April 23 finds that 39% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican candidate in their district's congressional race if the election were held today, while 38% would choose the Democrat instead. Twenty-two percent (22%) prefer a third-party candidate or are undecided.
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The national telephone survey of 2,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from April 19-23, 2015. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
April 24, 2015
Voters Still Pessimistic About Egypt’s Future
An Egyptian court this week handed down the first guilty verdict and sentencing to ousted President Mohamed Morsi for his role in the arrest and torture of protesters in 2012. American opinions of Egypt’s relationship with the United States haven’t changed, but voters are slightly more confident about the future of Egypt’s democracy than they were just after the violence there reached its peak.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 34% of Likely U.S. Voters think Egypt is likely to become a free, democratic and peaceful nation over the next several years. That’s up slightly from 29% in December and in August of 2013, following widespread violence during the ouster of the Muslim Brotherhood president. In February 2011 just after the overthrow of longtime President Hosni Mubarak, 54% showed this level of optimism for the North African country.
Fifty-one percent (51%) now say it’s unlikely Egypt will become a free, democratic and peaceful nation anytime soon, down from 55% in the previous survey. These findings include six percent (6%) who say it’s Very Likely Egypt will reach this goal and nine percent (9%) who say that’s Not At All Likely. Fourteen percent (14%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 21-22, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.
April 24, 2015
Americans Think Free Trade Good for Consumers, Bad for U.S. Jobs
Americans are a little less enthusiastic about free trade, even though they admit it’s better for consumers. But they’re also more likely now to see it as a job killer. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 800 Adults was conducted on April 22-23, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
April 24, 2015
Rand Paul Is Right to Demand Reporters Ask Democrats About Late-Term Abortions By Michael Barone
It was sort of inevitable that on his first day of campaigning as an announced candidate for president earlier this month, Rand Paul would be asked whether he supported a ban on abortions in cases of rape or incest.
Reporters have been asking Republican candidates that question ever since 2012, when the Missouri Republican Senate candidate said he supported such a ban and added that pregnancies were unlikely in cases of "legitimate rape."
April 24, 2015
62% Say Government Has Too Much Power in America Today
Nearly two-out-of-three Americans believe the government has too much power in this country and that too many of their fellow countrymen are dependent on the government for financial support.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 62% of American Adults believe there is too much government power and too little individual freedom in the United States today. Just 10% think the opposite, that there is too much individual freedom and too little government power. Sixteen percent (16%) think the balance is about right, while 12% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The national survey of 800 Adults was conducted on April 14-15, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.
April 23, 2015
50% Think Savings from Social Security Changes Will Just Go To New Spending
Voters suspect that any savings earned from proposed changes in Social Security won't be used to benefit the federal retirement system but will just go to new spending on something else. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 15-16, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
April 23, 2015
Most Complain of Unresolved Problems at the VA
Most voters think there are still serious problems at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and that the federal government needs to do more for those who have served in the military.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 12% of Likely U.S. Voters believe most of the problems with the VA have been cleaned up. Sixty-five percent (65%) think those problems still remain. Twenty-three percent (23%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 21-22, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.
April 23, 2015
Explaining the Republican "Lock" on the U.S. House by Alan I. Abramowitz and Steven Webster
The results of recent national elections in the United States have followed a clear pattern: Democrats have dominated presidential elections while Republicans have dominated congressional and especially House elections. Since 1992, Democratic candidates have won four of six presidential elections and the popular vote for president five times out of six. At the same time, Republicans have won a majority of seats in the House of Representatives in nine of 12 elections and a majority of seats in the Senate in six of 12 elections. As a result, Democrats have controlled both chambers of Congress for only six of the past 22 years.
