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February 12, 2015

More Drones + Commercial Flights =

A commercial airliner landing in Los Angeles last weekend reported a near miss with an unmanned drone, the latest of such incidents to make the news. With more and more drones flying, voters are becoming a lot more concerned about air safety.

(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 Likely Voters was conducted on February 10-11, 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.

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February 12, 2015

The Era of Competition: How 2016 Could Set a Presidential Record By Geoffrey Skelley

The United States is in the midst of an era of great competitiveness in presidential contests. Not once in the last seven presidential elections has a party won more than 55% or less than 45% of the two-party vote. In a recent article for Politico Magazine, the Crystal Ball team argued that fundamentals, recent history, and the nation’s marked political polarization portend a highly competitive 2016 tilt. If the indicators for 2016 play out close to expectations and induce a tight open-seat battle, it may become the eighth consecutive contest where neither major party garners more than 55% of the two-party vote, a new record.

February 12, 2015

How is Obama's Spending Plan Playing with Democrats?

President Obama proposed $74 billion in new spending in his State of the Union address last month, and Republicans predictably said, no way. But it appears Democrats weren't strongly persuaded either.

(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 Likely Voters was conducted on February  6-7, 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

February 11, 2015

34% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Thirty-four percent (34%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending February 8. 

This finding is unchanged from the previous week. The number of voters who think the country is heading in the right direction has been 30% or higher for the last seven weeks after being in the mid- to high 20s most weeks 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 2,800 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from February 2-8, 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.

February 11, 2015

Voters Less Enthusiastic About Legal Pot

Support for legalization of recreational marijuana is down slightly, but voters nationwide oppose criminalizing smoking and growing pot in the privacy of one’s home.

(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 U.S. Likely Voters was conducted on February 8-9, 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.

February 11, 2015

Americans Question How Neutral ‘Net Neutrality’ Really Is

The Federal Communications Commission is expected soon to adopt new policies that will give it regulatory control over the Internet, although years of legislative and legal challenges are likely.

(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 February 9-10, 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.

February 11, 2015

Voters Still Rate Obama Poorly on Economic, National Security Matters

President Obama's overall job approval ratings may have improved since Election Day, but voter opinions of his handling of the economy and national security have not. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 40% of Likely U.S. Voters think the president is doing a good or excellent job dealing with economic matters, while 42% rate his performance in this area as poor. These findings have changed very little in weekly surveys for the past two-and-a-half years. (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 Likely Voters was conducted on January 25-26, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 9-5% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

February 11, 2015

Voters to Obama: Don't Veto Keystone Pipeline

The Republican-led Congress is expected to approve by late today the building of the Keystone XL oil pipeline and to send it to President Obama who has vowed to veto it. Voters wish he wouldn’t.

(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.

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February 11, 2015

Spontaneous Order by John Stossel

Most of life happens without a central planner. Yet people think we need one.

February 10, 2015

Americans Trust News Media Less

Even as NBC-TV wrestles with what to do with evening anchor Brian Williams, fewer Americans are getting their news predominately from television, and they trust the news they are getting less than they did a year ago.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 60% of American Adults regard the news reported by the media as at least somewhat trustworthy, but that includes just seven percent (7%) who think it is Very Trustworthy. Thirty-eight percent (38%) do not trust the news media, with eight percent (8%) who believe the news reported is Not At All Trustworthy. (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 American Adults was conducted on February 7-8, 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.

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February 10, 2015

What Makes Rand Paul Strange By Froma Harrop

Sen. Rand Paul believes that vaccinating children should be up to the parents, an increasingly unpopular view after recent outbreaks of measles, mumps and other diseases. And throwing a newt's eye of quack science into the vat, the Kentucky Republican promotes the myth that these shots put children at risk.

The political results have been toil and trouble.

Sadik Gulec / Shutterstock.com
February 10, 2015

Are Voters Ready to Return Troops to Iraq?

President Obama is expected to ask Congress to authorize more military force against the radical Islamic group ISIS up to and including the use of combat troops, but are most Americans willing to go that far?

(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 Likely Voters was conducted on February 6-7, 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.

February 10, 2015

Born Under A Bad Sign? Americans and Their Superstitions

If a black cat crosses your path, what do you do? Do you walk under ladders? How superstitious is the average American?

(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 February 5-6, 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.

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February 10, 2015

The Democratic Majority That Emerged -- And Disappeared by Michael Barone

John Judis, co-author of the book "The Emerging Democratic Majority," now says in an article in National Journal that that majority has disappeared. His title: "The Emerging Republican Advantage."

February 9, 2015

Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 40%, Democrats 39%

Republicans have inched ahead on the latest Generic Congressional Ballot. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending February 8 finds that 40% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican candidate in their district's congressional race if the election were held today, while 39% would choose the Republican instead.

(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 2,800 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from February 2-8, 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.

February 9, 2015

Do Voters Agree With Obama’s Comparison of Islam and Christianity?

President Obama has drawn sharp criticism for comments he made during last Thursday’s National Prayer Breakfast equating atrocities by the radical Islamic group ISIS with past sins of Christianity, but a plurality of American voters agree with his sentiments.

The president in his speech said that the use of religion to justify violence and killings “is not unique to one group or one religion” and cited the Crusades and slavery as examples of terrible deeds done “in the name of Christ.” A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of Likely U.S. Voters agree with the president’s statements, but 41% disagree. Twelve percent (12%) are undecided. (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 Likely Voters was conducted on February 6-7, 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.

February 9, 2015

Should NBC’s Brian Williams Stay or Go?

NBC News has the highest rated evening news program, and anchor Brian Williams is a popular fixture on the program. But now that Williams has been caught in a lie, Americans tend to think he hurts NBC’s credibility and needs to go.

Williams has been forced to acknowledge that he didn’t tell the truth for years when he said he was aboard a helicopter during the Iraq invasion that was forced down by enemy fire. Forty percent (40%) of American Adults think Williams should resign because of this, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone poll. Thirty-five percent (35%) disagree, but 25% 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 February 7-8, 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

February 9, 2015

Voters Still Cool to Obama’s Immigration Plan

Voters remain opposed to President Obama’s decision to give amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants but have a slightly more favorable opinion of those who are coming to this country.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 37% of Likely U.S. Voters approve of the president’s new plan that will allow nearly five million illegal immigrants to remain in this country legally and apply for jobs. Fifty-one percent (51%) oppose the plan. Twelve percent (12%) are undecided. (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 Likely Voters was conducted on February 6-7, 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.

February 8, 2015

Would More Religion Make America A Better Place?

Most Americans say their religious faith is important in their daily lives and think the nation would be better off if they practiced that faith more often.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of American Adults think America would be a better place if most people attended religious services on a regular basis. Just seven percent (7%) think the country would be worse off, while 30% believe more religious attendance would have no impact on society. Ten percent (10%) 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 January 26-27, 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.

February 7, 2015

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending February 6, 2015

Things are heating up for America on several fronts overseas, and voters don’t like what they see.