If it's in the News, it's in our Polls. Public opinion polling since 2003.

Public Content

Most Recent Releases

White letter R on blue background
October 28, 2014

Reagan's Campaign Speech Continues to Reverberate 50 Years Later by Michael Barone

On Oct. 27, 1964, 50 years ago Monday, a movie actor and television host delivered a 30-minute speech on primetime national television in support of the presidential candidacy of Barry Goldwater.

October 28, 2014

Americans Don't Want to Pay More Taxes for Schools

Just one-in-three Americans rate the performance of the nation's schools positively, but most are not willing to pay more taxes in order to generate additional money for schools.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 30% of American Adults rate the performance of elementary and secondary schools in America today as good or excellent. Forty-three percent (43%) rate schools as being fair, while 24% rate them poorly.  (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 American Adults was conducted on October 22-23, 2014 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.

October 27, 2014

Just 15% Think Top-Tier College Athletes Get a Good Education

News broke last week of a huge academic scandal involving athletes at the University of North Carolina. And reports followed about potentially unethical recruiting practices for student football players at West Point. Considering the recent wave of questionable behavior among top athletic colleges, it’s no surprise that most Americans think many big-time athletic programs break the rules.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that one-in-three American Adults (33%) think just about all big-time college athletic programs break the rules on a regular basis when it comes to recruiting top players. Twenty-three percent (23%) think about half of major programs break the rules, while 24% think less than half do, including 11% who say it’s very few programs. One-in-five (20%), however, 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 Adults was conducted on October 24-25, 2014 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

October 27, 2014

Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 43%, Democrats 41%

With one week to go until midterm elections, Republicans have taken the lead on the Generic Congressional Ballot.
 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending October 26 finds that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district's congressional race if the election were held today, while 41% would choose the Democrat.

 (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 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from October 20-26, 2014. 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.

October 27, 2014

Colorado Senate: Gardner (R) 51%, Udall (D) 45%

Colorado is home to one of the most crucial races for Republicans to take control of the U.S. Senate, and it appears to be slipping away from Democratic Senator Mark Udall in the final stretch.

Republican Cory Gardner now picks up 51% of the vote to Udall’s 45% in the latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Colorado Voters. Two percent (2%) like some other candidate in the race, while two percent (2%) 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 966 Likely Voters in Colorado was conducted on October 21-23, 2014 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.

October 27, 2014

Voters Wary of Lone Wolves, Radical Islamic Terrorism

Following two deadly incidents in Canada that appear terrorist related, U.S. voters feel more strongly that radical Islamic terrorism is a threat to this country but also acknowledge overwhelmingly that not all so-called “lone wolf” attacks can be prevented.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 86% of Likely U.S. Voters now consider radical Islamic terrorism a threat to the United States. That’s up 11 points from January. Twelve percent (12%) disagree. This includes 50% who say this terrorism is a Very Serious threat and only three percent (3%) who feel it is Not At All a threat. (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 October 23-24, 2014 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.

October 27, 2014

60% Expect Obamacare to Increase Health Care Costs

Most voters still don’t like the new national health care law more than a year after it formally took effect, and Republicans are hoping that translates into gains on Election Day.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% of Likely U.S. Voters have a favorable opinion of the health care law, while 53% view it unfavorably. This includes 16% who have a Very Favorable view versus 38% with a Very Unfavorable one. (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 October 25-26, 2014 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.

October 26, 2014

Michigan Senate: Peters (D) 51%, Land (R) 42%

Democratic Congressman Gary Peters has pulled further ahead of Republican Terri Lynn Land in Michigan’s U.S. Senate race, likely putting an end to GOP hopes for a pickup there.

Peters now earns 51% of the vote to Land’s 42% in the latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Michigan Voters. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate in the race, while four percent (4%) 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 1,000 Likely Voters in Michigan was conducted on October 20-22, 2014 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.

October 25, 2014

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending October 25, 2014

Forget the upcoming elections. Does it really matter who wins?

October 24, 2014

Voters Say Job Creation More Important Than Fighting Global Warming

Voters continue to think global warming is a serious issue, but when given the choice, they believe job creation is more important than fighting global warming.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% of Likely U.S. Voters consider global warming at least a somewhat serious problem, down slightly from April. This finding includes 33% who believe it is a Very Serious problem. Thirty-seven percent (37%) don’t think global warming is a serious problem, up four points from the previous survey and the highest finding since April 2012. This finding includes 19% who believe it is Not At All Serious. Five percent (5%) 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 October 21-22, 2014 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.

October 24, 2014

Kansas Governor: Davis (D) 52%, Brownback (R) 45%

Democratic challenger Paul Davis remains ahead of incumbent Republican Sam Brownback in the race for Kansas governor.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Kansas Voters finds Davis with 52% of the vote to Brownback’s 45%. Just one percent (1%) prefers some other candidate, and two percent (2%) are still 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 960 Likely Voters in Kansas was conducted on October 20-21, 2014 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.

October 24, 2014

Michigan Governor: Snyder (R) 49%, Schauer (D) 46%

Incumbent Republican Rick Snyder still holds a narrow lead in Michigan’s gubernatorial race.

(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 in Michigan was conducted on October 20-22, 2014 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.

October 24, 2014

Americans Are Arguing Less This Election Cycle

Americans may consider this a more divided country than four years ago, but they’re arguing about it a lot less than they were before the 2012 election.

Twenty percent (20%) of American Adults say they have gotten into a heated argument with a friend of family member about the upcoming election, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. But that compares to 45% in late October 2012. (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 Adults was conducted on October 22-23, 2014 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.

White letter R on blue background
October 24, 2014

Why the House Will Stay Republican by Michael Barone

You probably haven't read much commentary about this year's elections to the House of Representatives. There's a good reason for that: The majority in the Senate is up for grabs, but it's clear to everyone who follows these things that Republicans will continue to control the House. But there are lessons to be learned from this year's House races, some of them relevant beyond this election cycle.

The House math is fairly simple. Republicans won 234 House seats in 2012 and Democrats 201. There are three vacant seats now, but neither party has gained a seat in a special election or by a party switch.

COPYRIGHT 2014 THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM

White letter R on blue background
October 24, 2014

Debunking Christie's Minimum Wage Mythology By Joe Conason

If there is any upside to the constant blabber from a politician such as Chris Christie, it is that he blurts out what others like him would never say in public -- for instance, his recent remarks at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

"I'm tired of hearing about the minimum wage," said the boorish New Jersey governor, a sentiment no doubt shared by the assembled big-business lobbyists and by most of Christie's fellow Republican governors. "I really am. I don't think there's a mother or a father sitting around a kitchen table tonight in America who are saying, 'You know, honey, if our son or daughter could just make a higher minimum wage, my God, all our dreams would be realized.'"

October 23, 2014

54% Think U.S. Society is Fair and Decent

Voters continue to think American society is generally fair and decent and a large majority maintain that those who immigrate here should adopt the culture.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% of Likely U.S. Voters think American society is generally fair and decent. This finding is down four points from July and is the lowest finding since July 2007. Prior to 2013, belief that American society was fair and decent regularly ran in the low-to-mid 60s. Thirty-three percent (33%) say American society is generally unfair and discriminatory, up slightly from last month. Thirteen percent (13%) 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 telephone survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on October 9-10, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

October 23, 2014

Illinois Governor: Rauner (R) 48%, Quinn (D) 47%

The Illinois governor's race is still tight with less than two weeks to go.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Illinois Voters finds Republican Bruce Rauner with 48% support to incumbent Democrat Pat Quinn's 47%. Two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate, while four percent (4%) 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 1,000 Likely Voters in Illinois was conducted on October 20-22, 2014 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.

October 23, 2014

Kansas Senate: Orman (I) 49%, Roberts (R) 44%

Independent Greg Orman still holds a five-point lead over incumbent Republican Pat Roberts in Kansas’ unexpectedly competitive U.S. Senate race.

The latest Rasmussen reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Kansas Voters shows Orman with 49% support to Roberts’ 44%. Three percent (3%) like another candidate in the race, while five percent (5%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Ninety percent (90%) of the state’s voters say they are certain to vote in this election, and among these voters, it’s Orman 50%, Roberts 46%.

(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 960 Likely Voters in Kansas was conducted on October 20-21, 2014 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.

October 23, 2014

Voters Strongly Support Limits on Food Stamp Recipients

Beginning next year, Indiana will limit how long some can get food stamps, and voters nationwide strongly support similar limits in their state. Just over half favor fixing a deadline for how long people can receive federal public assistance benefits of any kind.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 65% of Likely U.S. Voters favor a program like Indiana’s in their state that would limit access to food stamps to three months for adults without children who do not find work or do not participate in a 20-hour-a-week job training program. Only 24% oppose such limits in their state, while 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 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on October 21-22, 2014 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.

White letter R on blue background
October 23, 2014

Senate Forecast: Cloudy With a Good Chance of a Republican Majority By Kyle Kondik and Geoffrey Skelley

With less than two weeks to go until Election Day, the picture in several key races remains hazy. But when the dust settles, the most likely result is a Republican majority, as the Crystal Ball’s outlook of Republicans adding five to eight seats has long indicated.

The GOP needs at least a net gain of six seats to win back Congress’ upper chamber. But the math is complicated by Sen. Pat Roberts’ (R) struggles in Kansas against independent Greg Orman, and even if Roberts wins, the GOP may not get to 51 seats until after Dec. 6 (Louisiana’s runoff) or even Jan. 6, 2015 (Georgia’s runoff), making it difficult to actually call the Senate for Republicans even this close to Nov. 4.