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April 24, 2013

56% Think Bank Bailouts Were Bad for the U.S.

More than four years have passed since the federal government began bailing out troubled big banks and other financial institutions, and most voters still think those bailouts were a bad idea. 

Fifty-six percent (56%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe the financial industry bailouts were bad for the United States. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 26% think those bailouts were good for the country. Eighteen percent (18%) 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, 2013 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, 2013

58% of Homeowners Say Home is Worth More Now

The number claiming higher values on their homes ties the top level measured in more than a year.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 58% of U.S. homeowners think their homes are worth more today than when they bought them. Twenty percent (20%) say their homes are worth less now, while the same number (20%) feel the values are about the same. (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 660 Homeowners nationwide was conducted on April 18-19, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports.  The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

April 23, 2013

45% Give Obama Good or Excellent Marks on Gun Control

Voters’ views of President Obama’s handling of issues related to gun control have changed little, despite his outspoken criticism of the Senate’s reluctance to pass expanded background checks for potential gun buyers.  

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of Likely U.S. Voters rate the way the president is handling issues related to gun control as good or excellent.  Thirty-nine percent (39%) give him a poor rating in this area.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

How did you do in The Rasmussen Challenge? Final results are in - check the leaderboard

(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 19-20, 2013 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, 2013

73% Favor Labels for Genetically Modified Food

Most Americans agree the federal government should require labeling for foods with genetically modified ingredients, although they don’t know much about what those are.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 73% of American Adults think the federal government should require that any foods containing genetically modified ingredients, or GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms), be labeled as such on store shelves. Fifteen percent (15%) disagree, and 12% are not sure. The level of support remains generally unchanged from last May. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on April 20-21, 2013 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, 2013

87% Give Positive Marks to Law Enforcement Response to Boston Bombings

Voters give overwhelmingly high marks to the law enforcement agencies that handled the Boston Marathon bombing and its aftermath but are less happy with the media coverage of the events. They worry, though, that the government is not focused enough on the threat of domestic Islamic terrorism.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 87% of Likely U.S. Voters think law enforcement agencies did a good or excellent job handling the investigation of the bombings and pursuing the suspects in the case. This includes 59% who rate their performance as excellent. Just two percent (2%) believe they did a poor job. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

How did you do in The Rasmussen Challenge? Final results are in - check the leaderboard. 

(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, 2013 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.

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April 23, 2013

The Bombers and Who Gets In By Froma Harrop

The uncle of the accused Boston Marathon bombers got the boys right. They were unable to settle into American life, Ruslan Tsarni told reporters from his home in Maryland, "and thereby just hating everyone who did." He called the two brothers "losers." I prefer the term "weaklings."    

April 23, 2013

35% Say America’s Best Days Are in the Future

Confidence in the nation's future is down again, following a brief uptick around the election.

Only 35% of Likely U.S. Voters now believe America’s best days are in the future, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.  That’s down from 40% in late January.  Forty-nine percent (49%) think the nation’s best days are in the past. This is the lowest level of optimism and the highest level of pessimism since last August. (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 17-18, 2013 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 22, 2013

Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 41%, Republicans 39%

Democrats hold a two-point lead over Republicans on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending April 21.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 41% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat 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 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from April 15-21, 2013. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage point with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

April 22, 2013

37% Think Their Home’s Value Will Go Up In Next Year

Short-term confidence in the housing market is now at its highest level in several years, and just over half once again believe the value of their home will go up in five years. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 37% of U.S. homeowners now think the value of their home will go up over the next year.  Seventeen percent (17%) expect that value to go down, while 43% feel it will stay about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 660 Homeowners nationwide was conducted on April 18-19, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports.  The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

April 22, 2013

41% Say Earth Day Has Helped Raise Environmental Awareness

Today is Earth Day, a tradition started in 1970 and one most Americans continue to view as important. But adults remain closely divided over its impact on environmental awareness.  The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 59% of U.S. Adults believe Earth Day is at least somewhat important, including 29% who consider it Very Important. Thirty-five percent (35%) don’t see much importance in the day, including 13% who say it’s Not At All Important. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

How did you do in The Rasmussen Challenge? Final results are in - check the leaderboard.   

(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 April 20-21, 2013 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 22, 2013

49% Favor Stricter Gun Control Laws

Most voters continue to support increased background checks for potential gun buyers but only half want stricter gun control laws. Most also say the gun control issue will be important to how they vote in the next congressional election.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 73% of Likely U.S. Voters think strict background checks should be required for anyone to buy a gun in the United States. Only 18% disagree. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

How did you do in The Rasmussen Challenge? Final results are in - check the leaderboard.  

(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 19-20, 2013 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.

The Rasmussen Challenge
April 22, 2013

And the Winner Is…

More than 5,600 people participated in the first Rasmussen Challenge of 2013, with an average of 2,100 people playing weekly. Our first winner for the year is Steve Arthur of Santa Fe, NM.

Since mid-January, the weekly online contest gave participants the chance to accumulate points for correctly (or almost correctly) predicting what the public response would be to specific poll questions. Unlike the initial competition in 2012 in which the leaderboard was fairly consistent each week, the 2013 challenge was a real horse race with a new person topping the leaderboard just about every week.

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April 22, 2013

At Every Turn, Things Were Spinning out of Control By Michael Barone

Chaos. Things seemed to be spinning out of control on many fronts this week.    

April 22, 2013

39% Are Aware If Their State Is Creating A Health Insurance Exchange

Under President Obama’s health care law, states have less than six months now to open exchanges for the sale of universal health insurance, but most voters still aren’t sure what their state has done. Voters remain evenly divided over whether their governor should help to get the health care law on track even as a key Democrat worries in Washington, D.C. that the law is headed for “a train wreck.”

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 39% of Likely U.S. Voters are aware whether their state has agreed to set up a health insurance exchange. Thirty-three percent (33%) say they don’t know what their state has done, and another 27% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

How did you do in The Rasmussen Challenge? Final results are in - check the leaderboard. 

(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 19-20, 2013 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
April 21, 2013

37% Rate Obama's Handling of Economy As Good or Excellent

Voter confidence in President Obama's handling of the economy has fallen back to pre-election levels. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 37% of Likely U.S. Voters now give the president good or excellent marks for his handling of the economy. Forty-five percent (45%) rate his performance in this area as poor. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

How did you do in The Rasmussen Challenge? Final results are in - check the leaderboard. 

(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 15-16, 2013 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 21, 2013

33% Give Obama Positive Marks for Social Security

Voter confidence in President Obama's handling of Social Security has fallen following his release of a proposed budget that does not address threats to the retirement fund's solvency.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 33% of Likely U.S.Voters rate the president's handling of issues related to Social Security as good or excellent. That's down eight points from 41% in February. Forty-one percent (41%) think Obama is doing a poor job of handling Social Security-related issues. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

How did you do in The Rasmussen Challenge? Final results are in - check the leaderboard. 

(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 17-18, 2013 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 20, 2013

42% Rate Race Relations in U.S. as Good or Excellent

More Americans than ever give race relations in the United States positive ratings and feel these relations are improving.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of American Adults rate race relations in America today as good or excellent.  Just 14% view those relations as poor.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on April 16-17, 2013 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 20, 2013

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls -- Week Ending April 20, 2013

Boston.

The terrorist bombing at the Boston Marathon and the resulting manhunt for the perpetrators have held the attention of the nation for the past week, but Americans seem to be taking the events in stride.

April 19, 2013

53% Say Pro Sports Have Helped Race Relations in U.S.

Most Americans (53%) believe professional sports have helped improve race relations in the United States.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 20% of American Adults disagree. Twenty-seven percent (27%) 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 Adults was conducted on April 16-17, 2013 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 19, 2013

Only 11% Think U.S. Can Ever Be Totally Safe from Terrorism

Most voters recognize that the United States can never be made completely safe from terrorist attacks like the one in Boston on Monday and think another terrorist attack is likely in this country within the next year.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 71% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it is at least somewhat likely that there will be another terrorist attack in the United States in the next year. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

How did you do in The Rasmussen Challenge? Final results are in - check the leaderboard. 

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 17-18, 2013 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.