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

Public Content

Most Recent Releases

June 17, 2013

71% Would Recommend Their Company as a Good Place to Work

Most working Americans like their jobs, so it’s no surprise that they’d recommend their company as a good place to work.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 71% of Employed Americans would recommend their company, while just 17% would not. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Win an iPad: The Rasmussen Challenge starts tomorrow!

(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 613 Employed Adults was conducted on June 9-10, 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.

June 17, 2013

Booker Clear Favorite to Replace Lautenberg

With two months to go until the Democratic primary and four months until Election Day, Newark Mayor Cory Booker is in a strong position to become New Jersey’s next United States Senator.

Booker, a graduate of Stanford University, Yale Law School and a Rhodes Scholar, currently attracts 54% support in the Democratic primary competition. A Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of the race finds three other candidates far behind. Congressman Rush Holt picks up 11% of the vote, Congressman Frank Pallone draws eight percent (8%), and Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly Sheila Oliver earns five percent (5%) of the vote. Three percent (3%) would prefer some other candidate and 18% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

In a general election match-up against Republican hopeful Steve Lonegan, Booker enjoys a 17-point advantage, 50% to 33%. Lonegan, former mayor of Bogota and former State Director of the New Jersey chapter of Americans for Prosperity. Perhaps recognizing the political realities of a statewide run in a solidly “blue” state, many other Republicans have declined to enter the race.

How are you doing in the Rasmussen Challenge? 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 state survey of 416 Likely Democratic Primary Voters in New Jersey was conducted June 12-13, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. The general election survey of 1,000 Likely Voters in New Jersey was conducted June 12-13, 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.

June 17, 2013

Most Want Donor Disclosure from Tax-Exempt Groups

Most voters believe tax-exempt groups should publicly disclose all of their donors even though most recognize some will be harassed by political opponents.

Fifty-seven percent (57%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe that groups like the Tea Party and Planned Parenthood should disclose all their donors. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 30% disagree and 13% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Win an iPad: A new Rasmussen Challenge starts tomorrow!

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 14-15, 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
June 17, 2013

A Libertarian Turn on Marijuana Legalization, Same-Sex Marriage and Gun Rights By Michael Barone

Are Americans becoming more libertarian on cultural issues? I see evidence that they are, in poll findings and election results on three unrelated issues -- marijuana legalization, same-sex marriage and gun rights.

Start with pot. Last November voters in the states of Colorado and Washington voted to legalize marijuana, by a 55 to 45 percent margin in Colorado (more than Barack Obama's margin in the state) and by 56 to 44 percent in Washington.

June 17, 2013

57% Expect Health Care System to Get Worse in Coming Years

While opinions remain mixed about the current U.S. health care system, voters continue to grow increasingly pessimistic about the short-term prospects for health care.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 36% of Likely Voters rate the U.S. health care system as good or excellent. Twenty-seven percent (27%) rate it as poor. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Win an iPad: A new Rasmussen Challenge starts tomorrow!

(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 June 14-15, 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
June 16, 2013

On Civil Liberties, Comparing Obama With Bush Is Easy -- and Mostly Wrong By Joe Conason

Nearly a dozen years after the passage of the Patriot Act, rushed through Congress in an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, informed debate over the balance between liberty and security is long overdue. That includes a public examination of how widely and deeply the National Security Agency (and other elements of the "intelligence community") may monitor Americans' telecommunications without violating the Bill of Rights.

June 16, 2013

41% Believe Supreme Court Too Hostile Towards Religion, 15% Too Friendly

Throughout history, the relationship between church and state has been a major issue for societies. In the United States, the First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, but precisely what that means has been subject to ongoing debate.

June 15, 2013

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - For the Week Ending June 15, 2013

The news that the National Security Agency is monitoring everybody’s phone records and reading emails dominated the news last week. Most voters (57%) fear other government agencies will use the NSA data to harass political opponents. Just 26% support the government monitoring effort

June 14, 2013

44% Are Confident They Will Receive All Promised Social Security Benefits

Most voters are still not confident that they will receive all promised Social Security benefits during their lifetime. There is overwhelming support for the view that voter approval should be required before any changes in the program are made.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters are at least somewhat confident that the Social Security system will pay them all their promised retirement benefits during their lifetime. Fifty-three percent (53%) are not confident.

There is a huge generation gap on this question. Seniors are overwhelmingly confident that they will receive their benefits. Just 22% of voters under 40 share that view. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted June 12-13, 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.

June 14, 2013

NJ Governor: Christie Has Big Lead, Seen as Most Effective Candidate to Work With Obama

New Jersey’s Republican Governor Chris Christie holds a huge lead in his bid for reelection partly because he is seen as the most effective candidate to work with Democratic President Barack Obama.  The first Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of the race finds Governor Christie attracting 58% of the vote, while State Senator Barbara Buono earns the vote from 28%. Four percent (4%) prefer some other candidate and 10% are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The state survey of 1,000 Likely Voters in New Jersey was conducted June 12-13, 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.

June 14, 2013

57% Fear Government Will Use NSA Data to Harass Political Opponents

There is little public support for the sweeping and unaccountable nature of the National Security Agency surveillance program along with concerns about how the data will be used.

Fifty-seven percent (57%) of voters nationwide believe it is likely the NSA data will be used by other government agencies to harass political opponents. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 30% consider it unlikely and 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 June 12-13, 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
June 14, 2013

High Heels and Workers' Rights By Froma Harrop

One of the strangest artifacts of American culture is the spiked heel as a symbol of female power. Many waitresses at America's casinos feel otherwise.

June 14, 2013

Distrust of Government Is What It's All About by Scott Rasmussen

Another week, another controversy in official Washington. While each of these stories has its own cast of characters and internal dynamics, it is now possible to identify a unifying theme.

June 13, 2013

32% Are Willing to Pay More In Taxes to Keep Medicare As Is

Voters tend to believe it's not possible to keep Medicare going as is without a tax hike, but just one-in-three are willing to pay more in taxes to keep the government insurance program that way.  

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 34% of Likely Voters think it's possible to continue Medicare as it is today without raising taxes, up from 29% in June 2011.  But a plurality (42%) still doesn't think that's possible, while 24% more are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

How did you do in the latest Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard to find out

(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 June 10-11, 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.

June 13, 2013

64% Think Business Owners Should Be Able to Set Dress Codes for Customers

In towns all over the country, business owners, town officials and even judges are setting new dress code rules. A Tennessee judge has set conservative guidelines for female lawyers in the courtroom; banks in a Florida town have banned hats, hoods and sunglasses in an attempt to thwart robberies, and a New Jersey shore town has banned overly saggy pants on its boardwalk. 

Most American Adults (64%) agree that business owners should be allowed to establish dress codes for people who enter their facility, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just 23% disagree. Thirteen percent (13%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge? 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 American Adults was conducted on June 11-12, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

June 13, 2013

24% Trust Federal Government to Do Right Thing Most or All The Time

Talk about a trust deficit.Just one-in-four Likely U.S. Voters (24%) now has confidence that when the federal government acts it’s doing the right thing most or nearly all the time, but that includes just four percent (4%) who say it almost always does the right thing.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 75% of voters disagree, with 47% who trust the federal government to do the right thing only some of the time and 28% who think it rarely or never does the right thing. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 10-11, 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
June 13, 2013

NSA Surveillance, If Ungentlemanly, Is Not Illegal By Michael Barone

"Gentlemen do not read each other's mail." That's what Secretary of State Henry Stimson said to explain why he shut down the government's cryptanalysis operations in 1929.    

White letter R on blue background
June 13, 2013

House Update: Tiny Movement Toward Republicans By Larry J. Sabato and Kyle Kondik

At this very early point in the 2014 race for the U.S. House, small Republican gains -- as in, less than five seats -- look likelier than a similarly small gain for Democrats. That’s because the Republican targets just look a little better than the Democratic ones.

June 13, 2013

20% of Workers Have Been Turned Down For A Job in Past Year

One-in-five working Americans say they've been passed over for a job in the past year, but nearly as many say they’ve turned down a job offer in the same period.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 20% of Employed Adults have been turned down for a job in the last 12 months. At the same time, 17% say they have turned down a job offer in the past year. (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 602 Employed Adults was conducted on June 7-8, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

June 12, 2013

31% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Thirty-one percent (31%) of Likely U.S. Voters now say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, June 9.

Win an iPad:  Take the Rasmussen Challenge

(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 on June 3-9, 2013. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.