Public Content

Most Recent Releases

August 15, 2012Take Advantage of New Limited-Time Discount on Yearly Rasmussen Reader Accounts
Asbury Park, NJ – August 15, 2012 — The Rasmussen Reader subscription service has grown dramatically since we introduced it last year, and we'd like to thank our visitors for their continued support by again offering a 12-month Rasmussen Reader Subscription for $24.95 -- a savings of 28% off the regular yearly price. This limited time offer runs from August 15, 2012 - October 1, 2012. Sign up today!
 The Rasmussen Reader promotional offer is open to all site visitors, regardless of whether you are opening a new yearly subscription or already have an active monthly or yearly account. For those who have an existing account, this $24.95 offer will act as a 12-month extension to your current plan.
August 15, 201251% Expect Most Reporters To Help Obama; 9% Predict Most Will Help Romney
Most voters think President Obama has gotten better treatment from the media than Mitt Romney has, and they expect that biased coverage to continue. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of Likely U.S. Voters believe Obama has received the best treatment from the media so far. Just 18% think his Republican challenger has been treated better. Twenty-three percent (23%) aren’t sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 8-9, 2012 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.
August 15, 2012There Ought Not to Be a Law By John Stossel
I'm a libertarian in part because I see a false choice offered by the political left and right: government control of the economy -- or government control of our personal lives.
People on both sides think of themselves as freedom lovers. The left thinks government can lessen income inequality. The right thinks government can make Americans more virtuous. I say we're best off if neither side attempts to advance its agenda via government.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business/general_business/august_2012/37_are_confident_in_fed_to_keep_inflation_under_control/743573-1-eng-US/37_are_confident_in_fed_to_keep_inflation_under_control.jpg" />
                
                            August 14, 201237% Are Confident in Fed To Keep Inflation Under Control
At a time when most Americans report they’re paying more for groceries compared to last year, confidence in the Federal Reserve Board’s ability to keep inflation under control has fallen to a new low for 2012.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 37% of American Adults are at least somewhat confident that the Fed can keep inflation under control and interest rates down, but that includes just nine percent (9%) who are Very Confident.  Fifty-seven percent (57%) lack confidence in the Fed, with 19% who are Not At All Confident.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/lifestyle/general_lifestyle/august_2012/majority_of_adults_believe_parents_should_have_choices_about_children_s_schools/743480-1-eng-US/majority_of_adults_believe_parents_should_have_choices_about_children_s_schools.jpg" />
                
                            August 14, 2012Majority of Adults Believe Parents Should Have Choices About Children's Schools
When it comes to their child’s education, most Americans agree that parents should have a choice when it comes to prayer in school, what the students wear and how much of the year they spend in class. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 76% of American Adults think parents should have a choice between sending their children to a school that allows in-school prayer and one that does not. Thirteen percent (13%) do not believe parents should have that choice, but another 11% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/ohio/ohio_obama_45_romney_45/798602-1-eng-US/ohio_obama_45_romney_45.jpg" />
                
                            August 14, 2012Ohio: Obama 45%, Romney 45%
Rasmussen Reports’ latest look at the presidential race in Ohio shows President Obama and Mitt Romney running dead even at 45% each.
A new telephone survey of Likely Ohio Voters finds that six percent (6%) prefer some other candidate and 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 500 Likely Voters in Ohio was conducted on August 13, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/august_2012/50_now_view_paul_ryan_favorably_43_say_he_was_right_choice/743328-2-eng-US/50_now_view_paul_ryan_favorably_43_say_he_was_right_choice.jpg" />
                
                            August 14, 201250% Now View Paul Ryan Favorably; 43% Say He Was Right Choice
Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan’s favorables are up after the first blush of national media exposure following Mitt Romney’s selection of him as his vice presidential running mate. But as is generally the case with running mates, Ryan gives only a slight boost to Romney.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% of Likely U.S. Voters now have a favorable opinion of Ryan, while 32% view him unfavorably. This includes 29% with a Very Favorable view of Romney’s vice presidential pick and 13% with a Very Unfavorable one.  Only 13% are now unfamiliar with Ryan, and five percent (5%) are not sure about him. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/ohio/ohio_51_have_favorable_opinion_of_paul_ryan/743185-2-eng-US/ohio_51_have_favorable_opinion_of_paul_ryan.jpg" />
                
                            August 14, 2012Ohio: 51% Have Favorable Opinion of Paul Ryan
Early reactions to Mitt Romney’s new running mate are modestly positive in Ohio.
Fifty-one percent (51%) have a favorable opinion of the GOP’s Vice Presidential running mate. A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in Ohio finds that 39% have an unfavorable view. Those figures include 33% with a Very Favorable opinion and 24% with a Very Unfavorable view.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Ohio was conducted on August 13, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
August 14, 2012Spending We Can Believe In by Froma Harrop
When Curiosity touched down on Mars, joy erupted at NASA's lab in Pasadena, Calif., and national pride swelled. America the Demoralized had briefly vanished. Our research instruments were going where no research instruments had gone before. America was back at its game.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business/taxes/august_2012/43_think_extension_of_bush_tax_cuts_likely_46_disagree/743044-1-eng-US/43_think_extension_of_bush_tax_cuts_likely_46_disagree.jpg" />
                
                            August 14, 201243% Think Extension of Bush Tax Cuts Likely, 46% Disagree
Most voters want to continue the so-called Bush tax cuts, but they aren’t convinced that President Obama and Congress will extend those tax cuts by the end of the year when they expire.
Only 43% of Likely U.S. Voters, in fact, think it’s even somewhat likely that Congress and the president will reach an agreement before year’s end that extends the Bush administration tax cuts. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% think such an extension is unlikely.
Those figures include just nine percent (9%) who feel and extension of the Bush tax cuts is Very Likely and 13% who view it as Not At All Likely. (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 August 10-11, 2012 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.
August 13, 2012Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 42%, Democrats 39%
Republicans lead Democrats by three points on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the sixth week in a row, this time for the week ending Sunday, August 12.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 39% would choose the Democrat instead.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/lifestyle/general_lifestyle/august_2012/23_give_u_s_public_education_positive_marks/742202-1-eng-US/23_give_u_s_public_education_positive_marks.jpg" />
                
                            August 13, 201223% Give U.S. Public Education Positive Marks
Americans still don’t think too highly of the public education system in the United States, but they continue to give much higher marks to the school their own child attends.
A new Rasmussen Report national telephone survey finds that just 23% of American Adults rate the current performance of public schools in America today as good or excellent.  Thirty-six percent (36%) give public education in the United States poor marks.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business/general_business/august_2012/44_are_confident_in_stability_of_u_s_banking_industry/741970-1-eng-US/44_are_confident_in_stability_of_u_s_banking_industry.jpg" />
                
                            August 13, 201244% Are Confident in Stability of U.S. Banking Industry
The number of Americans who are confident in the U.S. banking system remains below 50%, but most still aren’t worried they will lose money due to a bank failure.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 44% are confident in the stability of the U.S. banking industry today, including just 11% who are Very Confident. Fifty-one percent (51%) don’t share this confidence, with 11% who are Not At All Confident in the banking system. (To see survey question wording,  click here.)
The survey of 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on August 11-12, 2012 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.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business/federal_budget/august_2012/voters_put_spending_cuts_ahead_of_deficit_reduction_but_see_those_cuts_as_unlikely/741644-1-eng-US/voters_put_spending_cuts_ahead_of_deficit_reduction_but_see_those_cuts_as_unlikely.jpg" />
                
                            August 13, 2012Voters Put Spending Cuts Ahead of Deficit Reduction But See Those Cuts as Unlikely
Voters still rate spending cuts as more important than reducing the deficit, but hardly anybody expects the government to cut spending over the next few years. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 49% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it is more important to cut government spending than it is to reduce the federal budget deficit. Forty percent (40%) disagree and think it is more important to reduce the deficit first. Eleven percent (11%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
August 13, 2012Romney-Ryan Ticket Puts Entitlement Crisis at Center of Campaign by Michael Barone
On the USS Wisconsin in Norfolk harbor, a coatless Mitt Romney named a tieless Paul Ryan as his vice presidential nominee.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/archive/election_2012_archive/ohio/ohio_senate_brown_d_44_mandel_r_44/667711-7-eng-US/ohio_senate_brown_d_44_mandel_r_44.jpg" />
                
                            August 13, 2012Ohio Senate: Brown (D) 44%, Mandel (R) 44%
Republican challenger Josh Mandel now runs even with incumbent Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown in Ohio’s U.S. Senate race.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in Ohio shows Mandel and Brown each earning 44% support. Three percent (3%) favor some other candidate in the contest, and nine percent (9%) 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 500 Likely Voters in Ohio was conducted on August 13, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
August 13, 201256% Favor Repeal of Health Care Law
Most voters still want to see President Obama’s health care law repealed, and a plurality believes repeal would be good for the economy.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of Likely U.S. Voters favor repeal of the national health care law, while 38% are opposed. This includes 46% who Strongly Favor repeal and 29% who Strongly Oppose it. (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 August 10-11, 2012 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.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business/federal_bailout/august_2012/56_say_bailouts_of_financial_industry_bad_for_u_s/741084-1-eng-US/56_say_bailouts_of_financial_industry_bad_for_u_s.jpg" />
                
                            August 12, 201256% Say Bailouts Of Financial Industry Bad For U.S.
U.S. voters continue to have a more positive view of the government auto bailouts than they do of the ones given to the financial sector.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of Likely U.S. Voters view the bailouts of the U.S. financial industry as bad for the country. Just 25% think those bailouts were a good thing for America. Twenty percent (20%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.) 
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on August 8-9, 2012 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.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/politics/current_events/immigration/august_2012/56_put_border_control_first/741025-1-eng-US/56_put_border_control_first.jpg" />
                
                            August 12, 201256% Put Border Control First
Most voters continue as they have for years to put border control ahead of legalizing the illegal immigrants already in this country.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of Likely U.S. Voters think gaining control of the border is more important than legalizing the status of undocumented workers already living here. Thirty-five percent (35%) put legalizing the status of undocumented workers first. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 6-7, 2012 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.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/archive/weekly_update_archive/august_2012/what_they_told_us_reviewing_last_week_s_key_polls_for_the_week_ending_august_10_2012/748282-2-eng-US/what_they_told_us_reviewing_last_week_s_key_polls_for_the_week_ending_august_10_2012.png" />
                
                            August 11, 2012What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls -- For The Week Ending August 10, 2012
For many Americans, this year’s presidential race couldn’t be clearer: One candidate wants to expand the government’s role in the economy and the business world; the other claims he wants to reduce the size of that footprint.