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May 12, 201223% View Harry Reid Favorably, 57% Don't
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker John Boehner are the leaders of their respective legislative chambers, but neither rates very high in the estimation of voters.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 23% of Likely U.S. Voters share a somewhat favorable opinion of Reid, while 57% view him unfavorably. This includes six percent (6%) with a Very Favorable regard for the Nevada Democrat and 37% who see him Very Unfavorably. Twenty-one percent (21%) have no opinion. Reid’s overall unfavorables tie findings in January which marked his highest negatives since the beginning of 2009.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 8-9, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error 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.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            May 12, 2012What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending May 11, 2012
President Obama ended the week with media praise loud in his ears over his endorsement of gay marriage, while his Republican challenger Mitt Romney crossed the 50% threshold against the president for the first time in Rasmussen Reports’ daily Presidential Tracking Poll.
It’s a long way to Election Day, but Romney’s lead was a reminder that this contest is still all about the economy. Just 37% of Likely Voters nationwide give the president good or excellent marks for his handling of economic issues, down from a two-year high of 42% in March. Forty-eight percent (48%) say he’s doing a poor job in this area.
May 11, 2012Radio Update:  Happy Mother's Day
Listen to the latest edition of The Rasmussen Report with noted pollster Scott Rasmussen. Stations interested in adding “The Rasmussen Report” features to their lineup should contact Willis Damalt at the WOR Radio Network at 212-798-8376 or via email at wdamalt@worradionet.com.
May 11, 2012Radio Update:  Obama's Numbers Down, Romney Up
Listen to the latest edition of The Rasmussen Report with noted pollster Scott Rasmussen. Stations interested in adding “The Rasmussen Report” features to their lineup should contact Willis Damalt at the WOR Radio Network at 212-798-8376 or via email at wdamalt@worradionet.com.
May 11, 2012Wisconsin:  Obama 49%, Romney 45%
President Obama still leads Mitt Romney in a head-to-head matchup in Wisconsin but by a much narrower margin.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the Badger State finds Obama with 49% of the vote to Romney’s 45%.  Four percent (4%) prefer some other candidate, 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.
This Wisconsin survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted May 9, 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.
May 11, 2012Radio Update:  One-In-Three Believe It's Still Possible To Work Hard, Get Rich
Listen to the latest edition of The Rasmussen Report with noted pollster Scott Rasmussen. Stations interested in adding “The Rasmussen Report” features to their lineup should contact Willis Damalt at the WOR Radio Network at 212-798-8376 or via email at wdamalt@worradionet.com.
May 11, 2012Do Independent Voters Matter? By Todd Eberly
Todd Eberly, a political science professor at St. Mary's College of Maryland, recently wrote a report for the centrist group Third Way about independent voters. Crystal Ball senior columnist Alan Abramowitz addressed that report in a recent article, and Eberly asked to respond. His point of view differs from Abramowitz's and the inclinations of the Crystal Ball staff, but in order to present readers a full view, we agreed to give Eberly a chance to share his views.
-- The Editors
Are independent voters a myth? That is certainly the conclusion of many who study political science. Research has demonstrated that, when pressed, independent voters often reveal significant partisan preferences: They lean Democratic or lean Republican. When leaners are reclassified and grouped among their partisan peers the share of pure independents in the electorate falls -- by some accounts -- to less than 10% of the electorate.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            May 11, 201248% Are Skeptical About Safety of Driverless Cars
Nevada this week became the first state to authorize the testing of driverless cars on its roads, streets and highways, but, perhaps not surprisingly, a sizable number of Americans question the safety of this new technology.  Very few anticipate owning such a car in the next 10 years.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 38% of American Adults believe it is at least somewhat likely that these so-called autonomous cars will be able to operate safely on roads and highways, but 48% disagree and think they won’t be safe. This includes 17% who think it’s Very Likely and 13% who say it’s Not At All Likely. Fourteen percent (14%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Americans nationwide was conducted on May 9-10, 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.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            May 11, 2012New High: 68% Would Vote To Replace Entire Congress
Here’s some bad news for Washington: More voters than ever would vote to replace the entire Congress rather than keep it.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that, if given the choice, 68% of Likely Voters would vote to get rid of the entire Congress rather than keep them all on the job. Just 12% say they would vote to keep the entire Congress. Twenty percent (20%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters U.S. Voters was conducted on May 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.
May 11, 2012Wisconsin Senate: Thompson (R) 50%, Baldwin (D) 38%
Former Governor Tommy Thompson remains the leader in Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate race, while two other Republican contenders continue to struggle against Democratic hopeful Tammy Baldwin.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in Wisconsin shows Thompson with 50% support to Baldwin’s 38%. Five percent (5%) like some other candidate in the race, and seven percent (7%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Wisconsin was conducted on May 9, 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.
May 11, 2012Let's Not Overreact to the Judd Mutiny By Kyle Kondik
We would make a joke about President Obama only taking 59% of the West Virginia primary vote against a federal prison inmate named Keith Judd, but every possible one was exhausted on Twitter by Wednesday morning. Suffice it to say, it was an embarrassing performance for the president, albeit in a state he has no chance of winning in November.
May 11, 2012What the China Crisis (and His Gay Crisis) Revealed About Mitt By Joe Conason
Just as aspiring judges ought to possess the quality known as "judicial temperament," a would-be president should have certain obvious attributes of mind and character. Two incidents tested Mitt Romney this week -- and both times, his ambition overwhelmed his judgment.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            May 11, 2012Lugar Loss Highlights Sour Relationship Between Voters and Politicians By Scott Rasmussen
When relationships go bad, an early warning sign is that one side doesn't really hear what the other is saying.
May 10, 2012Radio Update:  Walker Leads in Recall Fight
Listen to the latest edition of The Rasmussen Report with noted pollster Scott Rasmussen. Stations interested in adding “The Rasmussen Report” features to their lineup should contact Willis Damalt at the WOR Radio Network at 212-798-8376 or via email at wdamalt@worradionet.com.
May 10, 2012Radio Update:  No Matter How Bad Things Are, Voters Believe Congress Can Always Make It Worse
Listen to the latest edition of The Rasmussen Report with noted pollster Scott Rasmussen. Stations interested in adding “The Rasmussen Report” features to their lineup should contact Willis Damalt at the WOR Radio Network at 212-798-8376 or via email at wdamalt@worradionet.com.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            May 10, 201237% Give Obama Positive Marks on Economic Issues
Voter ratings for the president’s performance on economic issues remains relatively steady despite last Friday’s disappointing government report on job creation. Voters also hold consistent views on the president’s leadership and handling of national security issues.
Thirty-seven percent (37%) of Likely Voters nationwide offer President Obama good or excellent marks on his handling of economic issues, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey. Forty-eight percent (48%) say the president is doing a poor job handling these issues. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Two surveys of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide were conducted on May 4-5 and 8-9, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error for each survey 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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                            May 10, 2012Majority of Americans Have Unfavorable Views of Greece, France
Following their historical elections and amidst ongoing economic struggles, many Americans do not have a favorable opinion of Greece or France.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 33% of American Adults have at least a somewhat favorable view of France, including just eight percent (8%) with a very favorable view of the nation. Fifty-six percent (56%) hold an unfavorable view of France, including 23% who view the country Very Unfavorably. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Americans nationwide was conducted on May 7-8, 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.
May 10, 2012Radio Update:  Americans Worried About Impact of Europe's Problems on US Economy
Listen to the latest edition of The Rasmussen Report with noted pollster Scott Rasmussen. Stations interested in adding “The Rasmussen Report” features to their lineup should contact Willis Damalt at the WOR Radio Network at 212-798-8376 or via email at wdamalt@worradionet.com.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            May 10, 201265% Angry At Government’s Current Policies
Two-out-of-three voters are fed up with the current policies of the federal government, and a majority feels neither Republicans nor Democrats know what is best for the people. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 65% of Likely U.S. Voters are at least somewhat angry at the current policies of the federal government, including 37% who are Very Angry.  Thirty-one percent (31%) don’t share that anger, with 10% who are Not At All Angry.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.
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                            May 10, 2012Wisconsin Recall Election: Walker 50%, Barrett 45%
Embattled Republican Governor Scott Walker holds a five-point lead over his newly nominated Democratic challenger Tom Barrett in Wisconsin’s special recall election.
A new Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey shows that 50% of the state’s Likely Voters prefer Walker while 45% choose Barrett. Two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate and another two percent (2%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Wisconsin was conducted on May 9, 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.