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
February 4, 2010

52% Likely to Watch A Lot of the Olympics On TV

The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada start next week, and a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of adults say they are at least somewhat likely to watch a large portion of the upcoming games on television. Of that number, however, only 20% say they are very likely to do so.

White letter R on blue background
February 4, 2010

Kentucky Senate: GOP Hopefuls Remain Out Front

Rand Paul, who picked up Sarah Palin’s endorsement on Monday, and fellow Republican Trey Grayson continue to lead their two chief Democratic rivals in Kentucky’s contest for the U.S. Senate.

White letter R on blue background
February 4, 2010

Poizner Unhinged, Whitman Unavailable By Debra J. Saunders

At first, it seemed like a bonehead move. On Monday morning, the campaign for Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner's bid for the governor's office sent out an e-mail announcing that the candidate would hold a news conference at its headquarters. I was not the only journalist to wonder: Does this mean that Poizner is getting out of the race -- leaving the GOP primary to Ms. Moneybags, former eBay CEO Meg Whitman?

White letter R on blue background
February 4, 2010

83% Blame Deficit on Politicians’ Unwillingness To Cut Spending

Eighty-three percent (83%) of Americans say the size of the federal budget deficit is due more to the unwillingness of politicians to cut government spending than to the reluctance of taxpayers to pay more in taxes.

White letter R on blue background
February 4, 2010

How Climate-Change Fanatics Corrupted Science By Michael Barone

Quick, name the most distrusted occupations. Trial lawyers? Pretty skuzzy, as witness the disgraced John Edwards, kept from the vice presidency in 2004 by the electoral votes of Ohio. Used car dealers? Always near the bottom of the list, as witness the universal understanding of the word "clunker."

White letter R on blue background
February 4, 2010

Illinois Senate: Kirk 46%, Giannoulias 40%

Republican Mark Kirk holds a modest 46% to 40% lead over Democrat Alexi Giannoulias in the race for the Illinois Senate following Tuesday’s party primaries.

White letter R on blue background
February 4, 2010

The Urban Future Isn't All About Population Booms By Froma Harrop

Sunbelt-and-sprawl advocate Joel Kotkin wrote two years ago that the future of American urbanism wasn't in the "elite cities," such as New York, Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco, but in "younger, more affordable and less self-regarding places." He named (his order) Houston, Charlotte, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Dallas and Riverside, Calif.

White letter R on blue background
February 4, 2010

Just 35% Realize Most Federal Spending Goes to National Defense, Social Security, Medicare

Budget documents provided by the Obama administration show that in Fiscal Year 2009 50% of all federal spending went to national defense,

White letter R on blue background
February 4, 2010

Connecticut Governor: Democrats' Lamont First Among Equals

The man who unsuccessfully challenged Joe Lieberman for the U.S. Senate in 2006 is the Democrat who runs best for now against the two top Republican hopefuls in the race for governor in Connecticut - but just barely. Given the closeness of the potential matchups and the high number of undecided voters, the contest at this stage appears to be wide open.

White letter R on blue background
February 3, 2010

Connecticut Senate: Blumenthal (D) Still Running Strongly

Connecticut continues to look like one Senate seat Democrats can be more sure of now that Chris Dodd is out of the race.

White letter R on blue background
February 3, 2010

Apple Gets the Nod for Buzz Over Microsoft

Apple Inc. sent the business world buzzing yet again last week with its release of its new tablet computer, the iPad. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that the plurality of adults (43%) think Apple is more innovative than Microsoft in terms of product development.

White letter R on blue background
February 3, 2010

46% Favor A Tax Cut for All Americans, 35% Oppose

With concerns about the economy and mounting federal deficits before them, 46% of voters nationwide favor an across-the-board tax cut for all Americans. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 35% oppose such a tax cut, and 19% are not sure.

White letter R on blue background
February 3, 2010

41% Fine With Budget Deficit If Taxes Are Cut

President Obama has now turned his attention to the ballooning federal budget deficit, but a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that a modest plurality of voters (41%) prefer a budget deficit with tax cuts over a balanced budget that requires higher taxes.

White letter R on blue background
February 3, 2010

The Value of Diversity By Susan Estrich

Diversity is not just a nice thing. It isn't just about fairness or equal opportunity. Diversity is good business, essential business, especially for companies that market to women -- or are covered by them.

White letter R on blue background
February 3, 2010

Texas Governor: White Trails Perry, Hutchison – And Medina

The two top hopefuls for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in Texas remain out in front of their likeliest Democratic opponent, but now the Tea Party activist who is the third GOP contender is edging ahead as well.

White letter R on blue background
February 3, 2010

31% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Thirty-one percent (31%) of U.S. voters say the country is heading in the right direction, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

White letter R on blue background
February 3, 2010

Obama's Quagmire of Ambiguity By Tony Blankley

Last week, New York Times columnist Bob Herbert wrote: "Who is Barack Obama? Americans are still looking for the answer, and if they don't get it soon -- or if they don't like the answer -- the president's current political problems will look like a walk in the park. ... Mr. Obama is in danger of being perceived as someone whose rhetoric, however skillful, cannot always be trusted. He is creating a credibility gap for himself, and if it widens much more he won't be able to close it."

White letter R on blue background
February 2, 2010

Republicans Lead By Seven on Generic Ballot

Republican candidates lead Democrats by seven points in the latest edition of the Generic Congressional Ballot.

White letter R on blue background
February 2, 2010

Only 42% At Least Somewhat Confident In U.S. Banking System

Americans continue to express little confidence in the U.S. banking system despite billions in bailout funding, but they’re not very worried about their own money in the bank.

White letter R on blue background
February 2, 2010

Off in the New Age By Froma Harrop

Money, spirituality and something else combined last October to set off a ghastly tragedy near Sedona, Ariz. Participants in a "Sweat Lodge" ceremony, run by New Age impresario James Arthur Ray, were overcome with heat. Three died, and 18 were hospitalized. Yavapai County investigators could charge Ray with homicide.