The U.S. Postal Service is holding its own in the era of e-mail and instant messaging—at least in the court of public opinion.

Despite its designation as deliverer of “snail-mail” and another increase in the price of stamps, the Postal Service is viewed favorably by 64% of American adults. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 20% hold an unfavorable view.

Older Americans, who tend to rely more on the Postal Service, have a somewhat lower opinion of it than younger adults. Still, even 56% of American senior citizens have a favorable opinion of the USPS.

Sixty-four percent (64%) also believe the postal service in the U.S. is better than most places in the world. Only 7% believe it is worse.

Thirty-one percent (31%) believe service would improve if the postal service was run by a private company like Federal Express or UPS. An equal number, 31%, believe service would decline with a private company in charge. Twenty-one percent (21%) say the change would have little impact while 17% are not sure.

A plurality of Republicans believe service would be better with a private company in charge. Democrats are evenly divided and a plurality of those not affiliated with either party believe service would decline with private company management.

Eighty-three percent (83%) of Americans are able to correctly identify the new price of a first class stamp—41 cents.

Rasmussen Reports conducts ongoing surveys measuring the attitudes of Americans on the news of the day including gun control, partial-birth abortion, and Iraq. The latest updates can be found on the Rasmussen Reports home page.

Rasmussen Reports regularly tracks public attitudes towards Congress, the War on Terror, and other topics. Rasmussen Reports also continuously updates favorability ratings and general election match-ups for all Democratic and Republican Presidential candidates along with ratings for Members of Congress, Other Political Figures, and Journalists.

Rasmussen Reports releases updated polling data on the Democrat Nomination Process every Monday and on the Republican contest every Tuesday. Results for the Generic Congressional Ballot are updated monthly.

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