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Americans view local governments more favorably than their state and federal government, and generally prefer state and local solutions rather than turning things over to the federal government. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 35% of American adults have a favorable impression of the federal government. Sixty percent (60%) voice an unfavorable view. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on June 13-14, 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.

While the controversy over the National Security Agency surveillance program has dominated the news recently, concern about the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of Tea Party groups and other conservative organizations remains high and is inching up. Despite the large number of controversies engulfing official Washington, the number of people following the IRS scandal has actually increased in recent weeks.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 82% of voters nationwide are now following the IRS targeting story, including 44% who are following the story “Very Closely.” The overall number of voters who are following is up from 74% a month ago. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 16-17, 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.

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Tuesday shows that 48% of Likely U.S. Voters approve of President Obama's job performance. Fifty-two percent (52%) now disapprove.

Today’s figures include 23% who Strongly Approve of the way Obama is performing as president and 40% who Strongly Disapprove. This gives him a Presidential Approval Index rating of -17 (see trends).

Results are updated daily at 9:30 a.m. Eastern (sign up for free daily e-mail update).

It’s the time in the political cycle when just about any Republican could be considered a presidential candidate. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s name comes up often in those discussions, but New Jersey voters aren’t convinced he should make the run.

Thirty-seven percent (37%) of Garden State voters would like to see a Christie campaign in 2016. However, a Rasmussen Reports statewide poll shows that 41% disagree and do not want him to run. Twenty-two percent (22%) 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 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.

Democrats and Republicans are now tied on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending June 16, 2013.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 39% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 39% would choose the Republican instead.

This is the first time since June 2009 that both parties are below 40%.  “This could be a sign that voters are just fed up with both parties,” noted Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports.

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The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from June 10-16, 2013. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage point with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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.

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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.

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.)

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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.

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.

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. 

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.