Mood of America Archive

49% Say America’s Best Days Are in the Past

Nearly half of U.S. voters continue to feel the nation’s best days are already behind them.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 49% of Likely U.S. Voters think America’s best days are in the past. Thirty-two percent (32%) think the country’s best days still lie ahead, down five points from the previous survey. Another 19% 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 August 2-3, 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.

27% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Twenty-seven percent (27%) of Likely U.S. Voters now say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, August 5.

That's down two points from 29% the week before and the lowest finding since late June.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 42%, Democrats 39%

Republicans lead Democrats by three points on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the fifth week in a row, this time for the week ending Sunday, August 5.

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.

29% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Twenty-nine percent (29%) of Likely U.S. Voters now say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, July 29.

That's down a point from 30% the week before.

The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports July 23-29, 2012. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

GOP Edge in Partisan ID Slips to 2012 Low

The number of Americans who consider themselves Republicans fell for the second straight month while the number of Democrats held steady.

During July, 34.9% of Americans considered themselves Republicans. That’s down from 35.4% in June and from 35.7% in May.

The number of Democrats held steady at 34.0%. That marks a partial recovery for the president’s party. In February, just 32.4% described themselves as Democrats, the lowest level ever measured by Rasmussen Reports. Still, while the 34.0% figure is the best for Democrats in 2012, it’s down from earlier years.

Rasmussen Reports tracks this information based on telephone interviews with approximately 15,000 adults per month since November 2002. The margin of error for the full sample is less than one percentage point, with a 95% level of confidence.

34% Say Supreme Court Doing Good or Excellent Job

Ratings for the U.S. Supreme Court’s performance are a bit less negative than they were immediately following the health care ruling.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters shows that 34% say the Supreme Court is doing a good or excellent job. Twenty-two percent (22%) give the Supreme Court a poor rating. (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 U.S. Voters was conducted on July 29-30, 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.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 43%, Democrats 40%

Republicans lead Democrats by three points on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the fourth week in a row, this time for the week ending Sunday, July 29.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 40% would choose the Democrat instead.

The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from July 23-29, 2012. 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.

30% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Thirty percent (30%) of Likely U.S. Voters now say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, July 22.

That's up two points from 28% the week before.

The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports July 16-22, 2012. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology. 

Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 43%, Democrats 40%

Republicans lead Democrats by three points on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the third week in a row, this time for the week ending Sunday, July 22.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 40% would choose the Democrat instead.

The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from July 9-15, 2012. 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.

54% Expect More Partisanship in Washington

Just over half of voters now expect politics in the nation’s capital to become more partisan, the lowest finding in well over a year.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% of Likely U.S. Voters expect more partisanship in Washington, D.C., over the next year. That’s down from 61% last month and the lowest finding since January 2011.  

Nineteen percent (19%) expect politics in the capital to be more cooperative over the next year, the highest finding since March 2011. Twenty-seven percent (27%), however, are not sure what to expect. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 15-16, 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.

28% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Twenty-eight percent (28%) of Likely U.S. Voters now say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, July 15.

That's down four points from 32% the week before which marked the highest level of optimism since early March.

The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports July 9-15, 2012. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology. 

Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 43%, Democrats 40%

Republicans lead Democrats by three points on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the second week in a row, this time for the week ending Sunday, July 15.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 40% would choose the Democrat instead.

The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from July 9-15, 2012. 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.

60% Say Congress Doing Poor Job

Positive ratings for Congress continue to hover in the single digits, and a plurality of voters still believes most members of the national legislature are corrupt.  

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters shows that just seven percent (7%) say Congress is doing a good or excellent job. Sixty percent (60%) say the legislators are doing a poor job, a slight improvement from the last several months. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 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.

47% Think U.S. and Allies Are Winning War on Terror

Confidence in how the United States is doing in the War on Terror has fallen to its lowest level this year.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 47% of Likely U.S. Voters now think the United States and its allies are winning the War on Terror. That's down from 51% last month and the lowest finding since November.  Fifteen percent (15%) say the terrorists are winning. Twenty-nine percent (29%) feel neither side is ahead, also the highest finding since November. (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 July 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.

32% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Thirty-two percent (32%) of Likely U.S. Voters now say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, July 8.

That's up two points from 30% the week before but in line with findings for most of this year. This marks the highest level of optimism since early March.

The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports July 2-8, 2012. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology. 

Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 43%, Democrats 40%

Republicans lead Democrats by three points on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending Sunday, July 8.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 40% would choose the Democrat instead.

The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from June 25-July 1, 2012. 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.

30% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Thirty percent (30%) of Likely U.S. Voters now say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, July 1.

That's up three points from 27% the week before, the lowest findings since early April.

The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports June 25-July 1, 2012. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Economy, Health Care Top Voter Concerns

The economy remains most important to voters on a list of 10 key issues regularly surveyed by Rasmussen Reports, but interest in health care is back up following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision upholding President Obama’s health care law.

New national telephone surveying finds that 74% of Likely U.S. Voters rate the economy as Very Important to how they will vote in the next election. Sixty-seven percent (67%) rate health care as a Very Important issue and 64% say the same about government ethics and corruption. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Surveys of 1,000 Likely Voters each were conducted on June 27-28 and July 1-2, 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.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 41%, Democrats 40%

Republicans now only lead Democrats by one point on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending Sunday, July 1.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 41% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 40% would choose the Democrat instead.

The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from June 25-July 1, 2012. 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.

Partisan Trends: Republicans 35.4%, Democrats 34.0%, Unaffiliateds 30.5%

The number of Democrats and Republicans in the United States held relatively steady in June, though the number of voters in President Obama’s party is still at its highest level of 2012.

During June, 35.4% of Americans considered themselves Republicans, down slightly from 35.7% in May.

Rasmussen Reports tracks this information based on telephone interviews with approximately 15,000 adults per month since November 2002. The margin of error for the full sample is less than one percentage point, with a 95% level of confidence.