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46% Rate Obama Positively on National Security

Voters still have more confidence in President Obama's handling of national security than of the economy, but he fares more poorly in both areas this week.

Despite the increasing questions raised about events surrounding the death last September of U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens in Benghazi, 46% of Likely U.S. Voters still give the president good or excellent marks when it comes to his handling of national security issues, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That's little changed in recent weeks, although it's down from a high of 52% at the beginning of the year. But 39% now give him poor marks in this area, a six-point increase from a week ago. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

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, May 11.

Voter optimism in the nation’s current course is down one point from the previous week and little changed from a year ago. The latest findings are in line with voter attitudes since early March after President Obama and Congress failed to agree on a budget cutting plan and the so-called sequester cuts kicked in. Confidence in the country's direction jumped into the low 40s last November and remained in the mid- to high 30s through February.

(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 national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen May 6-11, 2013. 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.

Obama's Positives on Deficit Reduction, Economic Fairness Are Down

President Obama draws his lowest ratings to date for his handling of issues related to deficit reduction and economic fairness.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 34% of Likely Voters believe the president is doing a good or excellent job dealing with deficit reduction. Forty-four percent (44%) say he is doing a poor job in this area. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Just 35% think the president is doing a good or excellent job when it comes to issues related to economic fairness. Forty percent (40%) feel he is doing a poor job on economic fairness matters.

(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 May 11, 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.

49% Think Obama Good or Excellent Leader

In the wake of weeks of troubling national security news—the Boston marathon bombing, Syria’s escalating civil war and the Benghazi hearings, voters are no more confident in President Obama’s leadership than they were two months ago. But fewer now see him as too confrontational.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 49% of Likely U.S. Voters consider Obama a good or excellent leader. That's down from 55% at the start of the year, his highest positives since May 2009. Thirty-eight percent (38%) rate Obama poorly as a leader. These findings are unchanged from early March, right after the sequester spending cuts went into effect and are more in line with the president's leadership ratings in 2012 prior to Election Day. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 9-10, 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.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 40%, Republicans 38%

Democrats hold a two-point lead over Republicans on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the second week in a row, this time for the week ending May 11.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 40% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 38% would choose the Republican instead.

(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 national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from May 6-11, 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.

32% View U.S. Health Care System As Good or Excellent

Voters give the U.S. health care system its lowest marks in recent years and are increasingly pessimistic about the short-term future of health care in this country.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 32% of Likely U.S. Voters rate the health care system as good or excellent. That’s down nine points from 41% in late March and down from an all-time high of 55% in May 2010. However, in July 2008, just 29% rated the health care system as good or excellent.

Just as many (31%) now consider the U.S. health care system to be poor, up from the low 20s in recent months. Only 13% thought the system was poor in May 2010. (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 May 11, 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.

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls -- For The Week Ending May 12, 2013

Is anyone in Washington listening? At week’s end, a Senate committee put increased border security on the back burner in an immigration reform plan that would move millions of illegal immigrants closer to citizenship.

39% Give Obama Positive Ratings on Economy, 41% Poor

Voters are still more confident in President Obama’s handling of national security than in how he's doing with the economy.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 47% of Likely U.S. Voters rate Obama’s handling of national security issues as good or excellent, little changed in recent weeks but down from 52% at the beginning of the year. Thirty-three percent (33%) rate his performance as poor. (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 May 7-8, 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. 

31% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Thirty-one percent (31%) 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, May 5.

Voter optimism in the nation’s current course is up one point from the previous week. This is identical to the findings a year ago and in line with voter attitudes since early March after President Obama and Congress failed to agree on a budget cutting plan and the so-called sequester cuts kicked in. Confidence in the country's direction jumped into the low 40s last November and remained in the mid- to high 30s through February.

(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 national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen April 29-May 5, 2013. 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.

34% Rate Obama’s Handling of Government Spending As Good or Excellent

Voters continue to question President Obama's handling of issues related to government spending and taxes. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 34% of Likely Voters rate the way the president is handling spending issues as good or excellent. That marks little change from last month but is down from 39% in January. Forty-seven percent (47%) think the president is doing a poor job.

(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 May 3-4, 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. 

Voters Still See Obama Friendlier to Big Businesses Than to Small Ones

Voters continue to believe President Obama is friendlier toward big business than small business.A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 25% of Likely Voters think the president’s policies are too friendly to big business, up from 19% in late February. Twenty-eight percent (28%) say the president’s policies are too hostile to big business, while 31% believe they’re about right.  Seventeen percent (17%) are not sure.  (To see survey question wording,click here.)

When it comes to small business, however, only five percent (5%) think Obama’s policies are too friendly.  Forty-six percent (46%) feel his policies are too hostile to small business, but 40% say they’re about right.  These findings show little change from earlier surveys. 

(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 May 1-2, 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. 

36% Think U.S. Economy Is Fair

Belief that the U.S. economy is fair continues to fall, but the Political Class sees a much rosier picture than Mainstream voters do.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 36% of Likely U.S. Voters now view the economy as at least somewhat fair. Fifty-two percent (52%) see it as unfair. These figures include only five percent (5%) who say the economy is Very Fair and 18% who think it is Not At All Fair. (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 May 1-2, 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.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 40%, Republicans 38%

Democrats are back in the lead by a two-point margin over Republicans on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending May 5.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 40% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 38% would choose the Republican instead.

(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 national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from April 29-May 5, 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.

55% View Health Care Law Unfavorably

President Obama’s health care law is more unpopular than it has been for months.

Just 39% of Likely U.S. Voters now view the law at least somewhat favorably, while 55% share an unfavorable opinion of it, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. This includes 14% with a Very Favorable view and 40% with a Very Unfavorable one. (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 May 3-4, 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.

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls -- For The Week Ending May 4, 2013

The flight delay gambit didn’t work.

In response to the recent sequester spending cuts, the Federal Aviation Administration decided to furlough air traffic controllers rather than finding savings in other areas of its budget, prompting airport delays across the country. But even after the delays, only 24% of voters think the sequester cut too much, unchanged from early March just after the government spending cuts took effect. Nearly twice as many still believe the sequester didn’t cut enough.

49% Rate Quality of U.S. Environment as Good or Excellent

Half of U.S. voters give the environment positive ratings, but far fewer believe it is getting better. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 49% of Likely Voters rate the quality of the environment in the United States as good or excellent. Just 11% think the environment is poor.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 29-30, 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.

Voters Favor Choices for Prayer, Uniforms in Schools

Most voters continue to think parents should be able to choose between schools based on such things as uniforms, prayer and how long the school year lasts.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 74% of Likely Voters think parents should have a choice of whether to send their children to schools that allow prayer and those that don’t. Just 16% say parents should not have this choice, while another 10% 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 survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 25-26, 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.

30% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

For the second week in a row, 30% of Likely U.S. Voters say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, April 28.

Sixty-two percent (62%) of voters now think the country is heading down the wrong track, also unchanged from the week before. From January 2009 until October 2012, belief that the country was on the wrong track ranged from 55% to 80%, but it tracked in the low 50s from just before Election Day until early December.

(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 national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen April 22-28, 2013. 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.

President Obama’s Full Month Rating Slips Again in April

When tracking President Obama’s job approval on a daily basis, people sometimes get so caught up in the day-to-day fluctuations that they miss the bigger picture. To look at the longer-term trends, Rasmussen Reports compiles the numbers on a full-month basis, and the results can be seen in the graphics below.

For the month of April, the president's Total Job Approval Rating fell another two points from 52% in March to 50%.  That’s the lowest level measured since last September.   

In December, it reached 56%, the highest level since May 2009. Prior to the election, that rating had remained in the narrow range of 44% to 49% for two years straight.

Rasmussen Employment Index Hits 2013 High

The Rasmussen Employment Index which measures worker confidence rose six points in April to 90.7, the highest level of the year.

Worker confidence is up a full 10 points from April 2012 and is up 16 points from April 2011. In December of last year, the Index hit a five-year high of 91.2, but it had steadily fallen the first three months of this year. December marked the last time the Employment Index reached the 90-point mark.

(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 9,162 working Americans was conducted in April 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 1 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.