If it's in the News, it's in our Polls. Public opinion polling since 2003.

Commentary by Scott Rasmussen

Most Recent Releases

June 8, 2012

The Government Insists on Cutting Us Down to Size By Scott Rasmussen

Mayor Michael Bloomberg ignited a firestorm of debate with his proposal to ban super-size sugary drinks in New York City. Critics bashed his nanny-statism, but supporters like first lady Michelle Obama hailed his courage.

June 1, 2012

Team Obama Finds Romney Hard Target to Hit By Scott Rasmussen

The Obama campaign's early attempts to attack Mitt Romney's record at Bain Capital or present him as too extreme to be president have not worked out all that well so far. The early stumbles have created a flurry of commentaries wondering what's wrong with the team that performed so flawlessly in Election 2008.

May 25, 2012

'Austerity' Talk Is Just Political Cover for More Government Spending By Scott Rasmussen

The entire debate is clouded by a refusal of political leaders to talk honestly about spending. The air is filled with talk of brutal spending cuts in financially troubled Europe, but Veronique de Rugy of the Mercatus Center, a pro-free market U.S. think tank, has shown that to be a lie.

May 18, 2012

It's the Economy, Stupid By Scott Rasmussen

Mitt Romney has pulled a point or two ahead of President Obama in polls of likely voters. In polls of registered voters, Obama has the advantage. The president's job approval ratings are hovering in the upper 40 percent range, which suggests a close race.

May 11, 2012

Lugar Loss Highlights Sour Relationship Between Voters and Politicians By Scott Rasmussen

When relationships go bad, an early warning sign is that one side doesn't really hear what the other is saying.

May 4, 2012

Trench Warfare Won't Resolve Anything in This Year's Elections By Scott Rasmussen

One hundred years ago, the European powers were hurtling down a path leading to World War I. Trench warfare became the dominant image of that war, as both sides dug in and the battle lines barely moved. Many called it the "War to End All Wars," but in the end it merely set the stage for World War II.

April 27, 2012

Voters Understand the Immigration Debate; Politicians Don't By Scott Rasmussen

As the U.S. Supreme Court wrestles with the Obama administration's challenge of Arizona's crackdown on illegal immigration, the overall issue of immigration remains misunderstood by both political parties in Washington.

April 20, 2012

The Housing Market Is Depressing America By Scott Rasmussen

Just 49 percent of homeowners in America now believe their home is worth more than they paid for it. Rasmussen Reports has asked that question for years, and it has never before fallen below the 50 percent mark. This represents a sea change in personal finances that challenges core assumptions about the way our economy works.

April 13, 2012

Obama and Romney at the Starting Gate By Scott Rasmussen

Any doubt that Mitt Romney would win the Republican presidential nomination vanished when Rick Santorum left the race. It also marked the end of Romney's time as the defining figure in the overall contest for the White House.

April 6, 2012

And They Wonder Why Voters Are Angry By Scott Rasmussen

As Mitt Romney assumes the role of presumptive Republican nominee, polls suggest a competitive general election matchup between the former Massachusetts governor and President Obama. Typically, both candidates poll in the mid-40s, while 10 to 12 percent remain uncommitted to either side.

March 30, 2012

Even If It Survives the Court, the Health Care Law Is Doomed By Scott Rasmussen

Media coverage now implies that the U.S. Supreme Court will determine the fate of President Obama's health care law. But nothing the court decides will keep the law alive for more than a brief period of time. There are three ways the health care law could meet its end. The first, obviously, is the Supreme Court could declare some or all of it unconstitutional in June.

March 23, 2012

For Voters, Tax Reform Means Tax Equality By Scott Rasmussen

There's a reason President Obama, Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan and many others are touting tax reform these days. On the campaign trail, it taps into deeply held beliefs about the way American society ought to work and the role of government.

March 16, 2012

To Create Jobs, Voters Want to Cut While Washington Wants to Spend

Scott Rasmussen looks at one of the fundamental gaps between the American people and their elected politicians: the perceptions of the relationship between economic growth, job creation and government spending. In official Washington, Keynesian economics still rules, and it is simply accepted as fact that cutting government spending will hurt the economy. Politicians also assume that increasing government spending and growing deficits will lead to job creation.

March 9, 2012

The Real 'Entitlement Mentality' That Is Bankrupting America By Scott Rasmussen

Many Republicans talk of an entitlement mentality that threatens the character and finances of the United States. In their view, the problem is that too many voters feel entitled to goodies provided by the government and financed by taxpayers.

March 2, 2012

Why Politicians Can't Connect With the Middle Class By Scott Rasmussen

Nearly every national political campaign emphasizes the importance of connecting with the middle class. So how come in the 2012 presidential race, none of the candidates are able to make that connection? A hint may be found in the results of a Rasmussen Reports survey showing that just 27 percent of voters nationwide believe government management of the economy actually helps the economy. Fifty percent think government economic activism does more harm than good.

February 24, 2012

Trickle Down Environmentalism Has Little Public Support By Scott Rasmussen

As a candidate in 2008, Barack Obama declared his support for green energy development. "For the sake of our economy, our security and the future of our planet," he said, "we must end the age of oil in our time."

February 17, 2012

Numbers Suggest Santorum Could Be Romney's Worst Nightmare

In a campaign defined by Republican reluctance to embrace Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum has emerged as the latest not-Romney candidate to surge ahead. While it's impossible to predict what will happen in this volatile election season, the data suggests that Santorum might be more of a challenge for Romney than earlier flavors of the month.

February 10, 2012

Team Obama Fumbles Ruling, Offends Catholics By Scott Rasmussen

Every sports fan knows that close contests are often decided by mistakes rather than heroics. In this year's Super Bowl, Tom Brady threw just one interception, but Eli Manning didn't throw any. Manning's team won. What's especially disheartening for fans are unforced errors. Right now, President Obama's fans have reason to worry about a substantive unforced error that threatens his support among Catholic voters.

February 3, 2012

Are the Trends Obama's Friend? By Scott Rasmussen

While much of the focus these days is on the fight for the Republican presidential nomination, there are some developing trends that are likely to have the man already in the White House smiling. Only 29 percent of voters nationwide believe the United States is currently heading in the right direction, while 64 percent believe the nation has gotten off on the wrong track. Those aren't great numbers for a president seeking re-election -- but that 29 percent is up from 24 percent a month ago and 16 percent the month before that.

January 27, 2012

GOP Voters Grade Gingrich Ethics on a Curve By Scott Rasmussen

Newt Gingrich has surged to the lead in the race for the Republican presidential nomination with the strong support of evangelical Christian voters. To some, given Gingrich's personal life, this support is puzzling. Whatever else people say about Mitt Romney, his personal life seems above reproach and a good role model for others.