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

Commentary by Scott Rasmussen

Most Recent Releases

January 20, 2012

For Romney, Will Free Markets or Crony Capitalism Be on Trial? By Scott Rasmussen

When his tenure at the investment firm Bain Capital became an issue in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, Mitt Romney responded by saying he "was disappointed ... to see one of my opponents attacking free enterprise, just like the president was.”

January 13, 2012

Tea Party Mitt? By Scott Rasmussen

The race for the 2012 GOP nomination has been properly characterized as one between two candidates: Mitt Romney and Nott Romney. Some describe it as a rift between the party establishment favoring Romney and the party base looking for someone else.

January 3, 2012

Romney, Paul on Top, But Read Iowa Caucus Polls With Caution

Scott Rasmussen takes a look at what the polling in Iowa suggests for today's caucuses and why polling for a caucus is much more difficult than polling for a primary or general election.

December 20, 2011

Romney, Paul and a Game of Musical Chairs in Iowa By Scott Rasmussen

Following the roller-coaster poll results from Iowa has been entertaining for some - and frustrating for many. In five consecutive Rasmussen Reports polls, five different candidates came out on top: Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich and now Mitt Romney. Adding to the confusion, most Iowa voters are still deciding and could change their mind before the January 3 caucuses.

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April 11, 2011

If Not Jobs, What’s Driving Consumer Confidence? By Scott Rasmussen

Over the years, the daily tracking of the Rasmussen Consumer Index has shown that a single factor generally tends to drive consumer confidence. In the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks, national security was the primary factor moving consumer confidence. At other times, it has been things like job creation or gas prices.

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March 7, 2011

What You Can Learn About Wisconsin Dispute from Differences in Poll Questions By Scott Rasmussen

In recent national polling about the situation in Wisconsin, Rasmussen Reports and Quinnipiac found a slight plurality in favor of Governor Scott Walker and his efforts, the Pew Center found a plurality opposed, and Gallup and the New York Times reported strong opposition.

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December 16, 2010

How A Health Care Defeat Might Help Obama's Reelection Chances By Scott Rasmussen

The politics of President Obama’s health care law have been fascinating from the start. Hailed as fulfillment of a popular campaign promise when introduced, the law proved to be a major drag on Democrats in the 2010 election. An issue on which Democrats once overwhelmingly trusted Democrats over Republicans has become a toss-up between the parties as 2011 approaches.

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November 5, 2010

The Good News for Democrats Is That They Saw It Coming by Scott Rasmussen

Back in December 2009, a full 11 months before Election Day, a Democratic strategist concluded that if the Rasmussen Reports Generic Congressional Ballot data was accurate, Republicans would gain 62 seats in the House during the 2010 elections.

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January 28, 2010

The Proof's In The Poll Results Analysis By Scott Rasmussen

You know it’s a strange new world when Gary Langer, the director of polling at ABC, attacks a Democratic polling firm. By the way, the good folks at Public Policy Polling (PPP) took the attack in stride. The firm's Tom Jensen noted that “one of the most amusing things Langer and others in his cohort claim is that polls should not be judged by their accuracy.”

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January 18, 2010

What Will Happen in Massachusetts on Tuesday? By Scott Rasmussen

Two weeks ago, Rasmussen Reports released a poll showing that Republican challenger Scott Brown had closed the gap in Massachusetts to single digits.

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January 11, 2010

Looking Closer at the Massachusetts Senate Polls

On the surface, three recent polls on the upcoming Massachusetts special election to fill the Senate seat of the late Edward M. Kennedy seem to tell three different stories.

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April 29, 2009

Barack Obama’s First 100 Days: Will They Lead to Lasting Change? By Scott Rasmussen

As Barack Obama’s administration reaches the 100-day mark, partisans and ideologues on both sides are spinning furiously to define what has happened so far and what it means going forward.

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April 28, 2009

What Happens Politically If The Economy Improves? By Scott Rasmussen

If the U.S. economy improves, it seems safe to assume that will be good for President Obama’s job approval ratings. It will probably help congressional ratings as well.

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April 27, 2009

Is The Beltway GOP Irrelevant? By Scott Rasmussen

To be relevant in politics, you need either formal power or a lot of people willing to follow your lead. The governing Republicans in the nation’s capital have lost both on their continuing path to irrelevance.

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April 6, 2009

Why The Double Standard for the Auto and Finance Industries? By Scott Rasmussen

Voters opposed bailouts for both the auto industry and the financial industry, but the federal government provided support for both. Some critics—particularly those who favor the auto industry—have noted that the terms and tone of the bailouts were markedly different, however.

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March 17, 2009

Comparing Approval Ratings From Different Polling Firms An Analysis By Scott Rasmussen

A number of polling firms routinely measure the president’s job approval ratings. Generally, they all show a similar trend even when the specific numbers are different.

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February 8, 2009

The Tug-of-War Driving the Stimulus Debate: Analysis by Scott Rasmussen

The popularity of newly elected President Barack Obama combined with the willingness of most voters to give him the benefit of the doubt is a powerful political force working in favor of the economic rescue plan now being debated on Capitol Hill.

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January 31, 2009

The Politics Of The Economic Recovery Act By Scott Rasmussen

Something shifted in the political dialogue last week when the House version of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act failed to pick up a single Republican vote.

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January 30, 2009

Obama Is Essential To Passing the Economic Recovery Plan Analysis by Scott Rasmussen

Public support for the economic recovery plan working its way through Congress is modest, but the proposal is likely to pass for a very simple reason: Voters want to give President Obama the benefit of the doubt.

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October 12, 2008

McCain Needs to Catch A Break - Or Else By Scott Rasmussen

John McCain needs a couple breaks if he's going to make the presidential race competitive down to the wire.