47% Worry About ‘Dynasty’ Politics
Forty-seven percent (47%) of U.S. voters are worried that America is developing an unofficial group of “royal families” with too much influence over government and politics.
General Politics
Most Recent Releases
December 20, 2008
December 19, 2008
Most Voters Like Caroline, But Only 37% Say She Is Fit for Senate
Just 37% of U.S. voters believe Caroline Kennedy is qualified to be in the U.S. Senate, and only 16% say she would be considered as Hillary Clinton’s replacement if her last name wasn’t Kennedy.
December 17, 2008
71% Say Tobacco Companies Not Liable for Smoker Health Problems
The Supreme Court on Monday opened up another avenue for smokers to sue tobacco companies, but 71% of U.S. voters say the companies should not be held liable for health problems that current smokers develop.
December 16, 2008
Most Voters Say Teachers’ Unions More Focused On Jobs Than Education
Debate ran high within Barack Obama’s transition team over whether the next secretary of Education should be a traditionalist in sync with the national teachers’ unions or a reformer who will help break the hold those unions have on Democratic Party policy. Obama's choice of Chicago School Superintendent Arne Duncan is seen as a move to bridge those competing camps.
December 11, 2008
84% of Illinois Voters Say Blagojevich Should Resign
Eighty-four percent (84%) of Illinois voters say Governor Rod Blagojevich should resign, according to a Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state Wednesday night. Just nine percent (9%) disagree.
December 5, 2008
46% Say Congress Should Be Able To Override Presidential Pardons
Forty-six percent (46%) of U.S. voters say Congress should be able to overturn presidential pardons it thinks are unjustified, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
November 11, 2008
43% Say It’s Best To Compare A Candidate To Reagan
For most U.S. voters, the only thing worse than calling a candidate a conservative is calling him a liberal.
November 10, 2008
78% of GOP Voters Say Next President Likely to Be A Republican
Forty-five percent (45%) of Republican voters are Very Confident that a candidate from their party will be the next president after Barack Obama, contrary to reports that suggest the GOP may be demoralized from the Democrat’s big win last Tuesday.
September 11, 2008
54% Say U.S. Has Changed for the Worse Since 9/11
With the seventh anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks this week, over half of Americans (54%) still believe the country has changed for the worse since the events of that day, but this marks the first time the number has fallen in over six years.
September 9, 2008
Most Voters Say Encouraging Economic Growth is Key, but Big Government is Not the Solution
Sixty-two percent (62%) of voters say encouraging economic growth in America is more important than closing the gap between the rich and poor, and the best way to do that is for the government to move out of the way.
August 20, 2008
45% Are Very Concerned about Safety of Pakistan’s Nuclear Weapons
Forty-five percent (45%) of U.S. voters are very concerned about the safety of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons following the resignation of the country’s president, Pervez Musharraf, on Monday, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
August 17, 2008
Senator who Births Babies gets Boost from Voters
Senator Tom Coburn is unknown to most Americans, but the strange workings of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics could end up making the Oklahoma Republican far more popular than he is today.
August 14, 2008
47% Favor Government Mandated Political Balance on Radio, TV
Nearly half of Americans (47%) believe the government should require all radio and television stations to offer equal amounts of conservative and liberal political commentary, but they draw the line at imposing that same requirement on the Internet. Thirty-nine percent (39%) say leave radio and TV alone, too.
August 8, 2008
Voters See Stark Differences Between Obama and McCain on Energy Issue
As gas prices soared past the four-dollar-a-gallon mark, the energy issue became one of the key driving issues of Election 2008 and America’s voters perceive a stark difference between Barack Obama and John McCain on the subject.
July 29, 2008
50% Oppose Tax Increases, Favor Pro-Growth Policy Over One That Guarantees Tax Fairness
With taxes front and center this week in the U.S. presidential campaign, 50% of Americans still see tax increases as bad for the economy and an identical percentage favor a tax policy focused on economic growth rather than fairness.
July 28, 2008
36% of Voters Say Racism Bigger Problem in U.S. than Sexism
CBS News’ beleaguered anchor Katie Couric says sexism is more common and more acceptable in society than racism, but voters do not agree.
July 25, 2008
Most Voters Say Olympics Not the Forum for Political Protests
Just over half of all voters (51%) approve of President Bush’s decision to attend the Opening Ceremony, while 22% disapprove. Men are slightly more likely to approve of the President’s decision than women.
July 24, 2008
54% Back Military Tribunals for Terrorists over U.S. Courts
Most Americans believe suspected terrorists should be tried by military tribunals rather than in U.S. courts, as the first such trial began this week at the Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba.
July 8, 2008
NRA has Support of 56% of Americans, but its Endorsement Means Little for McCain So Far
Over half of Americans (56%) express a favorable view of the National Rifle Association, although only 17% of voters say they are more likely to vote for John McCain if he is endorsed by the pro-gun lobbying group.
July 7, 2008
Voters Divided As to Whether Women or African-Americans Face More Discrimination
Voters are evenly divided on whether women or African-Americans are more discriminated against today. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 32% believe African-Americans face more discrimination and 31% believe women do. Thirty-eight percent (38%) are not sure.
