General Politics

Voters Vote No on Ex-POW Bergdahl

Just over half of voters still disagree with the Obama administration’s decision to swap several Taliban prisoners for POW Bowe Bergdahl in Afghanistan.

The Army announced last week that Bergdahl will be charged with desertion as news reports have suggested since shortly after his release last May. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 30% of Likely U.S. Voters agree with the decision to trade Bergdahl for five Taliban leaders who were being held at the Guantanamo Bay terrorist prison camp.   Fifty-one percent (51%) disagree with that decision. Nineteen percent (19%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 26 and 29, 2015 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.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

Iran, Not Israel, Seen As Bigger Spying Threat

The Obama administration has accused Israel of spying on its nuclear negotiations with Iran, a charge the Israelis have denied. But while U.S. voters consider foreign spying a more serious threat these days, they continue to rank Israel well below China and Russia on the list of culprits.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 79% of Likely U.S. Voters consider spying by other countries to be a serious threat, up from 67% in late 2013. This includes 38% who say it’s a Very Serious one, compared to 26% who felt that way in the previous survey. Just 15% now say foreign spying is a not very or Not At All Serious threat. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 24-25, 2015 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.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

Who’s Been The Last Decade’s Best Secretary of State?

As far as voters are concerned, Condoleezza Rice has done the best job as the nation's chief diplomat during the past 10 years.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters think Rice who served as secretary of State during the George W. Bush administration from 2005 to 2009 did a better job than John Kerry, the current secretary, and his predecessor Hillary Clinton. Thirty-two percent (32%) think Clinton did a better job serving as secretary of State, while just 14% say that of Kerry. Twelve percent (12%) 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 March 18-19, 2015 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.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

Voter Concern About Cyberattack Jumps to New High

More voters than ever believe a cyberattack would do more damage to this country than a traditional military attack.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 61% of Likely U.S. Voters think a cyberattack by another country poses a greater economic threat to the United States than a traditional military attack. That’s up 12 points from 49% late last year and the highest finding measured in surveys since June 2011. Just 16% disagree, while 23% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 18-19, 2015 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.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

Voters Feel No Rush to Make Lynch Next Attorney General

Voters are in no bigger hurry than the Republican-led Senate to make Loretta Lynch the next U.S. attorney general.

Just 33% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the Senate should confirm the federal prosecutor from Brooklyn, N.Y., to be the nation’s highest law enforcement officer. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 27% oppose Lynch’s confirmation as attorney general, but 40% remain undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 22-23, 2015 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.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

Voters Are Less Supportive of Sending Troops to Fight ISIS

Voters tend to believe the radical Islamic State group (ISIS) is winning the war in Iraq but are much less supportive of putting U.S. combat troops in the fight than they were six weeks ago.

Just 25% of Likely U.S. Voters think the United States and its allies are winning the war in Iraq, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Thirty-eight percent (38%) believe ISIS is winning. Just as many (37%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 18-19, 2015 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.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

Most Voters Think Media Wrong on Race Shootings, Put Police At Risk

Following the shooting last week of two police officers in Ferguson, Missouri, most voters think the media is overemphasizing shootings by the police and making their jobs more dangerous. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 24% of Likely U.S. Voters think white police officers shooting innocent black people is a bigger problem in America today than blacks shooting each other. Sixty-two percent (62%) believe black people shooting other blacks is the bigger problem. Fourteen percent (14%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 12 and 15, 2015 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.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

Will We Soon Be Saying Madam President?

Voters are more confident that Americans will elect a woman president in the near future, although their willingness to vote for a woman hasn't changed. (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 March 8-9, 2015 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 Hold Military In High Esteem

Overall confidence in the U.S. military is at an all-time high, while the number of voters who approve of the increased role of women in the armed forces continues to climb.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds that 73% of Likely U.S. Voters now think the United States has the best military in the world. That’s up three points from January and is the highest level of praise since regular tracking began in December 2013. Just 13% don’t think the U.S. military is the world’s best, while 14% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 10-11, 2015 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.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

Voters See Feds As Hindrance More Than Help to Local Cops

The U.S. Justice Department last week charged police in Ferguson, Missouri with a widespread pattern of racial discrimination, prompting the police chief to resign, but few voters expect Ferguson to become any safer. But then very few think the federal government is much help to local police. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 12 and 15, 2015 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 Think America’s Prestige Has Suffered on Obama’s Watch

Voters are okay with the businesslike relationship President Obama has with most world leaders, but they think his administration’s policies haven’t helped America’s position in the world. (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 March 10-11, 2015 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.

Vote - or Else?

Some have suggested making voting mandatory in the United States to raise turnout and create “a more moderate and more representative electorate.” But voters strongly reject that idea.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 25% of Likely U.S. Voters think all Americans should be required to vote and subjected to penalties if they do not. Sixty-five percent (65%) oppose compulsory voting such as the kind that exists in Australia and several other countries. Eleven percent (11%) 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 March 10-11, 2015 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.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

More Voters Think Benghazi Will Hurt Hillary

As Hillary Clinton prepares to officially announce her candidacy for president in 2016, more voters than ever think the Benghazi controversy will negatively impact her campaign. (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 March 4-5, 2015 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.

Bigger Problem - Racist Cops or Inner City Crime?

The fallout continues in Ferguson, Missouri, following a Justice Department report accusing the city government of a widespread pattern of racial discrimination. But in most inner city communities, is racism the real problem? (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 2-3, 2015 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.

Should The Federal Government Sell Off Some Of Its Land?

Belief is down that the federal government owns too much of America and that it should sell some of that land to reduce the federal debt. (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 800 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on February 26-27, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 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 Troubled by Hillary’s Private E-Mails, Foreign Donations

Voters have national security concerns about Hillary Clinton’s use of a private e-mail provider while serving as secretary of State but aren’t as sure she was trying to hide anything. More troubling are the large donations made to the private Clinton Foundation by foreign governments while Clinton was the nation’s chief overseas diplomat. (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 March 4-5, 2015 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 Question Justice Department’s Motives, Powers

The U.S. Justice Department has charged the Ferguson, Missouri police department with a systematic pattern of racial discrimination but stopped short of charging police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of black teenager Michael Brown. Exiting Attorney General Eric Holder wants to make it easier for the Justice Department to prosecute civil rights complaints. (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 March 2-3, 2015 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 Highly Suspicious of Government Spending

Voters still strongly distrust the way the federal government spends tax dollars and think there is not enough oversight of how that money is spent.

(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 800 Likely Voters was conducted on February 26-27, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 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 Don’t Expect Obama-Congress Deadlock to End

Gridlock, anyone? Voters strongly expect that to be the case for the next two years in Washington, D.C. (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 800 Likely Voters was conducted on February 24-25, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Jury's Still Out on Gay Marriage

Support for gay marriage has fallen to its lowest level in over a year, with voters now almost evenly divided on the issue. (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 800 Likely Voters was conducted on February 24-25, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.