General Politics

57% Are Less Likely To Vote for A Candidate Caught in a Sex Scandal

Most voters say the rise of social media and increased electronic communication are causing more politicians to get caught misbehaving, and it’s costing those politicians their vote.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 81% of Likely U.S. Voters consider a candidate’s personal life at least somewhat important to how they will vote, while just 19% say it’s not important. This includes 38% who say the candidate’s personal life is Very Important versus three percent (3%) who view it as Not At All Important. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

33% Rate Obama Administration’s Response to Zimmerman Verdict As Good or Excellent

Like responses to the George Zimmerman verdict itself, voters give the Obama administration mixed reviews for its reaction to the outcome of the Trayvon Martin case. But voters share President Obama’s concern about racial profiling.

Thirty-three percent (33%) of Likely U.S. Voters now rate the way the administration has responded to the Zimmerman verdict as good or excellent, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Slightly more (38%) view the administration’s response as poor. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

52% Think Zimmerman Jury Would Have Found Black Shooter Not Guilty, Too

Most voters believe the jury in the George Zimmerman trial would have reached the same verdict if the shooter was black and the victim white. But blacks strongly disagree. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of Likely U.S. Voters think if all of the other facts were the same as those in the Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin case, the jury would have found the black shooter not guilty of murder if the victim was white. Thirty-one percent (31%) disagree and believe the jury would have found the black shooter guilty of murder. Seventeen percent (17%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

44% Rate Obama Administration’s IRS Response As Poor

Voters remain suspicious that President Obama or his top aides knew about the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of Tea Party and other conservative groups, and they believe even more strongly that those involved should be jailed or fired.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of Likely U.S. Voters think it is at least somewhat likely that the president or his top aides were aware that the conservative groups were being targeted. Just 32% consider that unlikely. This includes 38% who say it’s Very Likely the president or his top aides knew of the rogue IRS activity versus only 10% who say it’s Not At All Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 20-21, 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.

46% Say U.S. Justice System Fair to Blacks, Hispanics

Following the George Zimmerman verdict, voters still believe the U.S. justice system is fairer to blacks and Hispanics than it is to Americans in general. But black voters don't see it that way.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of Likely Voters think the U.S. justice system is generally fair to black and Hispanic Americans.  Thirty-six percent (36%) say that is not the case, while 18% 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 July 18-19, 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.

45% Favor Stand Your Ground Laws, 32% Oppose

Florida’s “stand your ground” self-defense law, although ultimately not a part of the George Zimmerman trial, has now become a target for those unhappy with the verdict in that case. Americans tend to favor such a law in their state, although half are not sure if their state already has one or not. But they are evenly divided over whether such a law is good or bad for public safety.

Forty-five percent (45%) of American Adults favor having a stand your ground law in their state, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Thirty-two percent (32%) are opposed to such a law in their state. Twenty-two percent (22%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 17-18, 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.

32% Have Favorable Opinion of Zimmerman, 48% Unfavorable

Despite a Florida jury’s verdict that George Zimmerman is not guilty of murder in the shooting death of black teenager Trayvon Martin, just 32% of Americans have a favorable opinion of the Hispanic neighborhood watch volunteer, while 48% view him unfavorably. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% now agree with the not guilty verdict. That's down slightly from earlier in the week.

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 17-18, 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

32% Say American Society is Unfair and Discriminatory

Roughly a third of voters now see American society as unfair and discriminatory, the highest level of pessimism in nearly six years.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 57% of Likely U.S. Voters now consider American society generally fair and decent. That's down six points from April and the lowest finding since December. Thirty-two percent (32%) disagree and think American society is generally unfair and discriminatory. That’s up from 26% in the previous survey and the highest finding since late July 2007. Twelve percent (12%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 14-15, 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. 

21% Think Justice Department Should Charge Zimmerman With a Hate Crime

Most Americans don’t believe George Zimmerman was motivated by racism and do not believe he should be charged with a hate crime for shooting black teenager Trayvon Martin. But as with nearly every question regarding this case, there is wide racial disagreement.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 24% of all American Adults believe Zimmerman’s actions that led to Martin’s death were motivated primarily by racism. Fifty-four percent (54%) think the Hispanic Neighborhood Watch volunteer was chiefly motivated instead by a concern about burglaries in the neighborhood.  Twenty-two percent (22%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording,click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 15-16, 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.

48% Agree with Zimmerman Verdict, 34% Disagree

Reactions to the jury decision in the shooting of Trayvon Martin vary sharply along racial lines.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% of American Adults agree with the jury’s verdict that Hispanic neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman is not guilty of murder in the shooting death of the black teenager.  Thirty-four percent (34%) disagree with the Florida jury’s verdict. Eighteen percent (18%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 15-16, 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.

60% Put Checks and Balances Ahead of Government Efficiency

Politicians are often frustrated by the system of checks and balances built into American government, but voters continue to strongly support that protection.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 60% of Likely U.S. Voters think it is more important to preserve our constitutional system of checks and balances than it is for government to operate efficiently. Twenty-eight percent (28%) place more importance on efficiency, while 12% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 12-13, 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.

53% Believe Boston Bombing Suspect May Receive Death Penalty

Accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev pleaded “not guilty” last week to 30 charges stemming from the April 15 terrorist attack and subsequent manhunt that left four people dead and more than 260 injured. Most Americans continue to favor the death penalty for Tsarnaev if he is convicted, but slightly fewer adults believe this punishment is likely.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 59% of American Adults believe the Boston Marathon bombing suspect should receive the death penalty if he is convicted. Twenty-two percent (22%) do not think Tsarnaev should get the death penalty, while nearly as many (19%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 11-12, 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.

44% Favor Ending Senate Filibuster, 38% Oppose

Voters narrowly favor changing the rules in the U.S. Senate to end the filibuster, and half think every presidential nominee should get a straight up-or-down vote in the Senate.

In the Senate, a filibuster can prevent a vote from taking place unless 60 senators override it. Some Democrats want to change the Senate results so that a vote must be held whenever a majority of senators agrees, effectively eliminating the filibuster, and 44% of Likely U.S. Voters think that’s a good idea. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 38% oppose changing the rules to eliminate the filibuster. Eighteen percent (18%) 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 July 12-13, 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.

32% Are Conservative on Both Fiscal, Social Issues

More voters than ever now identify themselves as conservative on both money and social issues.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of Likely Voters identify themselves as conservative on fiscal issues such as taxes, government spending and business regulation. Just 18% are liberal in this area, while 32% view themselves as moderates. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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(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 July 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.

25% of Obama Supporters Think Gov't Should Closely Watch Most Tea Party Groups

Voters think most radical Muslim groups in this country should be under close surveillance by the government as possible terrorist threats but are a lot less suspicious of Tea Party groups. President Obama’s supporters, however, feel similarly about monitoring both groups. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 57% of Likely U.S. Voters believe most radical Muslim groups in America should be monitored by the government as potential terrorists. Just 14% think most Tea Party groups should be monitored by the government as possible terror threats. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 5, 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.

52% Think It’s Good NSA Domestic Spying Was Exposed, 23% Disagree

Most voters think it’s good that Edward Snowden revealed the National Security Agency’s secret domestic surveillance program, but they’re still not sure if he’s a hero or a villain.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of Likely U.S. Voters think it is good for the nation that the American people know more about the NSA surveillance program. Just 23% feel it’s bad for the country, but 25% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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

63% View Too-Powerful Government As Bigger Threat Than Weaker One

More Americans than ever (63%) think a government that is too powerful is a bigger danger in the world today than one that is not powerful enough. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 21% disagree and think a government that is not powerful enough is a bigger danger. Seventeen percent (17%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on June 19-20, 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. 

56% Think Constitution Should Be Left Alone

Most Americans continue to believe the U.S. Constitution should be left as is and remain the nation’s fundamental law. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of American Adults think the Constitution should be left alone. Thirty-three percent (33%) believe minor changes are needed in the nation's foundational document. Just four percent (4%) feel major changes are necessary. Two percent (2%) think the United States should scrap the Constitution completely and start over. (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 national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on June 19-20, 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. 

For Voters, NSA Case is Less of A Scandal but More of A Problem

Of the four major controversies now swirling around the Obama administration, the National Security Agency’s secret surveillance of the phone and e-mail traffic of millions of Americans is the one voters least consider a serious scandal. But as controversies go, they rate it slightly ahead of the others as a problem for the administration.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of Likely U.S. Voters consider both the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of conservative organizations and the White House’s explanation of what happened when the U.S. ambassador was killed in Benghazi, Libya last year as serious scandals. That’s unchanged from six weeks ago.

Twenty-five percent (25%) view the IRS matter as an embarrassing situation but not a scandal, while 19% say it’s not big deal. Similarly, 23% consider the Benghazi affair to be an embarrassing situation but not a scandal. Seventeen percent (17%) see it as no big deal. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 30-July 1, 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.

43% Think NSA Domestic Spying Put National Security Ahead of Individual Rights

President Obama, former Vice President Dick Cheney and others have defended the National Security Agency’s surveillance of Americans’ phone and e-mail communications as necessary for national security. But voters think they should have been more concerned about individual rights.

Some say there is a natural tension between national security and protecting individual rights, but a plurality (43%) of Likely U.S. Voters believes government officials have worried too much about national security at the expense of those rights in the NSA surveillance program. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 12% feel officials have worried too much about protecting individual rights. Thirty percent (30%) think the balance is about right. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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