General Politics

Voters Trust Bill Clinton More Than Obama, Romney When It Comes to Economy

Former President Bill Clinton recently got himself in hot water in his own party when he disagreed with the current occupant of the White House and called for an extension of the so-called Bush tax cuts. But most voters support extending those tax cuts and express more confidence in Clinton’s economic judgment than that of both President Obama and Mitt Romney.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 55% of Likely U.S. Voters trust Clinton’s judgment more than Obama’s when it comes to the economy. Just 26% trust the president’s judgment more. Twenty percent (20%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 7-8, 2012 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.

37% Say It’s Bad For U.S. When Candidates Criticize President’s Foreign Policies

In the early years of the Cold War, most politicians subscribed to the adage that "politics stops at the water's edge," but since the Vietnam war, partisan sniping at a president's foreign policy has become commonplace. Just over a third (37%) of Likely U.S. Voters think it's bad for the country when candidates for the presidency criticize the foreign policy of the sitting president, but, not surprisingly, there's a partisan component to the findings.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 16% say such criticism is good for the United States, while 30% say it has no impact. Seventeen percent (17%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 5-6, 2012 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.

Voter Support for U.S. Involvement in Syria Remains Low

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton again today called on Syrian President Bashar Assad to step down as anti-government violence continues in his country. But most U.S. voters still think America should stay out of the situation in Syria.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 20% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the United States should get more involved in the Syrian crisis. Fifty percent (50%) say America should leave the situation there alone, although that’s down six points from February. Thirty percent (30%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 5-6, 2012 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.

New High: 41% Favor One-Party Rule in Washington, D.C.

Partisan feelings are at an all-time high this election year: More voters than ever like the idea of one party running the whole show in Washington, D.C.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% of Likely U.S. Voters think it’s better for the country with one political party in charge of both the White House and Congress. Thirty-four percent (34%) disagree and feel the country is better off with each branch of government being run by a different party. One-in-four voters (25%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters U.S. Voters was conducted on June 3-4, 2012 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.

51% See Federal Government As Threat to Their Rights

Just over half  (51%) of Americans continue to believe that the government is more of a threat to individual rights than a protector of them.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that only 34% of Adults in this country regard the federal government more as a protector of individual rights. Fifteen percent (15%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on May 29-30, 2012 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.

24% Say States Have Right to Secede

While belief in the right of individual states to break away from the United States continues to rise, the likelihood of such a move remains doubtful to most Americans.

Twenty-four percent (24%) of Adults nationwide now think states have the right to leave the United States and form an independent country, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey. Most (59%) still disagree, but another 16% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on May 29-30, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC . See methodology.

63% Think Current System Discourages Third Party Candidates

Most voters agree that the election system is stacked against third-party candidates and think the rules should be changed to level the playing field.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 63% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the current electoral setup discourages third party challenges. Just 24% disagree and say the system is not gamed to discourage third party runs. Thirteen percent (13%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 30-31, 2012 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.

15% Say Government Should Determine Pricing for Internet Use

Most Internet providers charge a flat rate to customers regardless of how long they are online or how much material they download. But the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission is now proposing usage-based Internet pricing. 

Just 15% of Likely U.S. Voters think the government should decide whether those who use the Internet more should pay more. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 74% think individual companies that provide Internet service should be allowed to decide pricing for themselves. 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 May 28-29, 2012 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% View ‘Help’ from Government As Frightening Thought

Ronald Reagan would be disappointed, but most voters, including the majority of Republicans, don’t agree with his definition of the nine most frightening words in the English language.

In fact, just 32% of Likely U.S. Voters agree that the most frightening words you could hear are “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.” A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% do not believe those are the most frightening words they could hear, while another 14% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on May 20-21, 2012 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% Say Justice System Is Fair To Most Americans

Overall perceptions of the fairness of the U.S. justice system remain relatively unchanged from last year, but slightly more adults now believe the system is fair to poor and minority Americans.

Forty-eight percent (48%) of Adults think the justice system is generally fair to most Americans, according to a new national Rasmussen Reports telephone survey. Thirty one percent (31%) don’t regard the system as fair to most Americans, while another 21% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on May 19-20, 2012 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.

15% Say It’s More Honorable To Work for Government Than For Private Company

Voters give low marks to government service compared to working in the private sector.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 15% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it is more honorable to work for the government than it is to work for a private company. Sixty-one percent (61%) disagree and say it is not more honorable. But a sizable 24% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on May 20-21, 2012 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.

57% Say American Society is Fair and Decent

Most Americans still view U.S. society as fair and decent, but they're more critical than they've been in a while.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 57% of Likely U.S. Voters consider American society generally fair and decent, down from 60% a month ago and the first time that finding has fallen into the 50s since December 2008. Thirty percent (30%) say American society is generally unfair and discriminatory, the most negative assessment since September. Thirteen percent (13%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 16-17, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC . See methodology.

51% Think U.S. Should Withdraw All Troops From Europe

Mitt Romney is criticizing President Obama for making major cuts in defense spending and accuses him of undercutting America’s NATO alliance with its European allies. But voters continue to question the current level of U.S. defense spending, and most favor withdrawing all U.S. troops from Europe.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 51% of Likely U.S. Voters now believe the United States should remove all its troops from Western Europe and let the Europeans defend themselves. Only 29% disagree, but another 20% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 20-21, 2012 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% Say States Should Be Allowed to Overrule Feds on Drug Approval

Most voters think states should be able to overrule the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and allow sale of a drug the federal agency has rejected.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of Likely U.S. Voters believe that if a state government feels a drug has benefits in some circumstances, it should be able to approve sale of that drug within its borders even though the FDA already has denied approval. Thirty-two percent (32%) disagree. Sixteen percent (16%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on May 12, 2012 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% Support Building More U.S. Nuclear Power Plants

Support for building more nuclear plants in the United States is still below where it was prior to last year's nuclear plant disaster in Japan. But voters are less enthusiastic about eliminating existing plants in this country.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters now think more nuclear power plants should be built in the United States. Thirty-eight percent (38%) are opposed to building new plants, while 18% more are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on May 16-17, 2012 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.

57% Think Spending Increases Should Be Limited to Population Growth and Inflation

Most voters continue to disagree with the pace of federal spending and favor a law that limits how much it can grow in any given year.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 76% of Likely U.S. Voters recognize that government spending in America has gone up over the past 10 years. Just nine percent (9%) think spending has gone down, and another nine percent (9%) believe it has stayed about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 14-15, 2012 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.

75% Favor Use of No-Fly List at Airports

The American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of a group of Muslim Americans is challenging the constitutionality of one of the government’s chief anti-terrorism tools, the no-fly list at airports.  Voters strongly support use of a no-fly list, but most also recognize that it may violate the rights of some Americans.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 75% of Likely U.S. Voters favor the government’s use of a no-fly list to block suspected terrorists from flying. Only nine percent (9%) are opposed to the use of a no-fly list. Sixteen percent (16%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 12, 2012 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% See Conflict Between Islam and the West

Nearly two-out-of-three Likely U.S. Voters (63%) believe there is a conflict in the world today between Western civilization and Islamic nations, but most also think the United States should leave the Islamic world alone.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 18% of voters feel there is not a global conflict now between the West and Islamic nations. Another 19% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on May 10-11, 2012 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.

New High: 68% Would Vote To Replace Entire Congress

Here’s some bad news for Washington: More voters than ever would vote to replace the entire Congress rather than keep it.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that, if given the choice, 68% of Likely Voters would vote to get rid of the entire Congress rather than keep them all on the job. Just 12% say they would vote to keep the entire Congress. Twenty percent (20%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters U.S. Voters was conducted on May 8-9, 2012 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.

65% Angry At Government’s Current Policies

Two-out-of-three voters are fed up with the current policies of the federal government, and a majority feels neither Republicans nor Democrats know what is best for the people. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 65% of Likely U.S. Voters are at least somewhat angry at the current policies of the federal government, including 37% who are Very Angry.  Thirty-one percent (31%) don’t share that anger, with 10% who are Not At All Angry.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

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