Politics

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                            January 5, 2015Support Fades for Abortion Waiting Period
Most voters remain pro-choice when it comes to abortion, and fewer now think there should be a waiting period before allowing the procedure. But voters also don't attach as much importance to the abortion issue when they go to the polls.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 55% of Likely U.S. Voters consider themselves pro-choice, while 36% say they are pro-life. (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 January 2, 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.

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                            January 5, 2015Voters Still Want Death Penalty for Boston Marathon Bomber
Jury selection begins today for the trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev nearly two years after his arrest for the bombing of the Boston Marathon in 2013, and most voters agree that trials shouldn’t take place this long after a crime is committed. Despite the time lag, voters are still looking for the same outcome if the surviving suspect in the bombings is found guilty.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 76% think, generally speaking, trials should be held closer to the time the alleged crime took place. Just nine percent (9%) disagree, but 16% 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 national survey of 800 Likely U.S. Voters was conducted on January 3-4, 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.

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                            January 4, 2015Gay Marriage's Still A Close Call
Voters remain closely divided on the issue of gay marriage and continue to view marriage laws more as a state issue than a federal one.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% of Likely U.S. Voters favor gay marriage, consistent with surveying since July but up from a low of 42% a year ago. Forty-one percent (41%) remain opposed to gay marriage, also showing little change. Twelve percent (12%) are still 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 December 29-30, 2014 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.

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                            January 2, 2015Voters Say Mission Not Accomplished in Afghanistan
President George W. Bush launched the war in Afghanistan to end that country’s harboring of al Qaeda terrorists training against the United States, but over 13 years later as the U.S. combat mission in Afghanistan comes to a close, few Americans believe that goal has been reached.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 15% of Likely U.S. Voters think the U.S. mission to end Afghanistan’s harboring of al Qaeda terrorists has been accomplished. Sixty-four percent (64%) believe America’s longest running war has not accomplished what was originally intended. Twenty-two percent (22%) are not sure. (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 December 29-30, 2014 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.

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                            December 31, 2014Most Voters Now Favor Leaving Troops Behind in Afghanistan
President Obama officially ended the U.S. combat mission in Afghanistan on Sunday, but most voters support his decision to keep several thousand troops there until 2016 for training and counterterrorism purposes. Still, voters tend to think history will not be kind to America’s decision to invade Afghanistan in 2001.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 60% of Likely U.S. Voters think U.S. troops should remain in Afghanistan in a limited non-combat role though 2016. That’s up from 48% who supported the president’s decision to keep some troops there after he announced it in late May. (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 December 29-30, 2014 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.

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                            December 30, 2014Voters Think GOP Needs A Fresh Face in 2016
Most voters – including Republicans – think the GOP should start fresh during the next presidential election. But a sizable number of voters also express concern about families from both sides of the political aisle holding too much influence.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 64% of Likely U.S. Voters believe Republicans should look for a fresh face to run for president in 2016. Just 10% think the GOP should promote a candidate who has run in the past. Twenty-five percent (25%) are not sure. (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 December 28, 2014 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.

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                            December 29, 2014Republicans Aren't Thrilled by Another Bush Candidacy
GOP voters aren’t enthused about Jeb Bush running for president in 2016 and feel even more strongly that his family’s history in the White House makes him a less attractive candidate to vote for.
Just 33% of Likely Republican Voters nationwide believe Bush should run for president in 2016, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey. Just as many (34%) disagree, while another 33% are not sure. (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 December 28, 2014 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.

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                            December 26, 2014Nearly Half Want Their State to Legalize Recreational Pot
More voters now support legalizing recreational marijuana use in their state, even as Nebraska and Oklahoma plan to sue Colorado over its marijuana laws.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% of Likely U.S. Voters now favor the legalization of recreational marijuana use in their state, while 43% are opposed. Support for legalization is up from 43% among all Americans in August and 41% of voters in January. (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 Adults was conducted on December 23, 2014 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.

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                            December 24, 201449% Think U.S. Should Lift Cuba Embargo
Following President Obama's announcement last week of a plan to “normalize” relations with Cuba, voters more than ever think the United States should lift the economic embargo it imposed on the Communist country 54 years ago.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 49% of Likely U.S. Voters think the United States should lift the embargo that was put in place during the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations. Twenty-eight percent (28%) disagree, but 23% are not sure. In the past, voters were much more divided over lifting the embargo.  (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 December 19-20, 2014 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.

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                            December 23, 2014Americans Favor U.S. Involvement If North Korea Was Behind Sony Attacks
Most adults believe the United States should get involved if it is proven that the North Koreans were behind the computer attacks and threats against Sony Pictures, but are more hesitant in calling such a cyberattack an act of war.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% of American Adults believe the United States should get more involved if it is proven that the North Korean government was behind the computer attacks and threats against a U.S.-based company. Twenty-five percent (25%) believe this issue is strictly between Sony and North Korea. Eighteen percent (18%) are not sure. (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 American Adults was conducted on December 18-19, 2014 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.

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                            December 23, 2014One-In-Four Voters Think North Korea Wants War
U.S. Voters now view North Korea as being as big a threat as China and Iran, but most don’t think it is seeking war with the United States.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 73% of Likely U.S. Voters regard North Korea as an enemy of the United States. That’s down from 81% at the beginning of the year and 82% in 2012. Just two percent (2%) regard North Korea as an ally of the United States, while 19% think it is somewhere in between the two. (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 December 21-22, 2014 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.

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                            December 21, 2014Voters Say Taliban Not True to Islam
Americans strongly believe the Taliban, the Islamic fundamentalist group in Afghanistan who last week took credit for the murder of 130 school children, does not truly represent its faith.
Just 16% of Likely U.S. Voters think the Taliban represents true Islamic beliefs, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Sixty-nine percent (69%) say the group which ruled its country for six years as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan does not represent the true beliefs of Islam. Another 16% 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 national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 17-18, 2014 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.

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                            December 19, 2014Voters Sour on Taliban But Reluctant to Chase Pakistan School Killers
Voters are hesitant to join in the search for the Taliban killers who massacred 145 people, most of them children, in a school in Pakistan, but the incident has dramatically reduced support for U.S. negotiations with the radical Islamic group to end the war in Afghanistan.
Just 42% of Likely U.S. Voters think the United States should help Pakistan find the perpetrators of the school massacre and bring them to justice. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 32% are opposed to U.S. involvement in the matter, while another 27% are not sure.(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 Likely Voters was conducted on December 17-18, 2014 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.
December 18, 2014Which Party Do Voters Trust More? Depends on the Issue
Voters continue to see Republicans as the party to trust when it comes to economic growth, fiscal restraint and national security. Democrats remain their first choice, however, on issues like health care, education and the environment. 
New national telephone surveying finds that Likely U.S. Voters trust the GOP more on eight of 15 major issues regularly tracked by Rasmussen Reports - the economy, national security, Afghanistan, taxes, job creation, government spending, small business and gun control. Democrats hold the trust advantage on seven issues - energy, immigration, government ethics and corruption, health care, Social Security, education and the environment. (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  
Three national surveys of 1,000 Likely Voters each were conducted on December 7-8, 11-12 & 15-16, 2014 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.

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                            December 17, 2014Voters Think U.S. Military Should Put America First
Voters feel even more strongly that the U.S. military should focus on defending America’s interests rather than addressing the problems of other nations.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 67% of U.S. Likely Voters believe military strategy should be focused narrowly on defending America and its interests. That's up 12 points from 55% who felt that way in 2011. Only 26% now say the military’s strategy should be the maintenance of worldwide stability and peace, compared to 34% three years ago. (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 December 11-12, 2014 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.

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                            December 17, 2014Voters to Obama, Congress: Work Together!
Voters are closely divided over whether the upcoming Congress will be better than the one that is now leaving town, but they believe overwhelmingly that President Obama and the new Congress should work together rather than stand on principle.
Only 13% of Likely U.S. Voters think it is more important for Congress and the president to stand for what they believe in. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 82% feel it is more important for them to work together to achieve what is best for the country. (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 December 15-16, 2014 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.

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                            December 16, 2014Voters Want Feds to Cut Spending to Boost Economy
Americans are still concerned that the government won’t do enough to help the nation’s economy, and most see cutting spending as the necessary fix.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of Likely U.S. Voters worry that in reacting to the nation’s current economic problems, the federal government will not do enough, down slightly from October’s all-time high of 54%. Thirty-seven percent (37%) fear the government will try to do too much, barely up from 36% two months ago, the lowest level of concern since 2011. 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 December 11-12, 2014 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.

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                            December 16, 2014Voters See A Sinking America
U.S. voters are less bullish on America’s role in the world and see a diminished United States in the decades to come.
Just 27% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the United States will still be the most powerful nation in the world by the end of the 21st century, down from 37% in January 2009 shortly after the Wall Street meltdown and just before President Obama took office. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% disagree and believe the United States will not be the number one world power, a 14-point increase from 34% six years ago. Twenty-four percent (24%) are not sure. (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 U.S. Voters was conducted on December 11-12, 2014 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.

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                            December 15, 2014Voters Want More Drone Strikes on Terrorists Overseas
Support for the use of unmanned drone aircraft to kill suspected terrorists overseas is the highest it's been in over two years, but voters still express concern about innocent civilians killed in such attacks.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 71% of Likely U.S. Voters favor the United States’ use of drone aircraft to kill al-Qaeda and Taliban terrorists overseas. That’s up from 63% a year ago but is still down from a high of 76% in February 2012 after President Obama first acknowledged the drone program’s existence.Just 12% oppose the use of drones to kill terrorists in other countries, while 17% remain 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 December 13-14, 2014 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.

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                            December 14, 2014Young People Are Less Likely to See Voting As Catalyst For Change
A sizable number of Americans feel today’s young people are less politically active than those in previous generations, but it may come down to what adults of different ages see as effective forms of activism.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that a plurality (44%) of American Adults believe young people are less politically active now than they were in previous generations. Eighteen percent (18%) say young adults are more politically active, while 29% say the level of activism is about the same as in prior generations. (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 December 10-11, 2014 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.