What Drives Americans’ Voting Decisions?
Voters still insist they value substance over more superficial factors when deciding whom to vote for, but they are a bit more likely to admit their emotions play a role.
Politics
Most Recent Releases
October 7, 2015
October 6, 2015
Support for Planned Parenthood Holds Steady
Voter attitudes about Planned Parenthood have not changed in the nearly three months since the release of the first secretly-taken video showing representatives of the group discussing the sales value of body parts of aborted babies. But for a sizable majority, it’s an issue they’ll remember come election time.
October 6, 2015
World Relies on America But Doesn't Like Us Much
Most U.S. voters still consider the United States the best country in the world, but they don’t think we are winning any popularity contests.
October 5, 2015
Voters Say It’s Up to Congress If More Refugees Come Here
U.S. voters want to put the breaks on the Obama administration’s plans to bring tens of thousands more refugees into this country over the next two years, many from the Middle East, and strongly believe Congress should have a say in the matter.
October 2, 2015
Biden Narrows the Gap With Clinton
Vice President Joe Biden is keeping everyone guessing about whether he will run for president in 2016, but how would he fare against his party’s frontrunner, Hillary Clinton?
October 1, 2015
Voters See A Hillary Challenge in Biden’s Future
Democrats are all for letting Joe Biden participate in their first presidential candidate debate and are pretty convinced that it’s only a matter of time before he enters the race.
October 1, 2015
Only 22% of GOP Voters Want Mitch McConnell to Stay
It looks like Republican voters are ready to clean house when it comes to the party's top two congressional leaders.
September 30, 2015
Is Russia A U.S. Ally In Fighting ISIS?
Russia is ramping up its military and political presence in Syria and has begun bombing there in an effort to aid its allies in the Syrian government and their fight against the radical Islamic State group (ISIS).
September 30, 2015
Most GOP Voters See Boehner’s Departure As Good or No Big Deal
Republicans feel pretty good about John Boehner’s decision to resign as speaker of the House of Representatives. Democrats are more likely to see Boehner’s resignation as bad both for the country and the GOP.
September 28, 2015
How Big An Issue Is Obamacare in the Next Election?
President Obama’s health care law might have taken a back seat to other issues like immigration in the early stages of the presidential campaign season, but will it impact how voters choose their candidates next year?
September 25, 2015
Voters Reject Election Advice from the Pulpit
Pope Francis addressed a joint session of the U.S. Congress yesterday emphasizing his views on immigration, climate change and political cooperation, among others. Voters have mixed feelings about the impact religious leaders have on government policy but are quite clear they don't want someone in the pulpit telling them how to vote.
September 24, 2015
Few Would Vote for a Muslim President
Republican presidential hopeful Ben Carson has been criticized by other candidates and the media for saying he could not support a Muslim for president of the United States. But guess what? Over half of U.S. voters agree.
September 23, 2015
Syria Matters More To Voters
Increased media attention on the Syrian migrant crisis has undoubtedly raised new concerns about the global impact of that country’s ongoing civil war, and U.S. voters are listening. But does that mean the United States should take a more active role in stemming the violence?
September 23, 2015
Most Say No to Federal Control of Guns
Most voters still don't think the federal government should have the final say on gun ownership and don't like a country in which only the government has guns.
September 22, 2015
Few Support Bringing More Syrian Refugees To U.S.
The Obama administration announced this week plans to increase the total number of worldwide refugees accepted into the United States to 100,000 by 2017 in response to the ongoing migrant crisis from parts of the Middle East into Europe. Few U.S. voters agree with this decision, perhaps in part because a sizable majority have national security concerns.
September 22, 2015
Most Expect Reporters to Help Their Favorite Candidate
It may be a different election cycle with different candidates, but at least one thing hasn’t changed as far as most voters are concerned – media bias.
September 18, 2015
GOP Voters Up Carson’s, Fiorina’s Chances for the Nomination
Jeb Bush is treading water, but Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina appear to have dramatically improved their chances for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. Carson is now in a virtual tie with recent front-runner Donald Trump.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of Likely Republican Voters now think Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, is likely to win the Republican nomination, with 16% who say it’s Very Likely. Just 25% thought Carson was likely to end up as the nominee when he formally announced for the race in early May.
September 17, 2015
GOP Debate: Who's Still Standing on the Morning After?
Debate or endurance test?
Last night’s Republican presidential campaign debate was a three-hour marathon that was reduced near the end to such penetrating questions as what woman should be on the $10 bill and what nickname would you choose for the Secret Service if you become president?
September 17, 2015
GOP Debate: Who's Still Standing on the Morning After?
Debate or endurance test?
Last night’s Republican presidential campaign debate was a three-hour marathon that was reduced near the end to such penetrating questions as what woman should be on the $10 bill and what nickname would you choose for the Secret Service if you become president?
September 17, 2015
Do Labor Unions Carry Too Much Political Clout?
Republican presidential candidate Scott Walker, the Wisconsin governor who successfully reduced the power of public employee unions in his state, is continuing his fight against Big Labor on the national stage in an effort to “give the power back to the people, not the union bosses.”
