Politics

Voters Worry About Plan to Trim Social Security Benefits for the Wealthy

Voters are almost evenly divided over New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s proposal to reduce or eliminate Social Security payouts to wealthier Americans, but they worry that those who earn less might lose their benefits, too, to keep Social Security afloat. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 15-16, 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.

Will Bill Help or Hurt Hillary in 2016?

Voters are less convinced that Bill Clinton will be a plus for his wife’s bid for the White House.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of Likely U.S. Voters think the former president will help Hillary Clinton’s run next year. That’s down from 54% a year ago. Twenty-one percent (21%) now think he will hurt her candidacy, up eight points from last year, while just has many (22%) say he’ll have no impact. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 13-14, 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 Rate Obama, GOP Congress As Harmful to Presidential Nominees

A lot can happen in the nearly 19 months between now and Election Day, but right now voters agree President Obama and the Republican-led Congress are problems for the presidential candidates of their respective political parties.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 23% of Likely U.S. Voters think the president’s record in office will help the next Democratic presidential candidate. A plurality (47%) believes Obama’s record in the White House since 2009 will hurt his party’s nominee instead, while 22% say it will have no impact. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

Rubio for President?

Senator Marco Rubio is the third Republican to officially announce his candidacy for president, and GOP voters think he has about the same shot as his announced rivals to win the party’s nomination. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 13-14, 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.

57% Think Hillary Clinton Likely To Win in 2016

Most voters think Hillary Clinton will be the next president of the United States even though they have very mixed feelings about her. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 13-14, 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.

Is Your Water Supply Safe?

While California is making headlines with its mandated reduction in water usage, Americans are overwhelmingly confident in their own water supply. But many question whether their local governments are doing enough to protect it. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 800 American Adults was conducted on April 6-7, 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.

Clinton vs. Cruz, Clinton vs. Paul

Hillary Clinton, now officially a candidate for president in 2016, leads the first two announced candidates for the Republican nomination but earns less than 50% support at this early stage.

(To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 9 & 12, 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.

Most Voters Expect Both Parties to Pick Presidential Candidates They Don’t Agree With

Looking ahead to next year’s presidential contest, most voters expect more of the same: two candidates with whom they have very little in common.

This marks little or no change from how voters looked at the major party presidential candidates in past elections. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

How Do GOP Voters Rate Rand Paul’s Chances?

Republican voters rate Rand Paul’s chances of getting the GOP presidential nomination as about the same as Ted Cruz’s at this early stage of the game. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

61% Think Iran Unlikely To Honor Nuclear Treaty With U.S.

Voters are almost evenly divided over the framework deal the Obama administration has cut with Iran to slow the latter’s nuclear weapons program. But most doubt that Iran will abide by its terms or that its compliance can be verified by the United States.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 39% of Likely U.S. Voters favor the agreement the United States has reached with Iran that ends some economic sanctions on that country in exchange for verifiable cutbacks in Iran’s nuclear weapons program. But slightly more (41%) oppose that deal. Twenty percent (20%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 7-8, 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 Tops America's Enemies List?

Current events appear to be coloring the views Americans have of a couple longtime foes. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 800 Adults was conducted on March 29-30, 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.

More Voters Think It's Too Easy to Get An Abortion

The gap between pro-choice and pro-life voters has narrowed from recent surveys, and belief that getting an abortion in this country is too easy is stronger than it has been in over a year.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% of Likely U.S. Voters now consider themselves pro-choice, while 41% say they are pro-life. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 5-6, 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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Americans Favor Government Water Control But Don’t Trust It

Americans approve of California’s state-mandated water restrictions in the face of an ongoing drought, even though most don’t trust the government to administer the regulations fairly. They also suspect more action will be necessary. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 800 American Adults was conducted on April 6-7, 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.

Goodbye, Harry: Voters Reflect Poorly on Reid

Voters won't be sorry to see Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid go, and that includes members of his own party. But Democratic voters aren’t exactly sold on his likely replacement either. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 1-2, 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 Even More Negative About Arab Spring’s Impact

As the violence in Yemen escalates, American voters continue to be skeptical about the political changes in the region brought about by the so-called “Arab Spring” and worry they have made the United States less safe. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 1-2, 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.

Democrats See Mexico As Better Ally Than Israel

Americans continue to view Canada and Great Britain as our best friends, but Israel has tumbled down the list. Democrats by a 10-point margin now see Mexico as a better ally than the Jewish state. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 800 Adults was conducted on March 29-30, 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.

Do You Want A Religious Freedom Law In Your State?

Most voters still oppose a religious freedom law in their state like the one adopted in Indiana. Yet despite concerns that such laws may lead to discrimination against gays and lesbians, voters also continue to strongly defend the right of a Christian photographer to turn down a same-sex wedding. Many also believe the media portray religious freedom laws unfairly.

Arkansas this week came a step closer to joining the 20 states that have laws prohibiting the government from forcing businesses to provide services they find objectionable on religious grounds, but 53% of Likely U.S. Voters oppose such a law in their state. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 35% favor a law that would allow businesses to refuse service to customers for religious reasons. Twelve percent (12%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national telephone survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on March 30-31, 2015. The margin of sampling error for the survey 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.

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

Monica Lewinsky – Consensual Adult or Victim?

Monica Lewinsky, the White House intern who left a stain on Bill Clinton’s presidency, is now using her experiences to be a campaigner against bullying. Looking back on the sex scandal that led to Clinton’s impeachment nearly 20 years ago, do Americans consider her a victim or a willing accomplice? (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.

Voters Say Big Government Is Back

Bill Clinton made news when he declared nearly 20 years ago that the era of big government is over. Voters still prefer smaller, cheaper government but clearly recognize that Barack Obama, the next Democrat after Clinton to be in the White House, has reversed that trend.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 12% of Likely U.S. Voters now agree that “the era of big government is over.” That’s down from 18% last October and ties the lowest finding last measured in February of last year. Most voters (55%) disagree with that assessment, but a sizable 32% 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 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 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.