Politics

Ohio Governor: Kasich (R) 50%, FitzGerald (D) 30%

Troubled Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ed FitzGerald has now fallen 20 points behind incumbent Republican John Kasich in Ohio’s gubernatorial contest.

Ohio is rated Safe Republican on the Rasmussen Reports 2014 Gubernatorial Scorecard. Kasich was first elected governor in 2010 by a narrow 49% to 47% margin. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 780 Likely Voters in Ohio was conducted on September 8-9, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Americans Feel More Certain Another 9/11 is Looming

The number of Americans who consider another attack on the scale of September 11, 2001 Very Likely is at its highest level since before the killing of Osama bin Laden. But even though the radical Islamic group ISIS continues to make big threats against the United States from the Middle East, Americans still fear an attack from within more than one from outside.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that two-out-of-three American Adults (67%) think it is at least somewhat likely that another 9/11 will take place in the next 10 years, including 34% who consider it Very Likely. The latter figure is up from 30% a year ago and the highest finding since 2010 when 39% felt another major attack was Very Likely. Bin Laden was killed the following May, and concern dropped somewhat. But only 20% of Americans think a similar attack is unlikely in the next decade, with just three percent (3%) who consider it Not At All Likely. Thirteen percent (13%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on September 6-7, 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.

Democrats Are More Likely to Vote Early

Just over half of Americans think they’ll wait to Election Day to cast their ballots even if their state offers early voting.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% of Likely Voters in states that allow early voting say they are likely to take advantage of that opportunity. But 52% say they are more likely to wait until Election Day. Seven percent (7%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

Voters Say More Sanctions Yes, Military Aid No in Ukraine

Voters say sanctions against Russia haven’t done much to ease tensions in Ukraine, but they favor stepping up that pressure if fighting in Ukraine resumes.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% of Likely U.S. Voters now view Ukraine as a vital national security interest for the United States these days. That’s up from 26% in mid-April. Nearly as many (37%), however, still believe Ukraine is not critical to U.S. national security. Twenty-two percent (22%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

Oregon Governor: Kitzhaber (D) 48%, Richardson (R) 38%

Democrat John Kitzhaber has a 10-point lead over Republican challenger Dennis Richardson in his bid for a fourth term as governor of Oregon.(To see survey question wording, click here.)

Maine Senate: Collins (R) 59%, Bellows (D) 31%

Republican Susan Collins holds a near two-to-one lead in her bid for a fourth term in the U.S. Senate.

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The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Maine was conducted on September 3-4, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Oregon Senate: Merkley (D) 48%, Wehby (R) 35%

Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley has pulled further ahead of Republican challenger Monica Wehby in his reelection bid in Oregon.

Oregon is rated Safe Democrat in the Rasmussen Reports 2014 Senate Balance of Power rankings. 

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The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Oregon was conducted on September 2-3, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 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 Don’t Want U.S. Troops Fighting ISIS Without International Help

Voters show even more support for continued airstrikes in Iraq against the radical Islamic group ISIS despite a second public beheading of a U.S. journalist in retaliation for those strikes. Nearly half now support sending U.S. combat troops to fight ISIS as part of an international coalition but are less enthused about U.S. troops fighting alone.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 75% of Likely Voters believe the United States should continue its airstrikes against the radical Islamic group ISIS. Just 13% think the United States should discontinue the airstrikes to protect other Americans in the region. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 3-4, 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.

How Important Is It on Election Day if A Congressman Voted for Obamacare?

Voters are more skeptical than ever that Obamacare can be fixed any time soon but remain almost evenly divided on the impact the health care law will have on their voting decisions this November.

Thirty-five percent (35%) of Likely U.S. Voters say they are more likely to vote for a member of Congress who supports the law, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Slightly more (38%) say they are less likely to vote for an Obamacare supporter. Nineteen percent (19%) say a Congress member’s position on the law will have no impact on their voting decision.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

73% Worry About Obama’s Lack of Strategy for ISIS

Voters regard the radical Islamic terrorist group ISIS as a major threat to the United States and are very worried that President Obama doesn’t have a strategy for dealing with the problem. They remain reluctant to send U.S. troops back to Iraq to take on ISIS, but support is growing.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 67% of Likely U.S. Voters consider the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) a serious threat to this country. Just 13% disagree, while another 20% are not sure. (To see survey questions wording, click here.)

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

Oklahoma Special Senate: Lankford (R) 58%, Johnson (D) 29%

Republican Congressman James Lankford has a two-to-one lead over Democratic State Senator Connie Johnson in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at Oklahoma’s special election for U.S. Senate.

The special election will determine who will take over the seat held by Republican Tom Coburn, who is resigning in early 2015 with two years left in his term. This race is rated Safe Republican in the Rasmussen Reports’ 2014 Senate Balance of Power rankings. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Oklahoma was conducted on August 27-28, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 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 Strongly Oppose Obama's Amnesty Plan for Illegal Immigrants

Most voters oppose President Obama's reported plan to unilaterally grant amnesty to several million illegal immigrants and think Congress should challenge him in court if he goes ahead with it.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 62% of Likely U.S. Voters oppose the president granting amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants without the approval of Congress. Just 26% are in favor of Obama's plan, while 12% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 28-29, 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.

Vermont Governor: Shumlin (D) 48%, Milne (R) 36%

Democratic incumbent Peter Shumlin has a double-digit lead over Republican challenger Scott Milne in Vermont’s gubernatorial race.

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The survey of 700 Likely Voters in Vermont was conducted on August 28-29 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 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 Think Justice Department Motivated Mostly by Politics

Most voters have an unfavorable opinion of the U.S. Department of Justice and think it is more interested in politics than in serving justice. Voters are also strongly opposed to more federal control over their local police.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 38% of Likely U.S. Voters have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of the Justice Department, while 53% view it unfavorably. This includes only nine percent (9%) with a Very Favorable view and 26% with a Very Unfavorable one. (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 August 26-27, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

South Carolina Governor: Haley (R) 51%, Sheheen (D) 36%

Republican Governor Nikki Haley remains comfortably ahead of Democratic challenger Vincent Sheheen in her bid for reelection in South Carolina.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely South Carolina Voters finds Haley with 51% support to Sheheen’s 36%. Six percent (6%) prefer some other candidate, while seven percent (7%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 750 Likely Voters in South Carolina was conducted on August 25-26, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

66% Think Most Christians Treated Unfairly in Muslim World

Religious tolerance is a one-way street when it comes to the Muslim world, most Americans say.

Sixty-six percent (66%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe most Christians living in the Islamic world are treated unfairly because of their religious faith, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

By comparison, just 20% think most Muslims are treated unfairly in the United States because of their religion, although that's up slightly from 17% in March 2011 when we first asked this question. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

44% Blame U.S. Policies for Worsening Relations with Islamic World

Voter perceptions of U.S.-Islamic relations continue to deteriorate since President Obama’s highly publicized speech in Cairo, Egypt five years ago reaching out to the Islamic world. Many blame recent U.S. policies for that.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only nine percent (9%) of Likely U.S. Voters think U.S. relations with the Islamic world are better now than they were five years ago. That’s down nine points from September 2012, just after a U.S. ambassador and others were killed by Islamic extremists in Benghazi, Libya. Forty-six percent (46%) say America’s relations with that part of the world are worse than they were five years ago, little changed from two years ago. Thirty-nine percent (39%) say America’s relationship with the Islamic world is about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Voters Want Lots of Spending Cuts But Think They're Unlikely

Most Americans continue to support spending cuts in every program of the federal government but think it’s less likely than ever that government spending actually will be reduced anytime soon.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 57% of Likely U.S. Voters think thoughtful spending cuts should be considered in every federal program, generally in line with previous surveys. Twenty-seven percent (27%) disagree, but 16% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

Voters Strongly Support Death Penalty for Foley’s Killer

Voters strongly believe the terrorist killer of journalist James Foley should be brought to justice and sentenced to death if convicted of murder. But they are just as strongly opposed to paying the ransom demands of terrorists and have mixed feelings about hostage rescue attempts.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 61% of Likely U.S. Voters think the U.S. government should hunt down the radical Islamic terrorist who beheaded Foley on a video posted online. Just 17% disagree, but 22% are not sure. (To see survey questions wording, click here.)

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

Wyoming Governor: Mead (R) 55%, Gosar (D) 34%

Matt Mead turned back two challengers in this week’s Republican primary and looks well on his way to reelection as governor of Wyoming.

A new Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Wyoming Voters finds Mead with 55% support to Democratic challenger Pete Gosar’s 34%. Seven percent (7%) like another candidate in the race, and four percent (4%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 700 Likely Voters in Wyoming was conducted on August 20-21, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.