Politics

Idaho Governor: Otter (R) 50%, Balukoff (D) 36%

Republican incumbent C.L. “Butch” Otter holds a 14-point lead over his Democratic opponent in Idaho's 2014 gubernatorial race.

Otter draws 50% of the vote against businessman A.J. Balukoff’s 36%, according to a new statewide telephone survey of Likely Idaho Voters. Eight percent (8%) prefer some other candidate in the race, while seven percent (7%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Idaho was conducted on May 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.

40% Approve of POW/Taliban Prisoner Swap, 43% Oppose

Most voters oppose hostage negotiations with terrorist groups like the Taliban, but voters are almost evenly divided over the prisoner swap that freed the only known U.S. military POW in Afghanistan.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 40% of Likely U.S. Voters agree with the U.S. government’s decision to release five Taliban leaders from the Guantanamo terrorist prison camp in exchange for the one U.S. military prisoner of war behind held by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Slightly more voters (43%) disagree with that decision. Seventeen percent (17%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 2-3, 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.

Idaho Senate: Risch (R) 54%, Mitchell (D) 29%

Republican Senator Jim Risch has a nearly two-to-one lead over his Democratic challenger in his bid for reelection in Idaho.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Idaho Voters shows Risch with 54% of the vote to Democratic attorney Nels Mitchell’s 29%. Six percent (6%) prefer some other candidate in the race, while 11% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Idaho was conducted on May 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.

48% Support Keeping Some U.S. Troops in Afghanistan, 44% Oppose

President Obama announced last week plans to withdraw all but 9,800 U.S. troops from Afghanistan by the end of this year and fully withdraw troops by the end of 2016. Nearly half of voters support leaving some troops in Afghanistan through 2016, but most are not convinced America is any safer because of the U.S. mission there.

Forty-eight percent (48%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe some U.S. troops should remain in Afghanistan through 2016, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Nearly as many (44%), however, think the United States should withdraw all troops by the end of this year. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 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.

Pennsylvania Governor: Wolf (D) 51%, Corbett (R) 31%

Republican Governor Tom Corbett trails his Democratic challenger Tom Wolf by 20 points in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at the Pennsylvania gubernatorial race.

A new statewide telephone survey of Likely Pennsylvania Voters shows Wolf with 51% of the vote to Corbett’s 31%. Four percent (4%) prefer some other candidate in the race, but 14% are still undecided at this point. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Pennsylvania was conducted on May 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.

60% Say U.S. Leaders Send Troops Into Danger Too Often

U.S. voters continue to believe the nation’s leaders are too eager to send American soldiers into action, with nearly half who say the United States is already too involved in the affairs of other nations.

Just 33% of Likely U.S. Voters think the current level of U.S. involvement around the globe is about right. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% believe the United States is too involved in the affairs of other countries, while 11% say America is not involved enough. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

42% Think VA Secretary Shinseki Should Resign

Most voters think it’s likely President Obama or his top staffers were aware of the problems at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs before they became public, and a plurality believes the head of the department should resign.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 26% of Likely U.S. Voters now have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), while 62% view that department unfavorably. This includes three percent (3%) with a Very Favorable view and 26% with a Very Unfavorable one. Eleven percent (11%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 25-26, 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.

Bigger Problem in Politics? 48% Say Media Bias, 44% Campaign Cash

Voters overwhelmingly believe wealthy donors and special interest groups pull the strings in Washington, but nearly half still think media bias is a bigger problem in politics today.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 76% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the wealthiest individuals and companies have too much influence over government decisions. Just four percent (4%) say wealthy individuals and companies have too little influence in Washington, while 15% say their level of influence is about right. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 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.

47% Say U.S. Safer Today Because of Guantanamo Prison

Most voters still oppose closing the Guantanamo terrorist prison camp and moving some of those inmates to a U.S. facility. Nearly half think the United States is safer because suspected terrorists have been imprisoned there.

Democrats in Congress are again pushing legislation to close the Guantanamo facility, but a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 27% of Likely U.S. Voters think the prison for suspected terrorists at the Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba should be closed. That’s up slightly from 23% in April of last year but still down dramatically from the 44% who favored closure in January 2009 when President Obama first announced his plan to do so.

Fifty-four percent (54%) disagree and say the Guantanamo prison should not be closed, consistent with most surveys for several years. Eighteen percent (18%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 23-24, 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% of Voters See Obama as Very Liberal

Most voters still have little doubt that President Obama and Vice President Biden are liberals.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 73% of Likely U.S. Voters consider the president at least somewhat liberal in political terms, the highest finding since August 2010. Of those who say the view President Obama as liberal, 44% believe he is Very Liberal. Twenty-one percent feel the president is politically moderate. Just three percent (3%) consider Obama at least somewhat conservative. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 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.

46% View Major Cyberattack on U.S. An Act of War

Following a U.S. indictment of five Chinese military hackers charged with stealing commercial secrets, slightly fewer American voters are willing to call a major cyberattack on the United States by another country an act of war. But a plurality continues to be believe cyberattacks pose a bigger economic threat than traditional military attacks.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 85% of Likely U.S. Voters are at least somewhat concerned about the safety of America’s computer infrastructure from cyberattack, including 43% who are Very Concerned. Just 13% are not very or Not At All Concerned about such an attack. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 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. 

83% Think Americans Are Not Informed Voters

Most Americans think voters in this country don’t have enough say in their government, but at the same time they overwhelmingly believe their fellow countrymen don’t fulfill their responsibility to be informed about the things they vote on.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 90% of Likely U.S. Voters think voters in countries with democratically elected governments have a responsibility to be informed about major policy issues. Just five percent (5%) disagree, while another five percent (5%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 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.

45% Favor Gay Marriage, 41% Oppose

Support for gay marriage is up slightly this month, but voters still generally think it should be a state issue, not a federal one.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of Likely U.S. Voters now favor gay marriage, while 41% oppose. Support is up a bit from last month, when 43% favored gay marriage and 43% opposed.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 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.

Just 21% Give Feds Positive Marks for Handling of Veterans Benefits

With the federal Department of Veterans Affairs embroiled in controversy, Americans give low marks to the benefits for those who have served in the military and rate the government’s administration of those benefits even worse. Those who have received the benefits themselves or have a family member who has are less critical, however.

Just 30% of American Adults rate the level of government benefits for military veterans as good or excellent, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twenty-six percent (26%) consider the benefits to be poor. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on May 16-17, 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.

62% Say 9/11 Museum Film Should Not Be Changed Because of Muslim Complaints

Just half of Americans say they are likely to visit the new National September 11 Memorial Museum in New York City, but most don't think a historic film shown there should be changed so as not to offend Muslims. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% of American Adults say they are at least somewhat likely to visit the museum, but that includes just 18% who are Very Likely to do so. Fifty percent (50%) say a visit to the museum is unlikely, with 21% who are Not At All Likely to go there. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on May 16-17, 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.

38% Say Presidential Candidates Should Disclose Medical Records

Following comments by Republican strategist Karl Rove that Hillary Clinton’s health “will be an issue” in the 2016 election, voters are closely divided as to whether all presidential candidates should have to release their most recent medical records to the public. They feel much more strongly that candidates should have to release their most recent tax returns.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 38% of Likely Voters believe all declared presidential candidates should release at least their most recent medical records to the public. Forty-two percent (42%) disagree and say they should not have to do so. 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 May 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.

Nebraska Governor: Ricketts (R) 47%, Hassebrook (D) 40%

Following his narrow primary win on Tuesday, Republican nominee Pete Ricketts leads his Democratic opponent Chuck Hassebrook by seven points in Nebraska’s gubernatorial race.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Nebraska Voters shows Ricketts picking up 47% of the vote to Hassebrook’s 40%. Five percent (5%) prefer some other candidate in the race, while eight percent (8%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Nebraska was conducted on May 14-15, 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.

36% Favor Pulling U.S. Troops From Western Europe

As tensions remain high with Russia, voters are narrowly divided over whether the United States should pull its troops from Western Europe. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 36% of Likely U.S. Voters think the United States should remove troops from Western Europe and let the Europeans defend themselves. Thirty-nine percent (39%) oppose removing U.S. troops from Western Europe. One-in-four (25%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 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.

Nebraska Senate: Sasse (R) 51%, Domina (D) 34%

Republican primary winner Ben Sasse still holds a 17-point lead over Democratic opponent David Domina in Nebraska’s U.S. Senate race.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Nebraska Voters finds Sasse with 51% support to Domina’s 34%. Five percent (5%) like some other candidate in the race, and 10% are undecided.(To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Nebraska was conducted on May 14-15, 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.

41% Think Commercial Use of Drones Makes Flying Less Safe in U.S.

Americans worry that the increased commercial use of drones is making flying riskier in the United States and see a need for more government regulation of the unmanned aircraft. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the increasing use of unmanned drones in this country makes flying less safe. Thirty-four percent (34%) disagree, but 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 May 14-15, 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.