Politics

41% Favor Legalization of Pot in Their State

Colorado on Thursday began the public sale of marijuana for recreational use, but half of voters still aren’t ready to go that far in their state. However, most approve of the sale of pot for medicinal purposes.

Forty-one percent (41%) of Likely U.S. Voters favor the legalization of recreational marijuana use in their state, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty percent (50%) are opposed. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

28% Say Federal Government Should Increase Spending

Half of U.S. voters are worried that the federal government will not do enough to help the nation’s economic problems, and more than ever think it should increase spending to do so.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 28% of Likely U.S. Voters think that, in reacting to the nation’s current economic problems, the federal government should increase spending. That’s up two points from October and the highest level of support for spending increases in regular surveying since April 2012. Still, most voters (60%) think the government should cut spending to help the economy. Thirteen percent (13%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 27-28, 2013 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.

58% Have Favorable Opinion of Michelle Obama

Most voters continue to have a favorable opinion of Michelle Obama and view the first lady as a good role model for young Americans.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% of Likely U.S. Voters have at least a somewhat favorable impression of Mrs. Obama, including 39% with a Very Favorable opinion. Thirty-seven percent (37%) view her unfavorably, including 20% with a Very Unfavorable impression of the first lady. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 29-30, 2013 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.

59% Favor Assault Weapons Ban; 18% Want Handgun Ban, Too

Most voters still favor a ban on semi-automatic and assault-type weapons but strongly oppose outlawing handguns in the United States. Seven-out-of-10 would feel safer living a neighborhood where individuals could own a gun for self-defense.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of Likely U.S. Voters think there should be a ban on the purchase of semi-automatic and assault-type weapons. Thirty-three percent (33%) disagree. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 29-30, 2013 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.

49% Oppose Further U.S. Aid to Egypt

Most voters think Egypt is unlikely to assume a democratic course anytime soon, but they are slightly less opposed to further financial aid for the longtime U.S. ally. 

Egypt has largely been in political chaos since the United States helped pressure dictator Hosni Mubarak out of power in early 2011, and a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just seven percent (7%) of Likely U.S. Voters now think the changes in the government of Egypt over the past several years have been good for the United States. This finding has been steadily declining from a high of 29% in February 2011.

Forty-three percent (43%) believe those changes have been bad for this country, up from 20% in 2011. Twenty-seven percent (27%) say they have had no impact, but nearly as many (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 Voters was conducted on December 27-28, 2013 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.

49% Support U.S. Military Aid for Iraq

The Obama administration has been quietly supplying the Iraqi military with missiles and drones to help fight an al-Qaeda led insurgency that is ratcheting up the violence in that country. Half of U.S. voters approve of that military aid, but they overwhelmingly oppose the return of U.S. troops to Iraq.

Forty-nine percent (49%) of Likely U.S. Voters favor the U.S. government sending drones and missiles to Iraq to help fight the terrorist-led insurgents. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 29% oppose that military assistance, but another 21% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 26, 2013 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 29% Are Socially Liberal

Fewer voters now identify themselves as “socially liberal” than they have in the past.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 29% of Likely U.S. Voters now consider themselves liberal on social issues such as abortion, public prayer and church-state topics. That’s the lowest number of self-identified social liberals since early last year. Just as many (30%) consider themselves moderate on such issues, the highest since October 2012, while 37% say they are conservative, up four points from September. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 20-21, 2013 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.

43% Think NSA’s Domestic Spying Will Be Big News In A Year

More voters than ever think the National Security Agency’s secret monitoring of Americans’ phone calls and e-mail messages will be the controversy that outlasts the others dogging the Obama administration.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the NSA matter will still be a major news story a year from now. That’s a jump from 26% in early July just after the spying program was first disclosed  and 30% in September.

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 22, 2013 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.

26% Favor Use of Drones to Deliver Commercial Packages

Most voters continue to support the U.S. government’s use of unmanned drones to kill terrorists overseas but remain wary of drones in American skies, even for delivery of commercial packages.

Jeff Bezos, the founder and CEO of Amazon, made headlines early this month with his proposal to use drones for commercial deliveries in this country. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 26% of Likely U.S. Voters favor the use of unmanned drone aircraft for commercial purposes such as package delivery, but nearly twice as many (50%) oppose that idea. Twenty-four percent (24%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 20-21, 2013 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.

29% Have Favorable Opinion of Federal Government

Unfavorable views of the federal government continue to climb.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 68% of Likely U.S. Voters now view the federal government at least somewhat unfavorably. That's up from 64% in October and 63% in November of last year. Just 29% view the feds favorably. This includes five percent (5%) who view the government Very Favorably and 29% who view it Very Unfavorably. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 16-17, 2013 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.

13% Give Senate Positive Marks, 15% Say Same of the House

The bad news for Congress is that most voters think both the Senate and the House of Representatives are doing a lousy job. The good news for them is that a surprising number don’t know which party controls each of the respective chambers.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 15% think the House is doing a good or excellent job, while 52% rate its performance as poor.

Similarly, only 13% give the Senate good or excellent marks for its job performance. Fifty-one percent (51%) think the senators are doing a poor job. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 18-19, 2013 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.

33% See China’s Moon Landing as Bad for U.S.

The Chinese landed a lunar probe earlier this week, the first landing on the moon in nearly 40 years, but U.S. voters show no greater enthusiasm for returning to the moon than they did a year ago.

Just six percent (6%) of Likely U.S. Voters think it’s good for the United States that China has landed a space vehicle on the moon, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Thirty-three percent (33%) see the Chinese lunar probe as bad for this country, but a plurality (45%) feels it has no impact. Fifteen percent (15%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 16-17, 2013 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.

22% Think Federal Government Needs More Tax Money

Following the recent passage of a bipartisan budget deal by Congress, fewer voters than ever believe more taxes are needed to keep the federal government going. But the Political Class isn't so sure about that.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that only 22% of Likely U.S. Voters believe additional tax hikes are needed to fund the federal government. Sixty-two percent (62%) disagree and say no new tax hikes are needed. Sixteen percent (16%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 12-13, 2013 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.

13% Think Airline Mergers Good for Fliers

Nearly half of Americans believe airline mergers are bad for consumers and that the deregulation of the airline industry has made flying more expensive. But frequent fliers are more likely to think deregulation has made flying cheaper.

Just 13% of American Adults see the merger of airlines like the recent one between American Airlines and US Airways as good for fliers. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% consider such mergers bad for fliers, while 15% say they have no impact. But a sizable 26% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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The survey of 1000 American Adults was conducted on December 15-16, 2013 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. 

21% Favor Amnesty for NSA Leaker Snowden

Voters aren’t enthusiastic about granting NSA leaker Edward Snowden amnesty to halt his release of U.S. intelligence secrets, even though most agree the continued disclosures are hurting national security.

Just 21% of Likely U.S. Voters think the federal government should grant Snowden full amnesty from prosecution in exchange for his return of all classified information that he still possesses. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that twice as many (41%) oppose full amnesty for Snowden, although nearly as many (39%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 14-15 2013 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 Restoring Some Sequester Budget Cuts, 40% Oppose

Voters still strongly prefer a federal budget that cuts spending, but they’re closely divided over the new budget deal that would restore some of the across-the-board sequester spending cuts from earlier this year.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 15% of Likely U.S. Voters favor a federal budget that increases government spending. Sixty-one percent (61%) like a federal budget that cuts spending instead. Eighteen percent (18%) prefer one that keeps spending levels about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 12-13, 2013 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.

17% Expect Better U.S. Relations with Cuba

Many are wondering if President Obama's handshake with Cuban leader Raul Castro at this week's memorial service for Nelson Mandela signals a thaw in the relations between the two countries, but most voters don’t expect much of a change over the next year. 

Only 17% of Likely U.S. Voters believe America’s relationship with Cuba will be better a year from now, while 10% expect it to be worse. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% believe the U.S.-Cuban relationship will be about the same. Eighteen percent (18%) aren’t sure. These findings have changed little over the past four years. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 10-11, 2013 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.

60% Think U.S. Not Aggressive Enough In Deporting Illegal Immigrants

More than 20 House Democrats last week urged President Obama to halt the deportation of illegal immigrants until Congress passes a comprehensive immigration reform plan, but voters by a two-to-one margin oppose that idea. Most already think the federal government is not vigilant enough in deporting those who are in this country illegally.

Only 29% of Likely U.S. Voters think the government should stop deporting illegal immigrants until Congress passes an immigration reform plan. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 57% oppose a halt to deportations. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 8-9, 2013 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.

A Year After Newtown, Just 31% Think More Gun Control Likely

A year after the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, far fewer adults expect more gun control.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 31% of American Adults now think it is at least somewhat likely that Congress and the president will create tougher gun control laws, with 12% who think it’s Very Likely. Fifty-nine percent (59%) say stricter gun control is unlikely, including 17% who say it's Not At All Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 7-8, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error 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.

54% Think More Focus on Mental Health Issues Will Prevent Future Newtown Incidents

One year after the school shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, more Americans than ever believe tackling mental health issues is the best way to prevent such mass murders.A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% of American Adults think more action to treat mental health issues will do the most to help reduce the number of mass shootings like the one in Connecticut. That's up six points from 48% in mid-December of last year.  Twenty-three percent (23%) believe stricter gun control laws will do the most, down from 27% a year ago, while 12% call first for limits on violent movies and video games. Eleven percent (11%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 7-8, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error 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.