Politics

68% Think U.S. Needs Stricter Enforcement of Existing Gun Laws

Support for stricter gun control laws is up slightly from March’s recent low, but voters still feel much more strongly that there needs to be stricter enforcement of laws already on the books.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 46% of Likely Voters believe the United States needs stricter gun control laws. That’s up six points from March but similar to findings for much of last year. Slightly more (48%) still oppose stricter gun control laws. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 26-27, 2014 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. 

71% Think IRS Likely to Have Destroyed E-mails to Hide Guilt

Most voters think it’s likely the IRS deliberately destroyed e-mails about its investigations of Tea Party and other conservative groups to hide its criminal behavior. Two-out-of-three now believe IRS employees involved in these investigations should be jailed or fired, and most suspect the agency of targeting other political opponents of the Obama administration.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of Likely U.S. Voters believe that the Internal Revenue Service broke the law when it targeted Tea Party and other conservative groups.  That’s up from 49% earlier this year and back to the level seen last September. Little changed from the early surveys are the 22% who think the IRS did not break the law. Slightly more (25%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 26-27, 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.

Mississippi Senate: Cochran (R) 46%, Childers (D) 34%

Incumbent Thad Cochran, coming off his narrow win in Tuesday’s testy Republican primary runoff, still holds a double-digit lead over Democratic challenger Travis Childers in Mississippi’s U.S. Senate race.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Mississippi Voters finds Cochran with 46% support to Childers’ 34%. Ten percent (10%) prefer some other candidate, while nearly as many (9%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Mississippi was conducted on June 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.

Voters Blame Bush, Obama Equally for Current Problems in Iraq

Almost immediately after the situation in Iraq went from bad to worse, lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle began pointing fingers at the opposing party’s policies. Voters are evenly divided over whether it was the actions and policies of George W. Bush or Barack Obama that have contributed more to the crisis in Iraq today, but the current administration gets lackluster reviews for its response thus far. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 31% of Likely U.S. Voters rate the Obama administration’s handling of the situation in Iraq as good or excellent. Forty percent (40%) say the administration has done a poor job responding to the crisis there. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

Just 40% Approve of Presidential Primary Process

Both major political parties face possibly lengthy presidential primary seasons in 2016, and most voters aren’t sure that’s a good thing.

New Rasmussen Reports national telephone surveying finds that 40% of Likely U.S. Voters think the current primary process is a good way to select a party’s presidential candidate. But 60% don’t agree, with 29% who consider it a bad way to select a presidential candidate and 31% who are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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Three surveys of 1,000 Likely Voters each were conducted on June 14-15, June 16-17 and June 20-21, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error for each survey 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% Still Think Benghazi Will Hurt Hillary Clinton in 2016

A plurality of voters continues to believe the Benghazi controversy will negatively impact Hillary Clinton’s expected bid for the presidency, little changed in surveys since last fall.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters think the circumstances surrounding the murder of the U.S. ambassador and three other U.S. Embassy employees in Libya will hurt the former secretary of State if she runs for president in 2016. That compares to 46% in January and 43% who felt that way when we first asked the question last October. Seven percent (7%) think the Benghazi issue will help Clinton if she runs for the White House. Thirty-eight percent (38%) say it will have no impact. Eleven percent (11%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

Nevada Governor: Sandoval (R) 55%, Goodman (D) 28%

Republican Governor Brian Sandoval holds a two-to-one lead over his Democratic challenger in his bid for reelection in Nevada.

Sandoval picks up 55% support to former State Economic Development Commissioner Robert Goodman’s 28%, according to a new Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Nevada Voters. Six percent (6%) prefer some other candidate, while 11% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Nevada was conducted on June 16-18, 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.

56% Oppose Moving Marathon Bombing Suspect’s Trial Out of Boston

Most voters believe trials should be held in the places where the crimes were committed and oppose moving the trial of the Boston Marathon bombing suspect out of Boston.

The defense lawyers for bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev want to move his trial to Washington, DC because they feel the pool of potential jurors in Boston is too prejudiced, but just 22% of Likely U.S. Voters favor moving that trial out of Boston. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% are opposed to such a move. Twenty-one percent (21%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely U.S. Voters was conducted on June 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.

Paul, Carson Are Now Hillary’s Closest GOP Challengers

Hillary Clinton earns 45% to 50% of the vote against six leading Republicans in potential 2016 presidential matchups, running best against Texans Rick Perry and Ted Cruz and poorest against Rand Paul and Dr. Ben Carson. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, once the GOP front-runner, now makes the weakest showing. 

New Rasmussen Reports national telephone surveying of Likely U.S. Voters finds that Clinton leads Cruz, a U.S. senator and Tea Party stalwart, 50% to 37%. She holds a similar 50% to 36% lead over Perry, the Lone Star State governor who is expected to make a second run for the GOP nomination in 2016. (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.

Three surveys of 1,000 Likely Voters each were conducted on conducted on June 14-15, June 16-17 and June 20-21, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error for each survey 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.

51% in New Jersey Approve of Christie’s Performance

New Jersey voters are pretty evenly divided in their views of Governor Chris Christie, but a sizable number believe the state's budget situation has worsened over the past year.

A new Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey finds that 51% of Likely New Jersey Voters approve of the job Christie is doing as governor, while 48% disapprove. This includes 17% who Strongly Approve and 30% who Strongly Disapprove. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 750 Likely Voters in New Jersey was conducted on June 17-18, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

64% Favor Death Penalty for Benghazi Killings Suspect

Voters strongly believe the Islamic militant seized Sunday night as a suspect in the murder of the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans in Libya should be tried here and, if found guilty, should be sentenced to death.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that despite the Libyan government’s demand that Ahmed Abu Khattalah be returned to their country, 70% of Likely U.S. Voters believe he should be tried in U.S. courts. Just 14% think the man identified by the Obama administration as the mastermind behind the killings should be returned to the Libyans. Fifteen percent (15%) 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 June 18-19, 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.

New Jersey Senate: Booker (D) 48%, Bell (R) 35%

Democrat Cory Booker, running for reelection after less than a year in office, holds a double-digit lead over Republican challenger Jeff Bell in New Jersey’s U.S. Senate race.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely New Jersey Voters finds Booker with 48% support to Bell’s 35%. Four percent (4%) prefer some other candidate, and 13% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 750 Likely Voters in New Jersey was conducted on June 17-18, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

39% Think U.S. Should Welcome All Immigrants Who Are Willing to Work Hard

Americans have mixed feelings about potential immigrants to this country and still tend to prefer those who can best help the economy. They also continue to believe that immigrants from countries with terrorist activity should get closer scrutiny.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 39% of American Adults believe the United States should welcome all potential immigrants, other than national security threats, who are willing to work hard and able to support their family. That’s up a bit from 36% a year ago. But slightly more (43%) still disagree with a policy that welcoming. Eighteen percent (18%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on June 11-12, 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.

55% Expect Government Spending to Go Up Under Obama

Most voters still think government spending will increase under President Obama, but the number who expect tax hikes during the remainder of his second term remains at its recent low. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 37% of Likely U.S. Voters expect their own personal taxes to go up under the Obama administration. That is unchanged from March and ties the lowest level measured since November 2012. A year ago, 47% expected taxes to increase. Still, just nine percent (9%) now expect their taxes to go down under Obama, while 44% predict that they will stay about the same. (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 June 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.

31% Favor Increasing Legal Immigration If Border Is Secured

Americans are slightly more supportive of increasing the number of legal immigrants allowed into the United States if the federal government can fully secure the border first to prevent future illegal immigration. But most still want to decrease legal immigration or keep it about the same.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 31% of American Adults now think the government should increase the number of immigrants allowed to legally enter the country if it actually secures the border and prevents illegal immigration. That’s up from 26% a year ago. 

But nearly as many (29%) want to decrease the level of legal immigration instead, while another 29% prefer to leave things unchanged. This compares to 38% who wanted to decrease legal immigration in May of last year and 24% who felt things should stay the same. (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 Adults nationwide was conducted on June 11-12, 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.

Voters List Economy, Health Care, Spending As Top Issues

The economy continues to be the top issue on voters’ minds, but government spending has now worked its way into the top three on the list of 15 major issues regularly tracked by Rasmussen Reports.

Seventy-two percent (72%) of Likely U.S. Voters say the economy is Very Important in terms of how they will vote in the next congressional election, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. (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 and Facebook.

The surveys of 1,000 Likely Voters each were conducted on June 4-5, 8-9 and 10-11, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error for each survey 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% Favor U.S. Airstrikes in Iraq to Fight al Qaeda

As the Obama administration deliberates on how to respond to the rapidly escalating insurgency in Iraq, several Republican lawmakers are calling for U.S. airstrikes. A plurality of U.S. voters support such airstrikes in Iraq, but most agree with the administration’s stance to not put U.S. boots on the ground.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of Likely U.S. Voters favor the United States making military airstrikes in Iraq to help its government fight the al Qaeda-led insurgency. Thirty-two percent (32%) oppose such action. Twenty-two percent (22%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely U.S. Voters was conducted on June 12-13, 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.

Virginia Senate: Warner (D) 53%, Gillespie (R) 36%

Incumbent Democrat Mark Warner has opened up a slightly larger lead over Republican challenger Ed Gillespie in Virginia’s U.S. Senate race.

Warner now picks up 53% of the vote to Gillespie’s 36%, according to a new Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Virginia Voters. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, while nine percent (9%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Virginia was conducted on June 11-12, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

63% View Quick Fixes to Obamacare Unlikely

Voters still doubt the problems with Obamacare will be fixed in the near future but also remain closely divided over how the new health care law will influence their vote in the November congressional election.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 63% of Likely U.S. Voters think it is unlikely that most of the current problems with the health care law will be fixed within the next year. This finding has inched up from 59% in December after the troubled rollout of the law and 60% in February. Thirty-five percent (35%) believe the law is likely to be fixed by then. These findings include 12% who say most of the law’s problems are Very Likely to be fixed within a year and 35% who say it’s Not At All Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

65% Would Rather Be Called A Good Citizen Than A Patriot

Americans would rather be seen as good citizens than patriots and are closely divided on the role of the government in bringing about needed change.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 25% of American Adults rate being a patriot ahead of being a good citizen. Sixty-five percent (65%) would rather be called a good citizen instead. Surveys of likely U.S. voters have found this sentiment on the rise from 52% in May 2010 to 62% two years ago. (To see survey question wording, click here)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 9-10, 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.