Politics

59% Think U.S. Still Lacks Equal Opportunity

Martin Luther King, Jr. preached about a day when men and women of all races would have equal opportunity in America. Most voters still don’t think that day has come, but they’re closely divided over the role the federal government has played in the process. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 27% of Likely U.S. Voters think America has reached a day of equal opportunity for all. Fifty-nine percent (59%) disagree and say the country has not yet achieved equal opportunity. Thirteen percent (13%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here).

Special Offer: Rasmussen Reader is now just $24.95 for a subscription through December 31, 2014. Sign up today!

(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 survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 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.

10% Think Race Relations Better Since Obama Elected

Voters think America’s a better place since Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous “I have a dream” speech 50 years ago this week, but nearly nine-out-of-10 say race relations have gotten worse or remained about the same since the election of the nation’s first black president.

Sixty-nine percent (69%) of Likely U.S. Voters think race relations in this country are better today than they were 50 years ago. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 13% think those relations are worse today, while just as many (15%) say race relations are about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here). 

Special Offer:  Rasmussen Reader is now just $24.95 for a subscription through December 31, 2014. Sign up today!

How did you do in this summer’s Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard.

(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 survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 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.

45% of GOP Voters Think It's Very Important Party Leaders Work With Tea Party

Though most voters in general believe the Tea Party has less influence these days, most Republicans say it’s important for the congressional GOP to work with the grass roots movement. Fifty-four percent (54%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe the Tea Party has become less influential over the past year, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twenty-five percent (25%) say the movement has become more influential, while nearly as many (22%) are undecided.  These findings are similar to those found in January. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Special Offer: Rasmussen Reader is now just $24.95 for a subscription through December 31, 2014. Sign up today!

Win an iPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge!

(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 Facebook.

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

42% of Republicans Like Shutdown Strategy to Stop Funding of Health Care Law

Republicans tend to think a GOP congressional threat to shut down the federal government to halt funding for President Obama’s health care law will be good for their party, but other voters disagree. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely Republican Voters think that threatening to vote against a government funding bill unless it cuts off funds for the health care law will help the GOP. Twenty-eight percent (28%) disagree and believe it will hurt their party. Fourteen percent (14%) say it will have no impact, and 16% aren’t sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Special Offer: Rasmussen Reader is now just $24.95 for a subscription through December 31, 2014. Sign up today!

Win an iPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge!

(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 August 25-26, 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.

Voters Remain Conflicted About Manning's, Snowden's Actions

Voters rate the damage done to U.S. national security by recently convicted Army intelligence analyst Bradley Manning and former government contractor Edward Snowden as about even, but a sizable number are undecided. When asked to compare the two, 31% of Likely U.S. Voters believe Snowden’s release of information about the National Security Agency’s domestic surveillance activities hurt national security more, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Nearly as many (27%) believe Manning's leaking of a massive number of secret documents to the WikiLeaks website did more damage to the country's security. But a plurality (42%) is not sure which action was more harmful. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Win an iPad: A new Rasmussen Challenge starts tomorrow!

(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 August 21-22, 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. 

31% Favor More Military Help to Syrian Rebels If Chemical Weapons Charges Are True

U.S. voters continue to show little interest in getting involved in the civil war in Syria despite new allegations that the Syrian government may have used chemical weapons against civilians. Just 31% of Likely U.S. Voters think the United States should provide increased military assistance to protect the citizens of Syria if it is confirmed that the Syrian government used chemical weapons. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that slightly more (37%) remain opposed to increased U.S. military assistance even if the use of chemical weapons is confirmed, while 33% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Win an iPad: A new Rasmussen Challenge starts tomorrow!

Special Offer: Rasmussen Reader is now just $24.95 for a subscription through December 31, 2014. Sign up today!

(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 August 23-24, 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.

51% Believe Manning Should Have to Serve Entire Sentence

Chelsea Manning, formerly known as Bradley, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for releasing classified government documents to the website WikiLeaks. A plurality of voters says that punishment is about right and half believe there shouldn’t be a possibility of parole.

Forty-two percent (42%) of Likely Voters believe the 35-year sentence handed down to Manning is about right, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. But one in three voters (32%) says the sentence is not severe enough. Nineteen percent (19%) consider the punishment too severe. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

It should be noted that Rasmussen Reports conducted the poll prior to Manning announcing she identifies as a female and used her original name in the question wording.

Special Offer: Rasmussen Reader is now just $24.95 for a subscription through December 31, 2014. Sign up today!

How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard.

(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 national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 21-22, 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.

Many Voters Still Doubt Legitimacy of Town Hall Protests

When members of Congress head home for August recess, most voters think they should use town hall meetings in their districts as a way to hear the views of their constituents.  But voters have mixed feelings about the motives behind those who speak out at these meetings.

Eighteen percent (18%) of Likely Voters have already attended or are likely to attend a town hall meeting with a congressman during this month’s recess, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Seventy-six percent (76%) haven’t or don’t plan on doing so. (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 survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 17-18, 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.

52% Support Required Uniform Cameras For Police Officers

A federal judge last week ruled that New York City Police Department’s stop-and-frisk policy violates the rights of minorities and suggested a trial program that would require on-duty police officers to wear uniform cameras, a practice already utilized in some areas of the country. Just over half of voters nationwide like the idea of police officers wearing cameras but a plurality thinks it wouldn’t have much impact on crime.  Voters are also more likely to view racial profiling as a civil rights violation.

Fifty-two percent (52%) of Likely Voters believe police officers should be required to wear uniform cameras while on duty, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twenty-eight percent (28%) oppose this requirement, while another 20% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Special Offer:   Rasmussen Reader is now just $24.95 for a subscription through December 31, 2014. Sign up today!

Win an iPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge!

(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 Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 19-20, 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.

46% Have A Favorable View of Vice President Biden

Voters remain evenly divided on their views of Vice President Joe Biden, but most Democrats continue to see him in a favorable light.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of Likely Voters have at least a somewhat favorable impression of Biden, while 47% view him unfavorably.  But only 19% have a Very Favorable opinion of the Democrat from Delaware, compared to 30% with a Very Unfavorable one.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Special Offer: Rasmussen Reader is now just $24.95 for a subscription through December 31, 2014. Sign up today!

Win an iPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge!

(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 Facebook.

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

18% Say U.S. Should Continue Military Aid to Egypt

As the death toll continues to rise in Egypt, most voters don’t think the United States should continue to provide military and financial aid to the country. Belief among U.S. voters that Egypt will become a peaceful and democratic nation in the near future has diminished since the Arab Spring in 2011.

Just 18% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the United States should continue providing military and financial aid to Egypt, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-four percent (54%) say the United States should not continue this aid. Another 27% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Special Offer: Rasmussen Reader is now just $24.95 for a subscription through December 31, 2014. Sign up today!

Win an iPad: A new Rasmussen Challenge starts tomorrow!

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

82% Say U.S. Not Winning War on Drugs

Americans continue to overwhelmingly believe the so-called war on drugs is failing, but they are more divided on how much the United States should be spending on it.

Just four percent (4%) of American Adults believe the United States is winning the war on drugs, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Eighty-two percent (82%) disagree. Another 13% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Special Offer: Rasmussen Reader is now just $24.95 for a subscription through December 31, 2014. Sign up today!

(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 Facebook.

The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on August 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.

52% Recognize U.S. Spends More on Defense Than Any Other Nation

More voters than ever believe that the United States is not spending enough on the military and national security, but they are also less aware of how much the country actually spends in this area.

Thirty-one percent (31%) of Likely Voters believe the United States does not spend enough on the military and national security, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just as many (30%) say the United States spends too much in this area, while another 31% say the amount spent is about right. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Special Offer:  Rasmussen Reader is now just $24.95 for a subscription through December 31, 2014. Sign up today!

(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 Facebook.

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

New Low: 39% Think U.S. Elections Are Fair

Belief that U.S. elections are fair continues to fall and has now reached its lowest level in nine years of surveys.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 39% of Likely U.S. Voters now believe American elections are fair to voters. That’s down only one point from May, but prior to that survey, the finding has run in the high 40s and low 50s in surveys since September 2004. Forty-four percent (44%) say U.S. elections are not fair, while 17% more are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Special Offer:   Rasmussen Reader is now just $24.95 for a subscription through December 31, 2014. Sign up today!

How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 11-12, 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.

47% Think a Randomly Selected Group Could Do a Better Job Than Congress

More voters than ever now believe a group of people randomly selected from the phone book could do a better job addressing the nation’s problems than the current Congress. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 47% of Likely U.S. Voters think such a randomly selected group could do a better job than Congress, up two points from May and matching the highest finding in regular surveying for nearly five years. One-in-three (33%) disagree and do not think a randomly selected group could do a better job. Twenty percent (20%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Special Offer:  Rasmussen Reader is now just $24.95 for a subscription through December 31, 2014. Sign up today!

(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 Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 11-12, 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.

Democrats Tend to Identify More with Their Congress Members Than GOP Voters Do

Thirty-eight percent (38%) of Republican voters think the average Republican in Congress shares their views, while 45% of Democrats believe the average congressional Democrat is about the same as they are. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 25% of Likely GOP Voters think the average congressional Republican is more conservative than the average Republican voter. Thirty percent (30%) think the average Republican in Congress is more liberal than the average GOP voter. 

Twenty-three percent (23%) of Likely Democratic Voters think the average congressional Democrat is more conservative than the average voter in their party, while 22% say that member of Congress is more liberal. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

Win an iPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge!

(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 Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 11-12, 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% of GOP Voters Think Republicans in Congress Should Put Working with Obama First

Most Republican voters continue to think their representatives in Congress are not listening to them and feel overwhelmingly that they should stand up for what the GOP believes in. Most Democrats like the job their congressional representatives are doing. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 65% of Likely Republican Voters think Republicans in Congress have lost touch with GOP voters from throughout the nation over the last several years. Just 24% think their legislators have done a good job of representing Republican values. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Win an iPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge!

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 11-12, 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 11% Think NSA Less Likely Now to Monitor Phone Calls of Innocent Americans

President Obama in a press conference on Friday announced tighter restrictions on the National Security Agency’s domestic surveillance program, but most voters still don’t trust the government to protect their constitutional rights. Very few expect the program to cut back on monitoring the phone calls of innocent Americans. 

Despite the president’s pronouncement of greater “transparency,” only 11% of Likely U.S. Voters think it is now less likely that the federal government will monitor the private phone calls of ordinary Americans. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 30% believe it is more likely now that the government will monitor these calls, while 49% expect the level of surveillance to remain about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Win an iPad: A new Rasmussen Challenge starts tomorrow!

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 9-10, 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.

31% Think Internet Has Had Bad Influence on U.S. Politics

Americans are becoming even less enthused about the Internet’s influence on American culture, politics and journalism.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 31% now say the Internet’s impact on American culture overall has been good for the country, down from 37% in April.  Twenty-nine percent (29%) think the Internet’s impact on American culture has been bad for the nation, while 30% say neither. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge?   Check the leaderboard.

 (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 orFacebook.

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

24% Think Americans Selfish For Putting Economy Ahead of Global Warming

Voters remain concerned about global warming, but they still express more urgency about the economy and don’t feel selfish for doing so.

When given a choice, 67% of Likely U.S. Voters say creating jobs is more important than taking steps to stop global warming, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twenty-four percent (24%) say taking action on global warming is more important. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

How did you do in the Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard. 

(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 August 5-6, 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.