If it's in the News, it's in our Polls. Public opinion polling since 2003.

Public Content

Most Recent Releases

White letter R on blue background
September 18, 2008

Paulson’s Courageous Action By Lawrence Kudlow

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is the man of the hour. This weekend he drew a clear line in the sand: no more federal bailouts. Not for Lehman Brothers. Not for global insurer AIG. Not for Merrill Lynch. Not for anyone, at least as of this writing.

White letter R on blue background
September 17, 2008

First Dude By Susan Estrich

First Dude. That's what they call him in Alaska. It's OK. Todd's Ok. Whatever. He smiles at Greta Van Susteren. Not a touch of noblesse. More like plan old politesse.

White letter R on blue background
September 17, 2008

Just 7% Favor Fed Bailout for Financial Firms

Only seven percent (7%) of voters think the federal government should use taxpayer funds to keep a large financial institution solvent. Sixty-five percent (65%) say let the company file for bankruptcy.

White letter R on blue background
September 17, 2008

Just 23% Say Presidential Campaign More Negative Than Most

Most voters (55%) say the tone of this year’s presidential campaign is about the same as in other recent election years, despite complaints from Barack Obama’s side and some in the media that John McCain has been campaigning negatively.

White letter R on blue background
September 17, 2008

Just Over One-Third Say Palin, McCain, Obama More Ethical Than Most Politicians

Despite both sides running campaigns aimed at changing a climate of special interest corruption in Washington, just over one-third of voters find three of the four major-ticket candidates more ethical than most politicians.

White letter R on blue background
September 16, 2008

Democrats’ Lead Falls to Six on Generic Congressional Ballot

The Democrats’ lead in the Generic Congressional Ballot has fallen slightly for the fourth week in a row. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that, if given the choice, 44% of voters would choose their district’s Democratic candidate, while 38% would choose the Republican candidate.

White letter R on blue background
September 16, 2008

Most Adults Like Idea of Four-Day Work Week

Due largely to high gas prices and rising energy costs, many state and local governments have been seriously considering the idea of a four-day work week for employees. A majority of adults (58%) nationwide think it's a good way to curb the government’s use of energy.

White letter R on blue background
September 16, 2008

Palin 47%, Biden 44% in Make-believe Presidential Match-up

Sarah Palin bests Joseph Biden 47% to 44% in a hypothetical head-to-head match-up for the presidency, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

White letter R on blue background
September 16, 2008

Democrats Face Historic Voter Hurdle

Much has been made this year about how the fundamentals favor the Democrats. An unpopular Republican president, a war that has dragged on beyond the limits of public tolerance, a declining number of people identifying as Republicans and a worrisome economy all set the stage for the Democrats to reclaim the White House.

White letter R on blue background
September 15, 2008

Majority of Voters Say Only McCain, Biden Prepared To Be President

Sixty-three percent (63%) of voters say John McCain is prepared right now to be president, and 50% say the same thing about Democratic vice presidential candidate Joseph Biden. Forty-four percent (44%) say the man at the top of Biden's ticket, Barack Obama, is ready, but 45% say he isn’t.

White letter R on blue background
September 15, 2008

Voters Say No to Obama in McCain’s Cabinet, and Vice Versa

A majority of Americans think it’s a good idea for a president to put members of the opposing political party in his Cabinet, as long as it’s not Barack Obama or John McCain.

White letter R on blue background
September 14, 2008

TV Fans Want Two and a Half Men & House to Win Emmys

This year’s Emmy award nominees for best comedy and drama include old favorites and first-time nominees. But who fans want to win isn’t necessarily who they think will win.

White letter R on blue background
September 14, 2008

TV Fans Select Laurie, Field, Carell and Applegate for Emmys

With this year's Emmy Awards just a week away, TV fans already know who they think will win the top acting awards in dramas and comedies, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

White letter R on blue background
September 14, 2008

Old Enough To Fight, Old Enough To Drink By Debra J. Saunders

At age 18, an American can enlist in the military, vote, sign a contract, get married, have an operation -- hey, in California, a 14-year-old can have an abortion without telling her parents -- but he cannot buy a beer. Not legally, anyway.

White letter R on blue background
September 14, 2008

New Rasmussen Reports Party Weighting Targets: 38.7% Democrat 33.6% Republican

Like all polling firms, Rasmussen Reports weights its data to reflect the population at large. Among other targets, Rasmussen Reports weights data by political party affiliation using a dynamic weighting process.

White letter R on blue background
September 14, 2008

35% Expect McCain Victory, 34% Say Obama Will Win

John McCain's convention and his choice of Sarah Palin as a running mate have moved him from 18 points behind to a one-point lead over Barack Obama when voters are asked who is likely to win this year's presidential election, according to a new Rasmussen reports national telephone survey.

White letter R on blue background
September 13, 2008

McCain Flies His Campaign Past Obama By Michael Barone

John McCain was trained as a fighter pilot. In his selection of Sarah Palin, and in his convention and campaigning since, he has shown that he learned an important lesson from his fighter pilot days: He has gotten inside Barack Obama's OODA loop.

White letter R on blue background
September 13, 2008

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending September 12, 2008

Columnist Larry Kudlow calls it the Sarah surge. With excitement now running high on the Republican side, Barack Obama’s campaign and many in the media are reacting like GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is at the top of the ticket. Whatever the view, it appears that Palin drove the polls last week.

White letter R on blue background
September 13, 2008

A Little Exercise A Day Keeps the Doctor Away

Doctors will tell you that regular exercise is a key to healthy living. A new Rasmussen Reports survey finds that most adults say they heed their doctors’ advice.

White letter R on blue background
September 12, 2008

Most Adults Give Children’s Schools Good or Excellent Ratings

In a speech in Dayton, Ohio last week, Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama told the crowd the failure of Washington to act on education reform is putting our nation in jeopardy. John McCain asked his audience at the Republican National Convention what the value is of equal access to a failing public education system.