What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls -- Week Ending September 19, 2014
Do most Americans really know or care about the rest of the world?
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September 20, 2014
September 19, 2014
Georgia Governor: Deal (R) 45%, Carter (D) 44%
The gubernatorial race in Georgia is still neck-and-neck.
Republican Governor Nathan Deal now picks up 45% of the vote to Democratic challenger Jason Carter’s 44% in a new Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Georgia Voters. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate in the race, while eight percent (8%) are undecided. (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 750 Likely Voters in Georgia was conducted on September 15-16, 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.
September 19, 2014
Iowa Senate: Ernst (R) 43%, Braley (D) 43%
The Iowa Senate race remains dead even.
Iowa continues to be a Toss-Up in the Rasmussen Reports 2014 Senate Balance of Power rankings as it has been since June. At stake is the seat held by retiring Democratic Senator Tom Harkin, and Republicans view a win in the state as critical to their hopes of taking control of the Senate. (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 750 Likely Voters in Iowa was conducted on September 17-18, 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.
September 19, 2014
Kansas Senate: Orman (I) 45%, Roberts (R) 40%
The Kansas Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that Democrat Chad Taylor's name should be removed from the ballot, clearing up a situation that could have potentially changed the outcome of the state's U.S. Senate race this November.
Taylor earlier this month withdrew from the race, but the state's Republican secretary of State refused to allow his name to be taken off the ballot. Rasmussen Reports' latest statewide telephone survey of Likely Kansas Voters taken just prior to the court ruling shows how that might have played out.
With Taylor still on the ballot, incumbent Republican Senator Pat Roberts picks up 39% of the vote, while Independent candidate Greg Orman has 38% support. Taylor earns nine percent (9%). Two percent (2%) say they prefer some other candidate in the race, and 12% are undecided. (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 750 Likely Voters in Kansas was conducted on September 16-17, 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.
September 19, 2014
Voters Think Overworked U.S. Troops Will Soon Be Fighting In Iraq
Most voters believe the U.S. military has too many missions these days and think it’s likely that fighting in Iraq will soon be another job for it to do. But while President Obama is reportedly sending 3,500 military personnel to Africa to fight Ebola, voters say patrolling the border to prevent illegal immigration would be a better use for those forces.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 55% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the U.S. military is overstretched these days. Just 31% think the military can adequately handle the number of missions it has. Fourteen percent (14%) 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 September 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.
September 19, 2014
American Amnesia: Why the GOP Leads on National Security by Joe Conason
If the latest polls are accurate, most voters believe that Republican politicians deserve greater trust on matters of national security. At a moment when Americans feel threatened by rising terrorist movements and authoritarian regimes, that finding is politically salient -- and proves that amnesia is the most durable affliction of our democracy.
September 19, 2014
Which Is the Weaker Party? Your Call by Michael Barone
Which of our two great political parties is the stronger? Maybe it makes more sense to ask which of the two is weaker.
September 19, 2014
Americans Say Buying House is Best Investment
Americans continue to say buying a home is a family’s best investment, but they are closely divided over whether now is the opportune time for someone in their area to sell their house.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone surveys finds that 53% of American Adults say that buying a home is a family's best investment. But only 37% say that now is a good time for someone in their area to sell their house, up slightly from the previous two months and consistent with findings for the past year.(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 American Adults was conducted on September 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.
September 18, 2014
Massachusetts Senate: Markey (D) 49%, Herr (R) 31%
Democrat Ed Markey is well ahead in his bid for a full U.S. Senate term in Massachusetts.
A new Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Massachusetts Voters shows Markey with 49% support to 31% for his Republican challenger Brian Herr. However, five percent (5%) prefer some other candidate, and a surprisingly large 15% are undecided. (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 750 Likely Voters in Massachusetts was conducted on September 16-17, 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.
September 18, 2014
Americans Prefer a Homemade Cheeseburger
With September 18 marking National Cheeseburger Day, Americans say they enjoy a burger that’s both homemade and with cheese on top.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 74% of American Adults prefer cheese on their burgers. One-in-four (24%) do not put cheese on their hamburger, while two percent (2%) 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 American Adults was conducted on September 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.
September 18, 2014
Georgia Senate: Perdue (R) 46%, Nunn (D) 41%
Republican David Perdue still runs slightly ahead of Democrat Michelle Nunn in Georgia’s closely watched U.S. Senate race.
The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Georgia Voters shows Perdue picking up 46% of the vote to Nunn’s 41%. Four percent (4%) prefer some other candidate in the race, while nine percent (9%) are undecided. (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 750 Likely Voters in Georgia was conducted on September 15-16, 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.
September 18, 2014
A Rough Month in America for Women By Froma Harrop
Mark Sanford's heralded engagement to Maria Belen Chapur is apparently over. The rep from South Carolina released the news to America through a Facebook post. That's how Chapur found out, too.
September 18, 2014
Only 33% of Americans Can Find Scotland On a Map?
While Great Britain is holding its breath today to see if the Scots vote for independence, most Americans (51%) have no opinion about the referendum and only 33% think most of their fellow countrymen can even locate Scotland on a map.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 30% of American Adults favor Scotland becoming an independent nation rather than remaining part of Great Britain. Nineteen percent (19%) oppose them gaining independence, but half of Americans (51%) are undecided. (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 was conducted on September 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.
September 18, 2014
Senate Ratings Changes: North Carolina, New Hampshire, and Minnesota By Kyle Kondik
Another week is down the drain in the race for the Senate, and while our overall outlook is unchanged — a five to eight seat gain for the GOP — some of our ratings are in need of adjustments.
One of these comes as a surprise, as Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC) is proving to be quite resilient.
September 18, 2014
Voters See ‘War on Women’ As Politics, Not Reality
Most voters don’t consider the so-called “war on women” a war at all but see it as just a political tactic. But women are less convinced than men that they share the same political interests.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 22% of Likely U.S. Voters believe there is really a political “war on women” going on. Fifty-nine percent (59%) say the “war on women” is primarily a slogan used for political purposes instead. But 19% 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 Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 13-14, 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.
September 17, 2014
28% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction
Twenty-six percent (26%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending September 7.
That's up one point from the week before. The number who say the country is heading in the right direction has been below 30% most weeks for the past year. Early last October during the partial federal government shutdown, confidence in the country’s course fell to 13%, the lowest finding in five years.
(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 telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on September 1-7, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
September 17, 2014
Voters Trust Republicans More Than Democrats on Nine Out of 15 Major Issues
Voters continue to put more trust in Republicans than Democrats to handle important policy issues regularly tracked by Rasmussen Reports like the economy and job creation, though they trust Democrats more on other top issues like health care and Social Security.
The economy remains the number one issue in terms of importance for the next election, and the GOP still holds a 44% to 41% lead in voter trust on that issue. Since June 2009, the GOP has led in voter trust on the economy in all but one 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 or Facebook
Three national surveys of 1,000 Likely Voters each were conducted on September 7-8, 11-12 & 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.
September 17, 2014
Wisconsin Governor: Walker (R) 48%, Burke (D) 46%
Wisconsin’s gubernatorial race remains close, but Republican Governor Scott Walker is slightly ahead of his Democratic challenger among voters who say they are certain to vote in the election.
Walker picks up 48% of the vote to Democrat Mary Burke’s 46% in a new Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Wisconsin Voters. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate in the race, while another three percent (3%) are undecided. (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 750 Likely Voters in Wisconsin was conducted on September 15-16, 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.
September 17, 2014
Voters Still Say No to D.C. Statehood
Most voters still don’t think Washington, D.C. should be a state, and they remain closely divided over whether Congress should give up its long-standing veto power over the city’s laws and budget.
The U.S. Constitution designates the nation’s capital as a federal district, not a state, and only 24% of Likely U.S. Voters believe that should be changed. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% oppose statehood for Washington, D.C. Eighteen percent (18%) are undecided. (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 Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 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.
September 17, 2014
Immigration Is American By John Stossel
Conservatives rightly point out that America is a nation of laws. No one should be exempt. That's why many oppose amnesty and other paths to citizenship for illegal immigrants who are here now.
"If they want to be in America," the argument goes, "they ought to return to their own countries and apply for a visa legally. America should not reward law breaking."
That sounds sensible -- but what happens when the immigrant does that, goes to the U.S. embassy and says, I'd like to work in America legally?
