What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls: Week of March 29
Many Americans may not be able to pinpoint Ukraine on a map, but that Eastern European nation is driving U.S. foreign policy these days and keeping President Obama on the go.
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March 29, 2014
March 28, 2014
44% View Secretary of State Kerry Favorably
Voters' views of Secretary of State John Kerry have changed little since he was nominated to the Cabinet post 15 months ago.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters view Kerry at least somewhat favorably, while 46% share an unfavorable view of him. This includes 12% with a Very Favorable regard for the former senator and 2004 Democratic presidential candidate and 28% with a Very Unfavorable one. (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 March 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.
March 28, 2014
In Midterm Campaign, Bill Clinton Urges Democrats to Embrace Health Care Reform By Joe Conason
Defending the Affordable Care Act in his memorable nominating speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, Bill Clinton did as he often advises his party's elected officials: Don't run away from the argument; confront it directly instead. During his own political career, the former president has done both.
March 28, 2014
New Low: Just 24% Think Economy Will Be Stronger in a Year
Short-term optimism about the nation's economic recovery has reached an all-time low.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just one-in-four American Adults (24%) now think the U.S. economy will be stronger a year from now, down nine points from October and the lowest finding in over six years of regular surveying. Nearly twice as many (46%) expect a weaker economy in a year’s time, up from 41% in the previous survey. Twenty-two percent (22%) think the economy will remain 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 Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on March 25-26, 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.
March 28, 2014
65% Favor Continued U.S. Involvement in NATO
President Obama was in Europe this week seeking support for stronger action against Russia in the wake of its annexation of Crimea. U.S. voters consider America's relationship with Europe to be highly important and feel more strongly than ever in the need for the United States to belong to the NATO alliance.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 92% of Likely U.S. Voters rate America's relationship with Europe as important, with 61% who say it is Very Important. Just four percent (4%) consider the relationship not very or Not At All Important. (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 March 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.
March 28, 2014
Obama's 'Flexibility' Leads to a Dangerous World By Michael Barone
"This is my last election," President Obama said in words caught on an open mic. "After my election, I have more flexibility."
March 28, 2014
20% See Obama’s Leadership Style As Too Confrontational
President Obama continues to get mixed reviews for his leadership abilities, but voters are less inclined to see him as being too confrontational.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 44% of Likely Voters rate the president good or excellent as a leader. Forty percent (40%) give Obama’s leadership a poor rating. (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 March 20-21, 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.
March 27, 2014
18% Think U.S. Public Schools Provide World-Class Education
Confidence in U.S. public schools to provide students a world-class education continues to fall.
Sixty-five percent (65%) of Likely U.S. Voters still believe that a “world-class education is the single most important factor in determining whether our kids can compete for the best jobs and whether America can out-compete countries around the world.” A new Rasmussen Reports national survey finds that just 22% disagree with this view expressed by President Obama. Thirteen percent (13%) 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 Likely Voters was conducted on March 24-25, 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.
March 27, 2014
Americans Still Like Ford Better Than Chrysler, GM
Ford, the one Big Three automaker who didn't take a federal bailout, is still better liked than General Motors and Chrysler, and a sizable number of Americans continue to say their buying patterns are dictated by those bailouts.
Sixty-eight percent (68%) of American Adults still have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of Ford, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twenty-three percent (23%) have an unfavorable opinion. This includes 25% with a Very Favorable opinion of the company, and six percent (6%) with a Very Unfavorable one. (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 March 23-24, 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.
March 27, 2014
Iowa Senate: Braley (D) 41%, Jacobs (R) 38%
Democratic Congressman Bruce Braley holds a slight lead over his three top Republican challengers in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at the 2014 U.S. Senate race in Iowa.
A new statewide telephone survey of Likely Iowa Voters finds Braley with a 41% to 38% lead over businessman Mark Jacobs. He leads State Senator Joni Ernst 40% to 37% and runs four points ahead – 40% to 36% – of former U.S. Attorney Matt Whitaker. Braley posts a 13-point lead – 44% to 31% – over another GOP contender, conservative talk show host Sam Clovis.
(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 March 24-25, 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.
March 27, 2014
Two-Track Minds on Security and Privacy By Froma Harrop
The first shocking headlines after Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared revealed that two men had boarded with stolen passports. "Stark evidence of security gap," blared The Christian Science Monitor.
It appears that illegal immigration, not terrorism, was the two Iranians' intention. But media and governments across the globe shook their heads wildly that an airport security system had failed to check an international database for stolen passports.
March 27, 2014
Putting Their Eggs in the Wrong Midterm Basket By Geoffrey Skelley
Barring significant changes in group voting habits, many commentators have argued that “The Coalition of the Ascendant” is positioned to give Democrats a notable edge in elections in the near future. There may be some truth to that supposition: The country is clearly getting more diverse, and nonwhite voters tend to vote strongly Democratic.
March 27, 2014
32% Say It’s a Good Time to Sell a Home
A third of Americans continue to say now is a good time for someone to sell a home where they live, but just half think buying a home is a family's best investment.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 32% of American Adults think now is a good time for someone in their area to sell a house. That’s unchanged from February and remains down from September’s all-time high of 39%. Forty-six percent (46%) don’t think now is a good time for someone to sell, while 22% 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 American Adults was conducted on March 19-20, 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.
March 26, 2014
29% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction
Twenty-nine percent (29%) 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 March 23.
This finding has held steady for three weeks now but is down from a recent high of 32% a month ago.
(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 March 17-23, 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.
March 26, 2014
What America Thinks About the Missing Plane and Air Travel
Americans have been just as engrossed as the rest of the world in the saga of the missing Malaysian Airlines jetliner. But they overwhelmingly agree that whatever happened to the plane, it won't affect their travel plans, and frequent flyers are even more emphatic about that.
March 26, 2014
43% Say U.S. Justice System Unfair to Most Americans
Americans are now evenly divided when asked if the U.S. justice system is fair.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters think the justice system is fair to most Americans, down just a point from last July but the lowest level of confidence in nearly four years of regular surveying. Just as many (43%) say the justice system is not fair to most Americans, up two points from the previous survey and a new high. Fifteen percent (15%) 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 national telephone survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on March 20-21, 2013. 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.
March 26, 2014
49% Support Religious Exemption from Obamacare’s Contraceptive Mandate
The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday heard a case in which two businesses argued that for religious reasons they should not be required to provide health insurance with free contraceptives for their women employees. Half of voters agree with that position.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 49% of Likely U.S. Voters believe a business should be allowed to opt out of providing coverage for contraceptives if it violates the religious beliefs of the business owner. Forty percent (40%) disagree and say the business should not be allowed to opt out of the requirement contained in the new national health care law. Ten percent (10%) 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 Likely Voters was conducted on March 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.
March 26, 2014
55% View Vladimir Putin Very Unfavorably
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s popularity is surging in Russia, but his ratings in America are at their most negative.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 83% of Likely U.S. Voters have an unfavorable impression of Putin, including 55% who view him Very Unfavorably. Just eight percent (8%) of voters view Putin favorably, with one percent (1%) who view him Very Favorably. Three percent (3%) say they have never heard of him. (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 March 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.
March 25, 2014
Bullies Rule By John Stossel
We're told government protects us, but protectors quickly become bullies.
Take the Food and Drug Administration. It seems like the most helpful part of government: It supervises testing to make sure greedy drug companies don't sell us dangerous stuff.
March 25, 2014
13% Are Very Likely To Buy or Lease a Car This Year
Looks like Americans aren’t in much more of a new car mood than they were last year.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 27% of American Adults think they are at least somewhat likely to buy or lease a new car in the next year. Seventy-one percent (71%) say they aren’t likely to be in the market for a car this year. This includes 13% who are Very Likely to buy or lease a car and 49% who are Not At All Likely to do 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 or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on March 23-24, 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.
