Public Content

Most Recent Releases

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/lifestyle/people/december_2013/looking_back_68_viewed_mandela_favorably/977905-1-eng-US/looking_back_68_viewed_mandela_favorably.jpg" />
                
                            December 6, 2013Looking Back: 68% Viewed Mandela Favorably
Rasmussen Reports asked Americans in February 2011 how they viewed then-92-year-old Nelson Mandela as he faced an earlier health crisis. Most Americans held the iconic South African leader who died Thursday in high regard. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 68% of American Adults shared a favorable opinion of Mandela, with 25% who viewed him Very Favorably. Twenty percent (20%) regarded Mandela unfavorably, but that included just six percent (6%) with a Very Unfavorable opinion. Twelve percent (12%) were 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 January 28-29, 2011 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.
December 6, 2013Obamacare's Architects Plugged Their Ears and Misled Public By Michael Barone
In 1970 the eccentric but insightful economist Albert Hirschman published a book called "Exit, Voice and Loyalty." It explored how people respond when a private firm's or a government agency's performance is deteriorating.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/politics/general_politics/december_2013/52_view_china_as_long_term_threat_to_u_s/977882-1-eng-US/52_view_china_as_long_term_threat_to_u_s.png" />
                
                            December 6, 201352% View China As Long-Term Threat to U.S.
Vice President Joe Biden visited Beijing this week following the latest flare-up of tensions with China, but U.S. voters are less convinced these days that China is a national security threat. They also show little enthusiasm for President Obama’s proposed “Asia pivot,” shifting the focus of U.S. foreign policy from Europe and the Middle East to China and East Asia.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of Likely U.S. Voters still believe China is a long-term threat to the United States, but that’s down from 62% in late September 2011.Twenty-two percent (22%) feel the Asian giant is not a threat to America. But even more (26%) 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 December 4-5, 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.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business/jobs_employment/december_2013/43_expect_to_earn_more_a_year_from_now/977818-1-eng-US/43_expect_to_earn_more_a_year_from_now.jpg" />
                
                            December 6, 201343% Expect To Earn More A Year From Now
President Obama on Wednesday declared that growing income inequality in the United States is "the defining challenge of our time." The number of workers who consider themselves poor is at its highest point this year, but help may be on the way: The number who expect to be earning more a year from now matches its highest level in four-and-a-half years.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that most Employed Adults (68%) still consider themselves to be middle class, with another 15% who say they are upper middle class. Just three percent (3%) consider themselves wealthy. Fourteen percent (14%) now say they are the working poor, up from 13% in October and the highest finding of the year. This finding was at its highest in May 2010, when 22% of workers classified themselves as poor. (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 600 Employed Adults was conducted on December 3-4 2013 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. 

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business/credit/december_2013/19_say_bad_economy_is_making_them_use_credit_cards_more/977735-1-eng-US/19_say_bad_economy_is_making_them_use_credit_cards_more.jpg" />
                
                            December 5, 201319% Say Bad Economy is Making Them Use Credit Cards More
Most Americans think their fellow countrymen use their credit cards too much, but one-in-five say the bad economy makes them do it.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 75% of Adults agree that most Americans need to cut back on credit card use and other borrowing, although that's down 12 points from 87% who felt that way in April 2009. Just seven percent (7%) disagree, while 18% 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. 
This survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 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. 
December 5, 2013Why Republicans Can't Address Rising Inequality By Joe Conason
So far, the Republican response to President Barack Obama's historic address on economic inequality has not veered from the predictable cliches of tea party rhetoric. It was appropriately summarized in a tweet from House Speaker John Boehner, complaining that the Democrat in the White House wants "more government rather than more freedom," ignoring his challenge to Republicans to present solutions of their own.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/lifestyle/holidays/december_2013/71_will_decorate_their_home_for_the_holidays/977651-1-eng-US/71_will_decorate_their_home_for_the_holidays.jpg" />
                
                            December 5, 201371% Will Decorate Their Home for the Holidays
More Americans than ever plan to decorate their homes this holiday season, but most haven't finished the job yet.
Seventy-one percent (71%) of American Adults say they will decorate this year, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. This finding is a seven-point increase from last year  and the highest number of home decorators in surveys for several years. Twenty-one percent (21%) will not decorate this holiday season. Eight percent (8%) haven't made up their minds yet. (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 December 1-2, 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.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business/jobs_employment/december_2013/25_are_looking_for_a_new_job/977613-2-eng-US/25_are_looking_for_a_new_job.jpg" />
                
                            December 5, 201325% Are Looking for a New Job
Fewer workers than ever are willing to commit to their current job.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 25% of Employed Adults are looking for a job outside of their current company, consistent with surveys for much of this year. A sizable majority (64%) still says it’s not looking for a job elsewhere, but that’s down from 72% in October and the lowest finding in regular surveying since the spring of 2009. Ten percent (10%) are undecided whether to look or not. (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 600 Employed Adults was conducted on December 3-4, 2013 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.
December 5, 2013Real Charity By John Stossel
'Tis the season for giving.   

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/december_2013/59_believe_health_law_problems_unlikely_to_be_fixed_in_next_year/977546-1-eng-US/59_believe_health_law_problems_unlikely_to_be_fixed_in_next_year.jpg" />
                
                            December 5, 201359% Believe Health Law Problems Unlikely To Be Fixed in Next Year
Despite assurances from the Obama administration over the weekend that the problems with the federal health insurance exchange website have been fixed, voters need more convincing that Obamacare is on the right track.
Only 37% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it’s at least somewhat likely that the current problems with the new national health care law will be fixed within the next year. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% think that's unlikely. This includes 22% who say it's Very Likely those problems will be fixed in the coming year and 35% who say it's Not At All Likely. (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 December 2-3, 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.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/archive/mood_of_america_archive/right_direction_or_wrong_track/december_2013/25_say_country_is_heading_in_the_right_direction/63618-384-eng-US/25_say_country_is_heading_in_the_right_direction.jpg" />
                
                            December 4, 201325% Say Country is Heading in the Right Direction
Twenty-five percent (25%) 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 December 1.
That's down one point from 26% the previous week. In early October during the federal government shutdown, confidence in the country’s course fell to 13%, the lowest finding in five years. A year ago, 41% said the country was heading in the right direction.
(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 November 25-26 and December 1, 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.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/archive/obama_rotations/48_rate_obama_poorly_on_economy/893754-65-eng-US/48_rate_obama_poorly_on_economy.jpg" />
                
                            December 4, 201348% Rate Obama Poorly on Economy
Positive views of President Obama's economic leadership have fallen to their lowest level in 18 months.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 32% of Likely U.S. Voters now give the president good or excellent marks for his handling of economic issues. These are his lowest positives since June of last year. Nearly half (48%) rate him poorly in this area, the highest level of criticism since August 2012. (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 December 2-3, 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.  

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/december_2013/40_are_less_likely_to_vote_for_an_obamacare_supporter_38_more_likely/977394-1-eng-US/40_are_less_likely_to_vote_for_an_obamacare_supporter_38_more_likely.jpg" />
                
                            December 4, 201340% Are Less Likely to Vote for an Obamacare Supporter, 38% More Likely
Voters say overwhelmingly that the new national health care law is important to how they will vote in the next congressional election, but one-in-three aren’t sure whether their representative in Congress voted for the law or not. Voters are almost evenly divided over how much influence the law will have over their upcoming vote.
Thirty-eight percent (38%) of Likely U.S. Voters say they are more likely for vote for a member of Congress who supports the health care law. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that slightly more (40%) are less likely to vote for an incumbent congressman or congresswoman who supports the law. Fifteen percent (15%) say a member’s position on the law will have no impact on their vote. (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 December 2-3, 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.
December 4, 2013Will Americans Pay for American-Made? by Froma Harrop
Wow, this T-shirt costs only $8. Great color. Problem is, your finger could punch a hole through it. In most Americans' shopping experience, colors change and styles come and go, but there's one constant: low quality and a sweatshop-country label.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business/credit/december_2013/39_say_they_use_their_credit_cards_too_much/977263-1-eng-US/39_say_they_use_their_credit_cards_too_much.jpg" />
                
                            December 4, 201339% Say They Use Their Credit Cards Too Much
One-in-four Americans expects to miss a credit card payment in the near future, but even more admit that they need to cut back on their credit care usage.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 82% of American Adults have at least one credit card, including 38% who have three or more. Forty-four percent (44%) report having one or two credit cards. Sixteen percent (16%) say they don’t have any. (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. 
This survey of 829 Adults nationwide who have at least one credit card was conducted on November 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.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business/credit/december_2013/24_have_had_credit_information_stolen_online/977237-1-eng-US/24_have_had_credit_information_stolen_online.jpg" />
                
                            December 3, 201324% Have Had Credit Information Stolen Online
Most Americans are fairly comfortable using their credit cards online, but one-in-four say they have had information stolen that way.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 70% of American Adults with credit cards say they are at least somewhat comfortable using those cards for online purchases. Twenty-eight percent (28%) don't share that comfort level. This includes 32% who are Very Comfortable using a credit card online and 11% who are Not At All Comfortable. (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. 
This survey of 829 Adults nationwide who have at least one credit card was conducted on December 1-2, 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. 

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business/indexes/rasmussen_employment_index/rasmussen_employment_index_rasmussen_employment_index_jumps_five_points/99886-100-eng-US/rasmussen_employment_index_rasmussen_employment_index_jumps_five_points.jpg" />
                
                            December 3, 2013Rasmussen Employment Index Jumps Five Points
The Rasmussen Employment Index which measures worker confidence rebounded in November after falling to a low for the year in October.
At 85.7, worker confidence is up five points from October, the month of the partial government shutdown, but is still down nearly nine points from this year’s high of 94.4 in May.  Last month marks the highest level of confidence since August and is up seven points from 79.0 this time last year.
Generally speaking, an increase in the Rasmussen Employment Index suggests the upcoming government report on job creation will be stronger than the prior month’s report.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/lifestyle/general_lifestyle/december_2013/48_have_started_holiday_gift_shopping_14_are_finished/977172-1-eng-US/48_have_started_holiday_gift_shopping_14_are_finished.jpg" />
                
                            December 3, 201348% Have Started Holiday Gift Shopping, 14% Are Finished
Black Friday and Cyber Monday have come and gone, and a few more Americans have started - and finished - their holiday shopping.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% of American Adults now have started their shopping for the holidays, up from 37% two weeks ago.  Forty-nine percent (49%) still have not begun yet. (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. 
This survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on December 1-2, 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.
December 3, 2013For Pakistan and the United States, it's one Delusion After Another By Michael Barone
Not many foreign policy experts would argue with the proposition that the country with which the United States has the most problematic relationship is Pakistan.  

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/december_2013/81_favor_repealing_or_changing_health_care_law/977093-1-eng-US/81_favor_repealing_or_changing_health_care_law.jpg" />
                
                            December 3, 201381% Favor Repealing or Changing Health Care Law
Voters overwhelmingly want to change or repeal the new national health care law. One-out-of-two want to scrap it completely and start over again.
Given the problems associated with the law, a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% of Likely U.S. Voters believe Congress and the president should repeal it and start again from the beginning.  That’s up from 43% support in late October. Another 31% think Congress and the president should go through the law piece by piece to improve it.
Just 16% want to leave the law the way it is, down slightly from 18% four weeks ago.  (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 December 1, 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.