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June 24, 2013

62% Say Political Leaders Send U.S. Soldiers in Harm’s Way Too Often

As the United States involves itself more deeply in Syria, most voters continue to believe that American political leaders put U.S. troops in danger too much.  Sixty-two percent (62%) of Likely U.S. Voters think our political leaders send U.S. soldiers into harm’s way too often, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just six percent (6%) say U.S. soldiers aren’t sent in to conflicts enough, while 24% say the balance is about right. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 18-19, 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

June 24, 2013

Just 28% Now Think Feds Likely to Secure Border if Reform Plan Passes

Regardless of what a comprehensive immigration reform plan promises, voters are less confident than ever that the federal government really would secure the border to prevent future illegal immigration.  Still, voters continue to support the concept of comprehensive reform. Sixty percent (60%) of Likely U.S. Voters now favor an immigration plan that gives those here illegally legal status to stay provided the border is really secured to prevent future immigration. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 25% oppose such a plan, while 15% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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(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 June 20-21, 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.

June 24, 2013

Among GOP, Rubio Faves Down 15 Points This Year

Senator Marco Rubio, widely expected to seek the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, has seen his popularity with Republican voters slip in recent months.

Rubio, the most visible advocate of the Senate’s comprehensive immigration reform plan, is now viewed favorably by 58% of Republican voters nationwide. That down 10 points since May and 15 points since February. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 16% of GOP voters have an unfavorable opinion of him, while 25% are undecided. (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 June 20-21, 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.

June 24, 2013

Voters Continue to Strongly Support Consumer Choices in Health Plans

Support remains high for allowing Americans to choose the level of health insurance they want based on how it impacts their pocketbooks. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 81% of Likely U.S. Voters think individuals should have the right to choose between different types of health insurance plans including some with higher deductibles and lower premiums and others with lower deductibles and higher premiums. Just six percent (6%) disagree, while 13% more are undecided. (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 Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 22-23, 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.

June 23, 2013

65% Think Government Should Cut Spending to Help Economy

Concern that the government will do too much to help the economy is at its highest level since last fall.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters are more worried that the federal government will do too much rather than not enough in reacting to the nation’s economic problems. That's up from 39% in March and the highest level of concern since September.  Slightly more (48%) still fear that the government won’t do enough to help the economy.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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(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 June 18-19, 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.

June 22, 2013

42% Are Somewhat Confident Fed Can Keep Inflation Down

The Federal Reserve Board issued a more optimistic analysis of the economy than expected earlier this week, but Americans still don't have much confidence in the Fed to keep inflation under control.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 74% of Americans remain concerned about inflation. That includes 39% who are Very Concerned. Twenty-one percent (21%) are not very or Not At All Concerned. This is generally in line with attitudes for the past year. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 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.

June 22, 2013

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls -- For the Week Ending June 22, 2013

Webster’s Dictionary defines “trust” as “assured reliance on the character, ability, strength or truth of someone or something.” Americans don’t have a lot of it these days as far as the federal government is concerned.

June 21, 2013

45% Give Obama Poor Marks on Health Care

President Obama’s health care reform law has been a point of contention among voters for much of his presidency, and they continue to give the president lukewarm marks for his handling of health care. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 38% of Likely U.S. Voters rate Obama’s handling of health care issues as good or excellent, down from 44% in February and the lowest finding this year. Forty-five percent (45%) score his handling of these issues as poor.  (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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(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 June 14-15, 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.

June 21, 2013

40% Say Supreme Court Is Too Politically Liberal

With the U.S. Supreme Court poised to issue several major end-of-the term rulings, more voters than ever think the justices are too liberal. Overall ratings for the high court are near all-time lows.

Thirty percent (30%) of Likely U.S. Voters say the Supreme Court is doing a good or excellent job, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twenty-four percent (24%) give the court poor marks for its performance. (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 national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 18-19, 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.

June 21, 2013

15% Favor Prosecuting Reporters Who Publish Leaked Information, 68% Disagree

Most Americans believe exposure of the government’s massive secret surveillance effort is likely to have hurt U.S. national security, but they don’t think reporters who reveal secret information should be punished for it. 

Fifty-seven percent (57%) of American Adults think it is at least somewhat likely that public disclosure of the National Security Agency’s phone and e-mail surveillance program has hurt this country’s national security. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 30% feel that’s unlikely.

This includes 21% who believe the disclosure of the surveillance program is Very Likely to have hurt national security and six percent (6%) who say it is Not At All Likely to have done so.  Thirteen percent (13%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

White letter R on blue background
June 21, 2013

The Missing Cows of Mass Destruction By Froma Harrop

Where did the panic over mad cow disease go? Off the front pages, for sure. A few years ago, respected journalists warned of a looming public health disaster as Americans consumed deadly hamburgers. They accused the beef industry and government regulators of colluding to hide the problem of mad cow disease.   

White letter R on blue background
June 21, 2013

An Oregon Study Casts Doubt On Whether Health Insurance Improves Health By Michael Barone

Does having health insurance make people healthier? It's widely assumed that it does.

Obamacare advocates repeatedly said that its expansion of Medicaid would save thousands of lives a year. Obamacare critics seldom challenged the idea that increased insurance coverage would improve at least some people's health.

June 21, 2013

Good Guys Are Hard To Find in NSA Surveillance Story By Scott Rasmussen

While recognizing that it's important to fight terrorism with all of the tools at our disposal, the American people are having a hard time finding good guys in the story about the National Security Agency's surveillance program.

Government officials from the president on down have defended the program and claim it has prevented several terrorist attacks. However, questions have been raised about some of those claims, and just 35 percent of Americans believe the officials are telling the truth. A larger number (45 percent) believe they are just trying to justify the surveillance program now that it's been made public.

June 20, 2013

34% Consider War in Afghanistan Very Important Issue

Peace talks between the United States and the Taliban to end the war in Afghanistan have stalled, but just one-in-three voters see the 12-year-long war as a Very Important voting issue.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 34% of Likely U.S. Voters say the war in Afghanistan is Very Important in terms of how they will vote in the next congressional election. That’s up from 30% in April and the highest level of importance voters have attached to war since last September. By contrast, 80% now rate the economy Very Important to lead the list of 15 major issues regularly tracked by Rasmussen Reports. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 16-17, 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.

June 20, 2013

48% Want Lifetime Ban on Regulators Working For Companies They Oversee

Americans are fed up with the so-called "revolving door." They feel even more strongly that government regulators should be banned entirely from working for the companies they regulate and want more transparency regarding contacts between regulators and members of Congress.

June 20, 2013

55% Disagree With Obama’s Decision to Arm Syrian Rebels

Most voters oppose President Obama’s decision to arm the Syrian rebels and think those weapons are likely to end up in the hands of America’s enemies. Confidence in the administration’s handling of the Syrian situation has fallen to a new low.

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 survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 18-19, 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.  

June 20, 2013

49% Predict Higher Interest Rates Next Year

Most Americans say they are paying about the same amount in interest rates compared to last year, but half now expect those rates to rise over the next year.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 15% of American adults say they are paying higher interest rates than they were last year, the lowest level measured since October.  Nearly as many (14%) are paying lower interest rates compared to last year, while 62% are paying about the same amount.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)  

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 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.

June 19, 2013

29% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Twenty-nine percent (29%) of Likely U.S. Voters now say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, June 16.

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(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 June 10-16, 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.

June 19, 2013

53% Are Confident In Stability of U.S. Banking Industry

Confidence in the stability of U.S. banks is back over 50% again.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 53% of American Adults are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the U.S. banking industry today, although that includes just 10% who are Very Confident. Forty-eight percent (48%) don’t share that confidence, with 10% who are Not At All Confident. (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 June 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.

June 19, 2013

12% See NSA Leaker Snowden As Hero, 21% As Traitor

Americans have decidedly mixed feelings about the whistle-blower who exposed the National Security Agency’s secret domestic surveillance program, but then only one-in-three trusts those who are now defending the program.

Twelve percent (12%) of American Adults view Edward Snowden as a hero. Twenty-one percent (21%) consider the former independent contractor who has admitted leaking information about the NSA’s phone and e-mail surveillance program to be a traitor, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Thirty-four percent (34%) think Snowden falls somewhere in between, while 29% say it’s too early to tell. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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