Over the past few decades, America has locked up more and more people. Our prison population has tripled. Now we jail a higher percentage of people than even the most repressive countries: China locks up 121 out of every 100,000 people; Russia 511. In America? 730.
Incumbent Democrat Debbie Stabenow is still outrunning her two leading Republican challengers in Michigan’s U.S. Senate race.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Michigan Voters shows Stabenow with 47% support, while businessman Clark Durant picks up 39% of the vote. Four percent (4%) like another candidate in the contest, and 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 500 Likely Voters in Michigan was conducted on July 23, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Slightly more voters now fear the federal government will do too much in response to the troubled economy, but cutting government spending remains a favored option for most.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of Likely U.S. Voters now say, in reacting to the nation’s economic problems, what worries them most is that the federal government will do too much. Forty-three percent (43%) fear the government will not do enough, down from 48% last month. Eleven percent (11%) more are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Michigan voters think the economy is in rough shape, but President Obama continues to lead Mitt Romney in that state.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Michigan Voters shows Obama with 48% support to Romney’s 42%. Five percent (5%) favor some other candidate in the race, and four percent (4%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Michigan was conducted on July 23, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
The presidential race in Nevada is a little tighter this month, with President Obama now leading Mitt Romney by five points in the Silver State.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in Nevada shows the president drawing 50% of the vote to Romney’s 45%. One percent (1%) prefers some other candidate, and four percent (4%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Nevada was conducted on July 24, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Tensions between Israel and Iran are rising again following a terrorist attack against Israeli civilians in Bulgaria, and most Americans think there’s a good chance of a war between the two in the near future. Most also think the United States should help Israel if it attacks Iran.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 61% of Likely U.S. Voters think it is at least somewhat likely that Israel will attack Iran in the next year while just 23% see such an attack as unlikely. Those figures include 22% who think an Israeli attack is Very Likely and only two percent (2%) who say it’s Not At All Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
I'm a well-trained child of the human-less world of customer "support." I don't ask for much. When I need an answer, I first check the FAQs (frequently asked questions). I visit forums to find others discussing similar problems and sometimes offering good advice.
More than half of adults nationwide are likely to watch a large portion of the Summer Olympics that begin this Friday in London, and even more say they feel pride when American athletes do well in the games. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 77% of American Adults say that when U.S. athletes excel in the Olympics, it makes them feel proud to be Americans. Just 15% don’t share this sentiment. (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 July 20-21, 2012 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.
Republicans lead Democrats by three points on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the third week in a row, this time for the week ending Sunday, July 22.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 40% would choose the Democrat instead.
The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from July 9-15, 2012. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage point with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Democrats have a much more optimistic view of the U.S. economy than either Republicans or unaffiliated adults.
Currently, just 36% of Democrats believe the economy is in poor shape, according to new Rasmussen Reports polling. Nearly twice as many Republicans (67%) offer such a pessimistic view. So do 54% of those not affiliated with either major party.
The national telephone survey of 3,500 American Adults was conducted by Rasmussen Reports July 14-20, 2012. 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.
Most Americans are following the news about the horrific movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado last week, but an overwhelming majority doubts that public places can ever be made completely safe from such violence. Support for stricter gun control laws remains basically unchanged.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just nine percent (9%) of American Adults believe public places can be made completely safe against violence like the incident in Colorado. Seventy-nine percent (79%) disagree and say they cannot be made safer. (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 July 20-21, 2012 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.
Most Americans believe entrepreneurs who start businesses do more to create jobs and economic growth than big businesses or government. They also believe overwhelmingly that small business owners work harder than other Americans and are primarily responsible for the success or failure of their businesses.
Seventy-two percent (72%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe that people who start small businesses are primarily responsible for their success or failure. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 13% disagree. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Most voters continue to favor repeal of the president’s health care law, and the belief that repeal is at least somewhat likely is still significantly down from the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of Likely Voters at least somewhat favor repeal of the health care law, including 41% who Strongly Favor repeal. Forty-three percent (43%) oppose repeal, with 35% who are Strongly Opposed. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
This national survey of 1,000 U.S. Likely Voters was conducted on July 21-22, 2012 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.
Incumbent Democrat Bob Casey, Jr. continues to attract support from about half of Pennsylvania voters and holds a significant lead over his Republican rival in the U.S. Senate race.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Pennsylvania Voters shows Casey earning 49% support, while Tom Smith picks up 38% of the vote. Four percent (4%) like another candidate in the race, and nine percent (9%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
This Pennsylvania survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted on July 18, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
This is a tale of two cities. No, not Dickens' phlegmatic London and passionate Paris. Nor the two neighborhoods Charles Murray contrasted in his recent bestseller "Coming Apart" -- prosperous but isolated Belmont (actually, Mitt Romney's home for decades) and needy and disorganized Fishtown.
Most Americans still don’t think it’s a good time for someone in their area to sell their home, and the number who think buying a house is the best investment a family can make has again fallen below 50%.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 17% of American Adults say it’s a good time for someone in their area to sell a house. Still, that's consistent with findings for much of this year so far and slightly higher than findings from 2009 through 2011. Sixty-three percent (63%) disagree and say now is not a good time to sell. Twenty percent (20%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on July 18-19, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Most military veterans don’t like the job President Obama is doing and prefer Mitt Romney in November’s election.
New Rasmussen Reports polling finds that 59% of Likely U.S. Voters who have served in the military favor the Republican challenger, while 35% support the president. Five percent (5%) of these voters like some other candidate in the race, but only two percent (2%) are undecided.
The national telephone survey of 574 Voters who have served in the military was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from July 9-15, 2012. The margin of sampling error for the survey 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.
Nearly half of Americans now think it's too easy to get food stamps, but a majority agrees that tough economic times are driving the demand for them.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 47% of American Adults believe it is too easy to get food stamps in this country. That number has been trending up from 40% in surveys since December 2010. Eighteen percent (18%) think it is too hard to get food stamps, in line with previous surveys. One-in-four (24%) think the level of eligibility is about right, but another 11% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 16-17, 2012 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.
Central to the race between President Obama and Mitt Romney is the question of how big a role the government should play in the economy.
Voters strongly believe that it’s important for the government to create an environment that encourages economic growth and ensures economic fairness, but growth is seen as the higher priority. Most believe Romney champions growth, while Obama is more focused on fairness.
Just over half of voters now expect politics in the nation’s capital to become more partisan, the lowest finding in well over a year.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% of Likely U.S. Voters expect more partisanship in Washington, D.C., over the next year. That’s down from 61% last month and the lowest finding since January 2011.
Nineteen percent (19%) expect politics in the capital to be more cooperative over the next year, the highest finding since March 2011. Twenty-seven percent (27%), however, are not sure what to expect. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 15-16, 2012 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.
