If it's in the News, it's in our Polls. Public opinion polling since 2003.

Public Content

Most Recent Releases

White letter R on blue background
November 8, 2011

Obama 44%, Perry 35%

Texas Governor Rick Perry continues to trail President Obama in a hypothetical Election 2012 matchup.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds Obama earning support from 44% of Likely Voters, while Perry receives 35% of the vote.

(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 November 5-6, 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.

November 8, 2011

Voters Are Angry, Especially at Congress and Bailed-Out Banks

There’s a lot of anger in America today, but voters seem to reserve a special place in hell for Congress and the large banks bailed out by the federal government.

Rasmussen Reports in its latest national telephone survey asked Likely U.S. Voters how angry they are at five segments of society regularly in the news, and most voters expressed at least some anger at all of them. But the intensity of that anger was strongest for Congress and the bailed-out banks.

(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 November 5-6, 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.

White letter R on blue background
November 8, 2011

Andy Rooney Was Really Real By Froma Harrop

It was odd becoming a personal friend of Andy Rooney so late in his life and so far into my own. I'd seen him on "60 Minutes" for all 33 years, first while sitting on the rug in my parents' house. Through one of Andy's close friends and neighbors, I actually got to know him 10 years ago. To answer the question, "Was Andy really like that?" I say, "Yes, totally."

November 8, 2011

Just 33% Confident They’ll Get All Their Promised Medicare Benefits

Most voters still have a favorable opinion of Medicare but aren’t confident that they will get all their promised benefits. However, most also aren’t willing to pay more in taxes to make sure those benefits are covered.

White letter R on blue background
November 7, 2011

Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 44%, Democrats 37%

Republicans hold a seven-point advantage over Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending Sunday, November 6.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election was held now, while 37% would choose the Democrat instead.

November 7, 2011

New Low: 35% of Workers Plan on Staying At Current Company for More Than Five Years

Though a plurality of American workers still believes staying at their current company offers the best opportunity for career advancement, fewer plan on staying at that company for the long term.

White letter R on blue background
November 7, 2011

Obama 44%, Gingrich 38%

President Obama now holds just a single-digit lead over former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in a hypothetical Election 2012 matchup.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds the president earning 44% support, while Gingrich picks up 38% of the vote.

(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 November 3-4, 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.

November 7, 2011

36% Say Wall Street Protesters Represent Views of Mainstream America, 44% Disagree

Voters tend to view the Occupy Wall Street protesters negatively and regard their views as liberal and out of step with mainstream America. They’re almost evenly divided over whether the protesters genuinely want to change the system or just want a bailout of their own.

Thirty-three percent (33%) of Likely U.S. Voters hold a favorable view of the protesters, while 43% regard them unfavorably, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twenty-four percent (24%) are undecided.

(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 November 3-4, 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.

White letter R on blue background
November 7, 2011

Scott Rasmussen Interviews the Weekly Standard's Jay Cost

During the Rasmussen Report on radio, Scott Rasmussen interviewed Jay Cost of the Weekly Standard.  Cost argued that conservatives need to gain control of the Republican presidential nomination process if they want a conservative nominee. But first, they need to play the game of politics by today's rules.

White letter R on blue background
November 7, 2011

Can Cain Keep Flouting the Cardinal Rules of Politics? By Michael Barone

Herman Cain, beleaguered by charges of sexual harassment, was all over Washington last week -- an odd choice of venue, considering that the Iowa precinct caucuses are now just 58 days away and the New Hampshire primary 65.

But as I learned when I sat next to Cain Friday morning during a long-scheduled taping of Richard Carlson's "Danger Zone" radio program, Cain seemed unfazed.

In conversation before the taping he dismissed the controversy. "No documentation. No witnesses. And I didn't cancel a single event this week" -- although his wife Gloria, accompanying him for the first time, cancelled an interview with Fox News' Greta Van Susteren.

November 7, 2011

New Low: 39% Favor Tougher Prosecution for Hate Crime Suspects

Most Americans continue to think the government is too worried about the concerns of minorities in this country, and support for so-called “hate crime” laws has fallen to its lowest level ever.

White letter R on blue background
November 6, 2011

51% Still Think Obama's More Liberal Than They Are

Half of voters still believe President Obama is more ideologically liberal than they are, but fewer feel that way than ever before. At the same time, the number of voters who regard the Democratic agenda in Congress as extreme is at the lowest point in over a year.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters shows that 51% believe the president is more politically liberal than they are. Only 12% think he’s more conservative.

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 1-2, 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.

November 5, 2011

Only 27% Think Daylight Saving Time Saves Energy

Americans will gain an hour of sleep tonight, but a plurality of Americans don't think Daylight Saving Time (DST) saves energy as intended.
 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 27% of American Adults think DST is an effective way to save energy. Forty-three percent (43%) disagree, while another 29% 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 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 2-3, 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.

White letter R on blue background
November 5, 2011

Jobs Up, But Not Enough By Lawrence Kudlow

Despite some modest improvements in the jobs picture with the release of today’s Labor Department report, I would guard against any irrational overexuberance that problems with employment or the economy are being solved.

White letter R on blue background
November 5, 2011

Bloomberg vs. Occupy Wall Street By Joe Conason

Americans listen when Michael Bloomberg speaks, not only because he is the mayor of New York City, but because he is a self-made billionaire and a smart guy. People think Bloomberg knows a lot about business and investment, which he surely does.

November 4, 2011

60% Say Profiling Necessary in Today’s Society

Most Americans still believe in the need for profiling and feel it should be used to determine who is searched at airports.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 60% of American Adults say profiling - the use of factors such as race, ethnicity and overall appearance to determine the subjects of security checks - is necessary in today’s society.  Twenty-seven percent (27%) disagree and feel profiling is an unnecessary violation of civil rights.  Another 13% are not sure.

(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 October 29-30, 2010 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.

November 4, 2011

41% Concerned Tax Reform Proposals Will Not Generate Enough Money

Several Republican presidential hopefuls are proposing major tax reform initiatives, but voters worry about how much money those proposals will generate.

November 4, 2011

Just 18% Say America Better Off Than Five Years Ago

An overwhelming majority of Americans don't think the nation is better off today than it was five years ago, but most would still choose to live here over anywhere else.
 
 The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Adults shows that only 18% believe America is better off today than it was five years ago.

The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 2-3, 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.

November 4, 2011

23% Have Already Started Holiday Shopping

There’s still three weeks to go before Thanksgiving, but nearly one-out-of-four Americans have already begun their holiday gift shopping.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 23% have started their holiday gift shopping, while most (73%) have not. Only four percent (4%) have already finished their holiday gift shopping.

(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 nationwide was conducted on November 2-3, 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.

White letter R on blue background
November 4, 2011

Lessons from History: Don't Be Too Quick to Pull Down The Curtain By Larry J. Sabato

Over the decades, in every fourth year, we have noticed a tendency to close out the presidential nominating contest before the voting has even begun. There is a little of this impatience on display in 2011, too. It is only natural since the campaigns are nearly eternal. "Enough already!" many seem to be shouting.