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38% Rate Obama Positively on National Security

Despite the United States' growing involvement in headline-grabbing areas like Gaza and Ukraine, voters continue to give mediocre reviews to President Obama's handling of national security issues.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 38% of Likely U.S. Voters now think the president is doing a good or excellent job in the area of national security, but slightly more (41%) still rate his performance as poor. That's generally in line with findings for the past year. A year ago, Obama earned positives of 40% and a negative of 35% for his national security dealings. (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 July 21-22, 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.

New Mexico Governor: Martinez (R) 43%, King (D) 43%

Incumbent Republican Susana Martinez is tied with Democratic challenger Gary King in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at the governor’s race in New Mexico.

A new statewide telephone survey of Likely New Mexico Voters finds Martinez and King each with 43% support. Seven percent (7%) like some other candidate, and another seven percent (7%) 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 860 Likely Voters in New Mexico was conducted on July 21-22, 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.

47% Rate Obama's Handling of Health Care As Poor

Even as Obamacare's troubled rollout process is surrounded by new allegations of fraud, nearly half of voters view President Obama's handling of health care issues negatively.  

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 38% of Likely U.S. Voters give the president good or excellent marks for his dealings with health care. But 47% rate Obama’s handling of health care issues as poor. This marks a negative shift from June and are Obama's worst numbers since April of this year.  (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 July 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.

26% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Twenty-six percent (26%) 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 July 20.

This is up one point from the previous two weeks, the lowest finding since the beginning of December. The number who say the country is heading in the right direction has been less than 30% 21 out of 29 weeks this year.

(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 July 14-20, 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.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 39%, Republicans 39%

Democrats and Republicans are now tied on the latest Generic Congressional Ballot.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending July 20 finds that 39% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, and the same number (39%) would choose the Republican instead. The last time the two parties were even was in March.

(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 from July 14-July 20, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Voters Are Less Hot for Obamacare Repeal But Still Think It May Be Coming

Voters still expect Republicans to repeal Obamacare if they take control of Congress in November, but they’re slightly more sympathetic now to a piece-by-piece approach to changing the law rather than a total overhaul.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 20% of Likely U.S. Voters now rate the new national health care law as a success, while 42% view it as a failure. Thirty-four percent (34%) see it as somewhere in between the two. (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 July 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.

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending July 19, 2014

These are not happy times for President Obama and his party, although it’s far from clear if Republicans can capitalize on that.

Voters Still Put Economic Growth Ahead of Economic Fairness

Half of voters continue to believe that there is a conflict between economic growth and fairness, and most still consider the former to be more important. However, the number who consider fairness more important continues to inch up.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 79% of Likely U.S. Voters believe that policies that encourage economic fairness are at least somewhat important, with 49% who think they are Very Important. Fifteen percent (15%) rate policies that encourage economic fairness as 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 July 15-16, 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.

25% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

For the second week in a row, 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 July 13. 

That's the lowest finding since the beginning of December. The number who say the country is heading in the right direction has been less than 30% for 20 out of 28 weeks this year.

(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 July 7-July 13, 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.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 39%, Republicans 38%

Democrats now hold a one-point lead over Republicans on the latest Generic Congressional Ballot.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending July 13 finds that 39% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 38% would choose the Republican instead.

Democrats led by three - 41% to 38% - the week before and have been ahead for most weeks this year, with support ranging from 38% to 42%. Support for the GOP has ranged from 35% to 41% since January 1. Republicans led Democrats 39% to 38% a year 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 from July 7-July 13, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Favorables for Obamacare Tie Low for the Year

Favorable views of the national health care law now tie their low for the year, but more voters than ever say the law has had no impact on them.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 39% of Likely U.S. Voters share a favorable opinion of the health care law, while 54% view it unfavorably. This includes 13% with a Very Favorable opinion and 38% 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 July 11-12, 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.

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending July 12, 2014

Americans are registering a lot of pessimism these days and clearly are wondering what’s going on along the Mexican border.

South Carolina Senate: Graham (R) 49%, Hutto (D) 30%

Senator Lindsey Graham easily turned back several challengers in South Carolina’s Republican primary last month and now looks comfortably on the path to reelection.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely South Carolina Voters finds Graham with 49% support to Democrat Brad Hutto’s 30%. Ten percent (10%) like some other candidate, and 11% 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 750 Likely Voters in South Carolina was conducted on July 9-10, 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.

51% Give Obama Poor Marks on Government Spending

Criticism of President Obama's handling of government spending is at its highest level in a year-and-a-half.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone surveys find that 33% of Likely U.S. Voters give the president good or excellent marks in the area of government spending. That's down two points from June and his lowest positives in this area since last September. But just over half (51%) now rate the president's performance as poor when it comes to spending, the highest negative since regular surveying began in January of last year. (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 July 7-8, 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.

Louisiana Senate: Landrieu (D) 46%, Cassidy (R) 43%

Incumbent Democrat Mary Landrieu now has a narrow edge over Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy in Louisiana’s U.S. Senate race. Landrieu picks up 46% of the vote to Cassidy’s 43%, according to a new Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Louisiana Voters. Five percent (5%) like some other candidate in the race, while six percent (6%) 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 750 Likely Voters in Louisiana was conducted on July 8-9, 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.

New Low: 29% Think America’s Best Days Still Lie Ahead

Fewer voters than ever think the nation’s best days are still to come.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 29% of Likely U.S. Voters think America’s best days are in the future, down four points from 33% in April and the lowest finding in regular surveying for nearly eight years. More than half (52%) of voters believe the country’s best days are behind us, up from 48% in April. This ties October’s recent high and is one of the few times this figure has passed the 50% mark.  Eighteen percent (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.

The national telephone survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on July 7-8, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey 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.

25% Say U.S. Heading in 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 July 6.

This is down one point from 26% the week before and is the lowest finding this year. Voters haven't been this pessimistic since the beginning of last December. The number who say the country is heading in the right direction has been less than 30% for 19 out of 27 weeks this year.

(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 30-July 6, 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.

36% Rate Obama Positively on the Economy

Like his daily job approval ratings, President Obama's performance reviews for his handling of the economy and national security remain at levels seen for most of his time in office.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 36% of Likely U.S. Voters now say the president is doing a good or excellent job handling economic issues. Forty-four percent (44%) rate him poorly in this area. (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 July 6, 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.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 41%, Republicans 38%

For the third week in a row, Democrats lead Republicans by two points on the Generic Congressional Ballot. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending Sunday, June 29, finds that 40% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 38% would choose the Republican instead.

This is unchanged from the week before. Democrats have been ahead for most weeks this year, with support ranging from 38% to 42%. Support for the GOP has ranged from 35% to 41% since January 1.  Democrats led Republicans 40% to 39% a year 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 from June 16-22, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology. 

51% Remain Opposed to Obamacare’s Individual Mandate

Opposition to the health care law’s requirement that every American have health insurance remains at its highest level this year, but more people also report that someone in their family has signed up for insurance through a new health care exchange.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 39% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the government should require every American to buy or obtain health insurance. Fifty-one percent (51%) disagree and oppose this so-called individual mandate. (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 July 6, 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.