Archive

35% Blame Global Warming on Long-Term Planetary Trends

Though many voters believe there is significant disagreement in the scientific community, global warming advocates seem to be winning the public relations battle with fewer voters than ever who now think it is due to long-term planetary trends. The number who blame global warming on human activity, however, is unchanged from findings over the past 18 months, and voters still aren't overly enthusiastic about paying more to deal with the climate issue.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 63% of Likely U.S. Voters believe global warming is at least a somewhat serious problem, including 30% who say it is Very Serious. Thirty-two percent (32%) don’t consider global warming a serious problem, with 13% who say it’s Not At All Serious. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

30% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Thirty percent (30%) 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 February 16.

That's up from 29% the previous two weeks. This finding has seesawed between 29% and 30% every week since mid-December and is consistent with attitudes for much of the Obama presidency. A year ago, 38% said the country was heading in the right direction.

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The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on February 10-16, 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.

8% Think Congress Is Doing A Good or Excellent Job

Voters continue to give Congress rock-bottom ratings, and very few think members of Congress get reelected because they are good at their job.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just eight percent (8%) of Likely U.S. Voters rate the job Congress is doing as good or excellent. Sixty-six percent (66%) think Congress is doing a poor job. That’s unchanged from last month but still an improvement from November when 75% said Congress was going a poor job, the legislators' highest negative in seven years of regular surveying.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

39% Give Obama Positive Marks for Economic Fairness, 39% Say Poor

President Obama made income inequality the central issue of last month's State of the Union address, but voters give the president only slightly better marks now when it comes to his handling of issues related to economic fairness.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 39% of Likely U.S. Voters think the president is doing a good or excellent job in this area. That's up from 37% in December but still down from 42% a year ago. However, just 39% also say the president is doing a poor job when it comes to economic fairness, down five points from two months ago and his lowest negative in a year. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 12-13, 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 37%

Democrats continue to hold a lead over Republicans on Generic Congressional Ballot.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey from the week ending Sunday, February 16 finds that 41% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today. Thirty-seven percent (37%) would choose the Republican instead. Democrats led by two points – 40% to 38% - the previous week. The two parties traded leads the first two weeks of February.

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The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from February 10-16, 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. 

New High: 77% Support Purchasing Health Insurance Across State Lines

Just over half of voters still have an unfavorable opinion of the new national health care law, though slightly more now support the government requiring all plans to cover the same set of medical procedures than they have since October. Voters still strongly support choice when it comes to health insurance.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of Likely U.S. Voters rate the new law at least somewhat favorably, while 52% share an unfavorable opinion of it. This includes 16% with a Very Favorable view and 40% with a Very Unfavorable one. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 14-15, 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 February 15, 2014

The Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia have provided plenty of drama for over a week now, but Washington, DC offered some excitement of its own this week.

83% Say It’s Important For Economy to Provide All Chance to Succeed

Most voters continue to support an economic system that provides everyone a chance to succeed, and they generally believe it is fair and helpful for the economy to let those who are successful become very rich.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 83% of Likely U.S. Voters now think it is at least somewhat important for the economic system to provide everybody with an opportunity to succeed. This is down three points from October’s all-time high. Just 14% do not think that this is important, up from a record low of 10% in October. This includes 59% who think it’s Very Important  for everyone to have a chance to succeed, and just four percent (4%) who think it’s Not At All Important. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 12-13, 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

Voters Rate Obama More Negatively on the Economy, National Security

Voters haven’t exactly been singing President Obama’s praises lately when it comes to economy and national security issues,  but they’re even more critical of him now.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 32% rate Obama’s handling of economic issues as good or excellent, down two points from the previous week and the lowest positive ratings since early December. Nearly half (47%) rate him poorly on the economy, up four points from last week and the highest poor rating since the same early December survey. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely U.S. Voters was conducted on February 10-11, 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.

29% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

For the second week in a row, 29% 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 February 9.

This finding has fluctuated between 29% and 30% every week since mid-December and is consistent with attitudes for much of the Obama presidency. A year ago, 38% said the country was heading in the right direction.

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The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on February 3-9, 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.

44% Are Confident They Will Receive All Promised Social Security Benefits

Most voters still have a favorable opinion of the Social Security system but also continue to doubt that they will receive all their benefits from the federal retirement system.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters are at least somewhat confident that the Social Security system will pay them all their promised retirement benefits during their lifetime, with 19% who are Very Confident. Fifty-five percent (55%) lack that confidence, including 25% who are Not At All Confident. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 6-7, 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 40%, Republicans 38%

Democrats have reclaimed their lead on the Generic Congressional Ballot.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending Sunday, February 9 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. Thirty-eight percent (38%) would choose the Republican instead. Republicans led by a point – 40% to 39% - the previous week which was the first time the GOP had been ahead since the week ending December 22. Democrats had led for four weeks in a row in January.

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The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from February 3-9, 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.

74% Rate Their Health Insurance Good or Excellent

Voters are a bit more critical of the U.S. health care system four months into Obamacare, but most still have high praise for their health insurance coverage and the care they personally receive.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 31% of Likely U.S. Voters now rate the nation’s health care system as good or excellent, while just as many (32%) describe it as poor. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 8-9, 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 February 8, 2014

Republicans are counting on a health care fix to help them capture the Senate, and in several key races, the early signs are favorable to the GOP.

Arkansas Governor: Ross (D) 44%, Hutchinson (R) 41%

Democratic hopeful Mike Ross has an early edge on his best-known Republican opponent, Asa Hutchinson, in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at the 2014 gubernatorial race in Arkansas. A statewide survey of Likely Arkansas Voters finds Ross, a former U.S. congressman, leading Hutchison 44% to 41%. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, and 12% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Arkansas was conducted on February 4-5, 2014 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.

Arkansas Senate: Cotton (R) 45%, Pryor (D) 40%

Congressman Tom Cotton holds a five-point lead over incumbent Democrat Mark Pryor in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at the 2014 U.S. Senate race in Arkansas.

A new statewide survey of Likely Arkansas Voters finds Cotton with 45% support to Pryor’s 40%. Five percent (5%) like some other candidate in the race, and 10% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Arkansas was conducted on February 4-5, 2014 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.

29% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Twenty-nine percent (29%) 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 February 2.

That’s down one point from the week before. This finding has fluctuated between 29% and 30% every week since mid-December and is consistent with attitudes for much of the Obama presidency. A year ago, 39% said the country was heading in the right direction.

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The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on January 20-26, 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: Republicans 40%, Democrats 39%

Republicans have taken the lead on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the first time this year.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending February 2 finds that 40% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today. Thirty-nine percent (39%) would choose the Democrat instead. Democrats led by five points - 42% to 37% - the previous week. This is the first time since the week ending December 22, 2013 that the Republicans have held the lead. Democrats had led for four weeks in a row.

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The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from January 27-February 2, 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.

Kentucky Senate: McConnell (R) 42%, Grimes (D) 42%

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell runs dead even with Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at the 2014 U.S. Senate race in Kentucky. But McConnell’s GOP primary rival Matt Bevin leads Grimes by four points.

A new statewide telephone survey of Likely Kentucky Voters finds that McConnell and Grimes earn 42% support each. Six percent (6%) like some other candidate in the race, and 10% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Kentucky was conducted on January 29-30, 2014 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.

Obama’s Full-Month Rating Up Another Point in January

When tracking President Obama’s job approval on a daily basis, people sometimes get so caught up in the day-to-day fluctuations that they miss the bigger picture.  To look at the longer-term trends, Rasmussen Reports compiles the numbers on a full-month basis, and the results can be seen in the graphics below.  

The president’s total job approval rose a point to 48% in January. That’s up from 45% in November, the president’s lowest monthly approval in two years, but still down eight points from December 2012’s recent high of 56%. The president's rating took a hard hit in November from the problems surrounding the rollout of the new national health care law but gained two points by the end of the year. Through much of November and early December, Obama’s daily job approval ratings were at the lowest levels of his entire presidency.

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