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Rasmussen Employment Index Reaches Six-Year High

The Rasmussen Employment Index which measures worker confidence jumped four points in March to its highest level in over six years of monthly tracking.

At 96.2, worker confidence is two points above the previous all-time high reached in May of last year. The index hit a low for 2013 of 81.2 in October but has been gaining ground steadily since then. It stood at 84.3 in March a year ago.

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The survey of 9,405 working Americans was conducted in March 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 1 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 Job Approval Rating Drops Two Points in March

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 monthly job approval rating fell back two points to 47% in March. Obama's approval rating had been climbing steadily in recent months from 45% in November, the lowest monthly finding in two years, to 49% in February. The president's daily job approval ratings took a hard hit in November from the problems surrounding the rollout of the new national health care law. Through much of November and early December, his job approval ratings were at the lowest levels of his entire presidency. Since then, however, his approval ratings have been running at levels seen for much of the last five years.

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Daily tracking results are collected via telephone surveys of 500 likely voters per night. The monthly numbers in this article are based on approximately 15,000 interviews each month with likely voters. The margin of sampling error is less than +/- 1 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 39%, Republicans 38%

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

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending Sunday, March 30, 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.

(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 March 24-March 30, 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.

46% Oppose Health Care Law’s Individual Insurance Mandate

Support for the national health care law’s requirement that every American obtain health insurance is down slightly from recent months, as is support for a single-payer health care system.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 40% of Likely U.S. Voters think the federal government should require every American to buy or obtain health insurance. Forty-six percent (46%) oppose this so-called individual mandate. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 28-29, 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 of March 29

Many Americans may not be able to pinpoint Ukraine on a map, but that Eastern European nation is driving U.S. foreign policy these days and keeping President Obama on the go.

44% View Secretary of State Kerry Favorably

Voters' views of Secretary of State John Kerry have changed little since he was nominated to the Cabinet post 15 months ago.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters view Kerry at least somewhat favorably, while 46% share an unfavorable view of him. This includes 12% with a Very Favorable regard for the former senator and 2004 Democratic presidential candidate and 28% 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 March 22-23, 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.

20% See Obama’s Leadership Style As Too Confrontational

President Obama continues to get mixed reviews for his leadership abilities, but voters are less inclined to see him as being too confrontational.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 44% of Likely Voters rate the president good or excellent as a leader. Forty percent (40%) give Obama’s leadership a poor rating. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 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.

18% Think U.S. Public Schools Provide World-Class Education

Confidence in U.S. public schools to provide students a world-class education continues to fall.

Sixty-five percent (65%) of Likely U.S. Voters still believe that a “world-class education is the single most important factor in determining whether our kids can compete for the best jobs and whether America can out-compete countries around the world.” A new Rasmussen Reports national survey finds that just 22% disagree with this view expressed by President Obama. Thirteen percent (13%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 24-25, 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.

Iowa Senate: Braley (D) 41%, Jacobs (R) 38%

Democratic Congressman Bruce Braley holds a slight lead over his three top Republican challengers in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at the 2014 U.S. Senate race in Iowa.

A new statewide telephone survey of Likely Iowa Voters finds Braley with a 41% to 38% lead over businessman Mark Jacobs. He leads State Senator Joni Ernst 40% to 37% and runs four points ahead – 40% to 36% – of former U.S. Attorney Matt Whitaker. Braley posts a 13-point lead – 44% to 31% – over another GOP contender, conservative talk show host Sam Clovis.

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The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Iowa was conducted on March 24-25, 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.

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 March 23.

This finding has held steady for three weeks now but is down from a recent high of 32% a month ago.

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The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on March 17-23, 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.

43% Say U.S. Justice System Unfair to Most Americans

Americans are now evenly divided when asked if the U.S. justice system is fair.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters think the justice system is fair to most Americans, down just a point from last July but the lowest level of confidence in nearly four years of regular surveying. Just as many (43%) say the justice system is not fair to most Americans, up two points from the previous survey and a new high. Fifteen percent (15%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national telephone survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on March 20-21, 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.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 41%, Republicans 37%

Democrats have taken a four-point lead on the latest Generic Congressional Ballot.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending Sunday, March 23, 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, while 37% would choose the Republican instead.

(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 March 17-March 23, 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.

Alaska Senate: Treadwell (R) 47%, Begich (D) 43%

Incumbent Democrat Mark Begich is in a neck-and-neck battle with his two top Republican challengers in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at the 2014 U.S. Senate race in Alaska.

A new statewide telephone survey of Likely Alaska Voters finds GOP Lieutenant Governor Mead Treadwell leading Begich 47% to 43%. Three percent (3%) like some other candidate in the race, while six percent (6%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Alaska was conducted on March 19-20, 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.

Voters Still Strongly Favor Health Insurance Choice Based on Costs

Voters still don’t like the new national health care law but are more supportive of government-mandated health insurance standards as long as consumers still can choose the kind of plan they want based on costs and coverage.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters have at least a somewhat favorable view of Obamacare, while 54% view it unfavorably. This includes 16% with a Very Favorable opinion of the new law and 42% 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 March 22-23, 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 of March 22

Is anyone in Washington, D.C., listening to voters?

Incumbents, Beware: Just 29% Think You Deserve Reelection to Congress

Voters continue to frown on the job Congress is doing, but support for congressional incumbents has fallen to all-time lows.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only seven percent (7%) of Likely U.S. Voters think Congress is doing a good or excellent job, little changed from monthly surveys over the past year.  Sixty-four percent (64%) now rate Congress’ performance as poor, but that’s down from 75% in November, its highest negative in seven years of tracking. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 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.

45% Rate Obama Positively on National Security

As tensions with Russia escalate, voters give President Obama his best marks in the national security area in several months.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of Likely U.S. Voters rate the president's handling of national security issues as good or excellent. That’s up eight points from a week ago and his highest positive ratings in this area since late October. Thirty-six percent (36%) still rate him poorly on national security issues, but that's down from a high of 43% earlier this month. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 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.

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 March 16.

That’s unchanged from the previous week and down from a recent high of 32% three weeks ago. For most of the last three months, this finding has hovered in the 29% to 30% range.

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

(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 March 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.

52% Think U.S. Economy Unfair to Those Willing to Work Hard

Most voters continue to think the economy is unfair to those who are willing to work hard.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters say the U.S. economy is at least somewhat fair to people who are willing to work hard, up six points from October. Fifty-two percent (52%), though, do not think the economy is fair to those willing to work hard, although that's down from October’s high of 58%. This includes 14% who think the economy is Very Fair to hard workers and 17% who don’t think it’s Not At All Fair to them. (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 March 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.

New Hampshire Senate: Shaheen (D) 50%, Brown (R) 41%

Former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown announced Friday that he is laying the groundwork for a possible challenge against incumbent Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen in New Hampshire, but Shaheen is comfortably ahead of Brown for now in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at the possible U.S. Senate race in the Granite State.

A new statewide survey of Likely New Hampshire Voters finds Shaheen with 50% support to Brown’s 41%. Four percent (4%) like some other candidate in the race, and five percent (5%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 750 Likely Voters in New Hampshire was conducted on March 12-13, 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.