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62% View U.S. Economy As Unfair to the Middle Class

Most voters continue to believe that the U.S. economy is fair to women, blacks and Hispanics but still view it as unfair to the middle class.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 33% of Likely U.S. Voters now believe the economy is fair to the middle class, little changed from December but down from a high of 43% in January of last year. Sixty-two percent (62%) describe the economy as unfair to the middle class, down from a high of 66% in December but more in line with regular findings for the past year. These findings include five percent (5%) who say the economy is Very Fair and 21% who see it as Not At All Fair. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 13-14, 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.

6% Rate Congress’s Performance as Good or Excellent

Congress earns its lowest performance ratings in months, while fewer voters than ever think members of Congress actually listen to them.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just six percent (6%) of Likely U.S. Voters think Congress is doing a good or excellent job, its lowest positives since last June. Sixty-three percent (63%) rate Congress' job performance poorly. Still, that's down 12 points from an eight-year high of 75% last November amidst the troubled rollout of the new national health care law. (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 April 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.

South Carolina Governor: Haley (R) 52%, Sheheen (D) 37%

Incumbent Republican Nikki Haley holds a double-digit lead over Democratic challenger Vincent Sheheen in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at the 2014 gubernatorial rematch in South Carolina.

A new statewide telephone survey of Likely South Carolina Voters finds Haley with 52% support to 37% for Sheheen. Three percent (3%) like some other candidate in the race, and 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 750 Likely Voters in South Carolina was conducted on April 14-15, 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.

31% Say U.S. is Heading in Right Direction

Thirty-one percent (31%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is headed in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending April 13.

The finding is up one point from 30% the previous week. This is the only the second week when the number who say the country is heading in the right direction has inched above the narrow range of 28% to 30% since mid-December. 

(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 31-April 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.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 40%, Republicans 38%

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

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending Sunday April 13, 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.

(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 April 7 -April 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. 

Illinois Governor: Rauner (R) 43%, Quinn (D) 40%

Democratic Governor Pat Quinn is facing some early trouble from his Republican challenger in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at the 2014 gubernatorial race in Illinois.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Illinois Voters shows Republican businessman Bruce Rauner picking up 43% of the vote to Quinn’s 40%. Six percent (6%) prefer some other candidate in the race, while 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 750 Likely Voters in Illinois was conducted on April 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.

82% Rate the Health Care They Receive As Good or Excellent

Voters continue to give high marks to the health care they receive while remaining critical of the overall U.S. health care system. Half also still expect things to get worse under Obamacare.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 82% of Likely U.S. Voters rate the quality of health care they receive as good or excellent. Just five percent (5%) describe that care as poor. (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 April 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 April 12

Just a week after the Obama administration declared its health insurance sign-up program a success, Kathleen Sebelius, the Cabinet secretary in charge of the new national health care law, announced her resignation. Mixed message or part of the plan?

Illinois Senate: Durbin (D) 51%, Oberweis (R) 37%

Longtime Democratic Senator Dick Durbin has a double-digit lead over his Republican challenger in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at the 2014 U.S. Senate race in Illinois.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Illinois Voters finds Durbin picking up 51% of the vote to State Senator Jim Oberweis’ 37%. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate in the race, while 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 750 Likely Voters in Illinois was conducted on April 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.

48% Think America’s Best Days Are in the Past

Nearly half of U.S. voters still think this nation’s glory days are in its past.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 33% of Likely U.S. Voters think America’s best days are still to come, up only slightly from 31% in October 2013, the lowest level of optimism in two-and-a-half years. Forty-eight percent (48%) think the nation’s best days are in the past, although that's down from last October's recent high of 52%. Nineteen percent (19%) 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 April 7-8, 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.

30% Say U.S. is 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 April 6.

This finding is up two points from 28% the previous week. The number who say the country is heading in the right direction has remained in the narrow range of 28% to 30% every week but one since mid-December.

(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 31-April 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.

Nebraska Senate: Sasse (R) 52%, Domina (D) 27%

Leading Republican hopefuls Shane Osborn and Ben Sasse are well ahead of their Democratic opponent in Nebraska’s U.S. Senate race, but Sasse runs stronger among both GOP voters and all voters in the state.

A new Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Nebraska Voters finds Sasse with 52% support, while David Domina picks up 27% of the vote. Five percent (5%) like some other candidate, but a sizable 16% 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 Nebraska was conducted on April 7-8, 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% Blame Humans for Global Warming

Nearly half of voters now think humans are to blame for global warming, although just as many still believe there is significant disagreement in the scientific community on the issue.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 62% consider global warming at least a somewhat serious problem. That includes 39% who believe it is a Very Serious problem, up nine points from February and the highest level of strong concern since June 2009.Thirty-three percent (33%) don’t think global warming is a serious problem, with 16% who say it’s Not At All Serious. (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 April 3-4, 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 39%

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

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending Sunday, April 6, 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 39% 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 31-April 6, 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. 

53% Expect Quality of Care To Suffer Under Health Care Law

Unfavorable opinions of the new national health care law are at their highest level in several months, while the number who think the quality of care in this country will get worse is at its highest level in over three years.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% of Likely U.S. Voters have at least a somewhat unfavorable opinion of the health care law, with 43% who view it Very Unfavorably. Just 39% have a favorable view of the law, including 16% with a Very Favorable 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 April 5-6, 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.

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls: Week Ending April 5

March Madness is upon us.

28% Say U.S. is Heading in Right Direction

Twenty-eight percent (28%) 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 30.

This finding is down one point after holding steady at 29% for three weeks in a row.

(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 24-30, 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.

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.

(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 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.