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42% Give Obama Good, Excellent Ratings on National Security

As the United States reportedly prepares for a military strike against the Syrian government, voters' opinions of President Obama’s handling of national security is up slightly from recent lows.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters now think the president is doing a good or excellent job on national security. That's up five points from 37% last week, the lowest level of support for the president’s handling of national security issues in nearly two-and-a-half years.  Thirty-six percent (36%) now rate Obama poorly on national security issues. (To see survey question wording, click here). 

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 25-26, 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. 

29% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

For the third straight week, 29% of Likely U.S. Voters say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey for the week ending August 25.

Sixty-four percent (64%) of voters now think the country is heading down the wrong track, up a point from the previous week.  From January 2009 until October 2012, belief that the country was on the wrong track ranged from 55% to 80%, but it tracked in the low 50s from just before Election Day until early December.

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The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on August 19-25, 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.

51% Think Obama's Policies Too Hostile To Small Businesses

Voters have consistently felt that President Obama is friendlier toward big businesses than small businesses, and they now believe so more than ever.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of Likely U.S. Voters think the president's policies toward small businesses are too hostile. This is the first time the number who says he is too hostile toward small businesses has topped 50%.  Just three percent (3%) think Obama's policies are too friendly toward small businesses. Thirty-five percent (35%) think they are about right, a new low, while 12% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 23-24, 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.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 39%, Democrats 38%

Republicans lead Democrats by one point on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending August 25.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 39% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 38% would choose the Democrat instead.  The two parties were tied for the previous two weeks.

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The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from August 19-25, 2013. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage point with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

34% Give Current U.S. Health Care System Positive Ratings

Most voters continue to have an unfavorable opinion of the health care law, and believe it will increase the nation’s deficit and drive up health care costs. 

Forty-one percent (41%) of Likely Voters have at least a somewhat favorable impression of the health care law, while 54% view it unfavorable, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey.  This includes 20% with a Very Favorable opinion of the law and 39% 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 August 23-24, 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. 

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending August 23, 2013

The tragic events in the Middle East and the sentencing of a former soldier who leaked classified documents has put the spotlight on U.S. foreign policy this week.

Following deadly clashes in Egypt between the military and supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi, 54% of voters said the United States should not continue military and financial aid to the embattled nation.  Eighteen percent (18%) said U.S. aid to Egypt should continue.

Voters Favor Choices for Prayer, Uniforms, Calendar in Schools

Most voters continue to think parents should be able to choose between schools based on such things as uniforms, prayer and how long the school year lasts.

Seventy-seven percent (77%) of Likely Voters now believe a parent should have a choice between sending their children to a school that allows prayer and a school that does not, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey.  Sixteen percent (16%) disagree.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on August 21-22, 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.

Fewer Voters Than Ever Now Consider Auto Bailouts a Success

The number of voters who consider the bailouts of the auto industry a success is at an all-time low, while the fewest in a year think the bailouts were good for the country.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 40% of Likely U.S. Voters think the bailouts of the auto industry were good for the United States, the lowest level in a year. Slightly more (45%) think they were bad for the country, up three from March and the highest since last August. Fifteen percent (15%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on August 15-16, 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.

29% Say U.S. Heading In Right Direction

Twenty-nine percent (29%) of Likely U.S. Voters say the country is heading in the right direction for the second straight week, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey, this time for the week ending August 18. Confidence in the country's direction rose steadily last fall, peaking at a high of 43% the week just before Election Day. It's been gradually decreasing ever since.

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The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on August 12-18, 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.

53% View Boehner Unfavorably

Ohio Republican John Boehner draws his worst ratings since becoming speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives in early 2011. His fellow party leaders in Congress don’t fare much better.

Just 30% of Likely Voters have a favorable impression of Republican House Speaker John Boehner, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-three percent (53%) now view the Ohio congressman unfavorably, his highest negative yet. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 15-16, 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.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 38%, Republicans 38%

Republicans and Democrats run even for the second straight week on the Generic Congressional Ballot, this time for the week ending August 18.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 38% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while another 38% would choose the Democrat instead.  The two parties were even at 39% the week before.

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The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from August 12-18, 2013. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage point 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 August 16, 2013

President Obama may be on vacation this week, but he and his administration still made plenty of news.

Just before the president left for vacation, he announced in a press conference tighter restrictions on the National Security Agency’s domestic surveillance program.  But most voters still don’t trust the government to protect their constitutional rights, and very few expect the program to cut back on monitoring the phone calls of innocent Americans.

29% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Twenty-nine percent (29%) of Likely U.S. Voters say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, August 11.

That’s up two points from the week before, and up three from the previous two weeks' finding of 26%, which marked the lowest level of confidence since mid-January 2012. Confidence in the country's direction rose steadily last fall, peaking at a high of 43% the week just before Election Day. It's been gradually decreasing ever since.

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The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on August 5-11, 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.

Obama's National Security Positives Fall to A Two-Year Low

Positive ratings for President Obama's handling of national security are at their lowest level in over two years of weekly tracking.

Thirty-nine percent (39%) of Likely U.S. Voters now rate the president’s handling of national security issues as good or excellent.  A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds that just as many (38%) give him a poor rating in this area.  (To see survey question wording, click here).

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 11-12, 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. 

53% See Conflict Between Economic Growth and Fairness

Most voters still believe policies that encourage economic growth are more important than those promoting economic fairness, and they’re more likely now to think there’s a conflict between the two. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds 93% of Likely U.S. Voters say, in thinking about the economy, policies that encourage economic growth are at least somewhat important.  That includes 68% who say they are Very Important.

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 7-8, 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.

43% Say Obama Good or Excellent Leader, 42% Say Poor

Most voters continue to see President Obama as a liberal, and views of his leadership have returned from post-election highs to levels seen for much of his first term in office. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters now rate the president as a good or excellent leader, unchanged from last month. Just as many, however, (42%) consider his leadership poor, up four from July. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The two surveys of 1,000 Likely Voters each were conducted on August 7-8 and August 9-10, 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. 

Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 39%, Democrats 39%

Republicans and Democrats run even on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending August 11.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 39% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while another 39% would choose the Democrat instead. The week before, Republicans led by three -- 41% to 38%, the largest gap between the two parties since mid-April.

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The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from August 5-11, 2013. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage point with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

53% Have Felt No Impact from Health Care Law

Most voters still have an unfavorable opinion of President Obama’s national health care law but acknowledge that it has had no impact on them.

Forty-one percent (41%) of Likely U.S. Voters share an at least somewhat favorable view of the health care law, while 53% view it unfavorably, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. This includes 15% with a Very Favorable opinion of the law and 42% 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 August 9-10, 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.

53% Think Health Care Law Will Increase Deficit

Most voters continue to have an unfavorable opinion of the health care law, and believe it will increase the nation’s deficit and drive up health care costs. 

Forty-one percent (41%) of Likely Voters have at least a somewhat favorable impression of the health care law, while 54% view it unfavorable, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey.  This includes 20% with a Very Favorable opinion of the law and 39% 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 August 17-18, 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.

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending August 9, 2013

Who’ll be the next in line?

Hillary Clinton is the overwhelming favorite among Democratic voters for their party’s presidential nomination in 2016. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie holds a narrow lead among Republicans for the 2016 GOP nomination. 

But not so fast. Clinton was also the clear favorite in August 2005, three years before the 2008 Democratic National Convention. She subsequently lost in the primaries to Illinois Senator Barack Obama. Meanwhile, GOP voters who say Christie is the candidate they least want to see nominated outnumber those who support him by 10 percentage points.

History has shown us time and again that 2016 is not likely to end up as a matchup of the current front-runners, Clinton and Christie, Scott Rasmussen says in his latest weekly newspaper column.