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38% Think the Economy Is Fair

Most voters still view the U.S. economy as unfair.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 38% of Likely U.S. Voters think the economy today is at least somewhat fair, and that includes only five percent (5%) who view it as Very Fair. Fifty-six percent (56%) feel the economy is not fair, with 19% who say it is Not At All Fair. This is generally in line with findings for the past year. In 2012 and the first half of last year, the number who thought the economy was fair generally ran in the mid-40s. (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 August 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.

Connecticut Governor: Foley (R) 45%, Malloy (D) 38%

Incumbent Democrat Dan Malloy is trailing Republican challenger Thomas Foley by seven points in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at their gubernatorial rematch.

Foley picks up 45% of the vote to Malloy’s 38% in a new statewide telephone survey of Likely Connecticut Voters. Seven percent (7%) prefer some other candidate in the race, and 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 Connecticut was conducted on August 18-19, 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.

West Virginia Senate: Capito (R) 50%, Tennant (D) 33%

Is the West Virginia Senate race turning into a rout?

(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 West Virginia was conducted on August 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.

Minnesota Governor: Dayton (D) 49%, Johnson (R) 41%

Former U.S. Senator Mark Dayton has an eight-point advantage in his bid for a second term as governor of Minnesota.

(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 Minnesota was conducted on August 13-14, 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.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 39%, Republicans 39%

For the second time in a month, Democrats and Republicans are tied on the latest Generic Congressional Ballot.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending August 17 finds 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 the same number (39%) would choose the Democrat.

(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 August 11-17, 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.

Minnesota Senate: Franken (D) 50%, McFadden (R) 42%

Live from Minnesota, it’s Democratic Senator Al Franken’s bid for reelection, and he’s got an eight-point lead over Republican challenger Mike McFadden.

(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 Minnesota was conducted on August 13-14, 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.

Business Is Steadily Growing At New Health Insurance Exchanges

Nearly half of voters remain unaware whether their state has established a health insurance exchange under the new national health care law, but the number who are buying health insurance through one of these exchanges is steadily increasing.

Nineteen percent (19%) of Likely U.S. Voters now say they or a member of their immediate family has bought health insurance though a new health care exchange, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That’s up from 15% last month and up from just four percent last November after the problem-plagued launch of the federally-operated exchange and state-run exchanges around the country. (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 August 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.

Iowa Governor: Branstad (R) 52%, Hatch (D) 35%

Incumbent Republican Terry Branstad has widened his lead over Democratic challenger Jack Hatch in Iowa’s gubernatorial race.

Branstad picks up 52% of the vote to Hatch’s 35% in a new Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Iowa Voters. Six percent (6%) prefer some other candidate, while 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 Iowa was conducted on August 11-12, 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.

Iowa Governor: Branstad (R) 52%, Hatch (D) 35%

Incumbent Republican Terry Branstad has widened his lead over Democratic challenger Jack Hatch in Iowa’s gubernatorial race.

Branstad picks up 52% of the vote to Hatch’s 35% in a new Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Iowa Voters. Six percent (6%) prefer some other candidate, while 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 Iowa was conducted on August 11-12, 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.

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls: Week of August 16

Get out of my face: That’s the message most voters still have for the federal government six years into the presidency of the man who hoped to make us all believers in big government.

Sixty percent (60%) of Americans believe instead that the federal government plays too big a role in the lives of average Americans.  

Of course, it doesn't help that voters by a two-to-one margin consider the federal government today a threat to individual liberty rather than a protector. Only 19% trust the feds to do the right thing most or nearly all the time.

Wisconsin Governor: Walker (R) 48%, Burke (D) 47%

It may be the nation’s closest-watched governor’s race, and it remains dead even.

(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 Wisconsin was conducted on August 13-14, 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.

24% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Twenty-four percent (24%) 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 August 17.

This finding is down three points from 27% the week before. Prior to that finding, the number who said the country is heading in the right direction had been steadily falling since mid-June. It has been less than 30% for most of 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 August 11-17, 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.

27% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Twenty-seven percent (27%) 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 August 10.

This finding is up four points from the week before which marked the lowest level of confidence since the middle of October. Prior to this week, the number who said the country is heading in the right direction had been steadily falling since mid-June. It has been less than 30% for most of 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 August 4-10, 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.

Iowa Senate: Ernst (R) 43%, Braley (D) 43%

Will she or won’t she? The race to replace Iowa Democratic Senator Tom Harkin couldn’t be any closer.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Iowa Voters finds Republican Joni Ernst and Democrat Bruce Braley tied with 43% support each. Six percent (6%) like some other candidate and eight percent (8%) 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 Iowa was conducted on August 11-12, 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.

Kansas Governor: Davis (D) 51%, Brownback (R) 41%

Republican Governor Sam Brownback is in a 10-point hole in his bid for reelection in Kansas.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Kansas Voters finds Democratic challenger Paul Davis with 51% support to Brownback’s 41%. Three percent (3%) like some other candidate, while five percent (5%) 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 Kansas was conducted on August 6-7, 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.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 40%, Democrats 39%

For the second week in a row, Republicans lead Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending August 10 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, while 39% would choose the Democrat 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 August 4-10, 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.

Kansas Senate: Roberts (R) 44%, Taylor (D) 40%

Kansas may have a Senate race after all.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Kansas Voters finds incumbent Republican Senator Pat Roberts with just a four-point lead – 44% to 40% - over Democratic challenger Chad Taylor. Seven percent (7%) like some other candidate in the race, and eight percent (8%) 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 Kansas was conducted on August 6-7, 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 Want Health Care Choices When Their Money's At Stake

Attitudes toward the national health care law remain mostly negative, and voters continue to overwhelmingly favor consumer choice when buying health insurance. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters share a favorable opinion of the health care law, while 53% view it unfavorably. This includes 19% with a Very Favorable opinion and 39% 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 August 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 August 9, 2014

What do voters really think?

On the one hand, they strongly believe the major differences between President Obama and congressional Republicans are mostly about politics and not honest disagreement over the issues.

Attorney General Eric Holder even suggested recently that the differences are motivated by racism, although voters strongly reject that claim.

Voters Think Parents Need More School Options

Voters remain strongly pro-choice when it comes to giving parents options on the kind of school they want their children to attend.

But they still give U.S. public schools mediocre grades, with just 28% of Likely U.S. Voters who rate their performance as good or excellent. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that slightly more (30%) rate the performance of the public schools as poor. This is in keeping with regular surveying for the past couple years. (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 August 4-5, 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.