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What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending December 22, 2012

‘Twas the week before Christmas, and the question remains: Will taxes go up, or will they stay just the same?

Voter confidence is fading that Congress and the president will reach a deal to avoid the December 31 “fiscal cliff” of big tax hikes and automatic across-the-board spending cuts. But voters still see President Obama as more willing than congressional Republicans to accept a compromise, and that’s a big problem for the GOP.

As the fiscal cliff deadline approaches, Obama continues to enjoy some of the highest job approval ratings of his presidency. On the other hand, House Speaker John Boehner has now passed his Democratic predecessor Nancy Pelosi to become the least-liked major congressional leader, a title Pelosi has held for several years. 

Obama has turned the fiscal cliff issue into a debate about fairness. Overall, voters are evenly divided as to whether or not the economy is fair. Half believe it’s fair to lower-income Americans, only 41% think it is fair to the middle class.

Boehner Is Now Less Popular Than Pelosi

House Speaker John Boehner has now unseated his Democratic predecessor Nancy Pelosi as the least-liked major congressional leader, a title Pelosi has held for several years.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of Likely U.S. Voters now view Boehner unfavorably, while 50% feel that way about Pelosi. Just 31% have a favorable opinion of the Ohio congressman, compared to 37% who look favorably on the San Francisco Democrat.

37% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Thirty-seven percent (37%) of Likely U.S. Voters now say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, December 16.

That's down from 38% last week and 41% the previous three weeks. After Election Day, confidence in the nation’s course initially tracked in the low 40s, the highest level of optimism during the Obama years. The latest finding is more in line with attitudes in September and October but is still slightly higher than was found earlier in 2012. This week’s finding is up 13 points from the beginning of the year and up 15 points from 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 national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen December 10-16, 2012. 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.

33% Say Supreme Court Doing Good or Excellent Job

One-out-of-three Likely U.S. Voters (33%) continue to give the U.S. Supreme Court positive ratings.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 20% rate the high court’s job performance as poor.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

This is the last week to take part in the 2012 Rasmussen Challenge! Submit your answer by 11:59pm ET today.

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 16-17, 2012 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 46%, Republicans 38%

Democrats now hold an eight-point lead over Republicans on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending December 16, 2012.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 46% 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 December 10-16, 2012. 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 December 14, 2012

Since Election Day, the number of voters who like the idea of bigger government is up, but most still have the opposite view.

One-in-three Likely U.S. Voters (34%) now prefer a larger government with more services and higher taxes to one with fewer services and lower taxes. That's the highest level of support for bigger government we have ever measured. Most voters (56%), however, still favor smaller government.

Only 37% of voters now say they are conservative when it comes to fiscal issues such as taxes and government spending. That’s the first time that number has ever dipped below 40%. Thirty-nine percent (39%) consider themselves fiscally moderate. One-in-five (20%) now say they are fiscally liberal. More voters than ever describe themselves as socially liberal, too.

34% Prefer a Government With More Services, Higher Taxes

One-in-three Likely U.S. Voters (34%) now prefer a larger government with more services and higher taxes to one with fewer services and lower taxes. That's up 10 points from a month ago and the highest level of support for bigger government in over six years of regular surveying.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of voters still favor smaller government, but that's down from 64% in November. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Win an iPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge! You have until 11:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday to get your response in. 

(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 December 6-7, 2012 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.

38% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Confidence in the nation’s direction has fallen back to pre-Election Day levels.

Thirty-eight percent (38%) of Likely U.S. Voters now say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, December 9.

That's down from 41% the previous three weeks. Since Election Day, confidence in the nation’s course has been tracking in the low 40s, the highest level of optimism during the Obama years. The latest finding is more in line with attitudes in September and October but is still slightly higher than was found earlier in 2012. This week’s finding is up 14 points from the beginning of the year and up 19 points from 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 national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen December 3-9, 2012. 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 46%, Republicans 36%

Democrats hold a 10-point lead over Republicans on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending December 9, 2012.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 46% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 36% 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 December 3-9, 2012. 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 December 8, 2012

The GOP is losing the messaging war in the ongoing debate over how to avoid the so-called “fiscal cliff.” Voters are more confident that the president is willing to agree to a deal with both spending cuts and tax increases than Republicans are.

Just 40% think Obama will insist on tax increases only, while 51% feel the GOP will insist on spending cuts only. Most unaffiliated voters are skeptical that either side is really willing to accept a deal.

10% Think Congress is Doing a Good or Excellent Job

Congress is back in session after the election, but voters still aren't impressed.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 10% of Likely Voters rate Congress’ job performance as good or excellent, while 56% say they are doing a poor job.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)  

How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge?  Check the leaderboard.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 2-3, 2012 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.

41% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

For the third week in a row, 41% 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, December 2.

That's unchanged from the previous two weeks and remains the highest level of optimism during the Obama presidency. The latest finding is up 17 points from the beginning of the year and up 24 points from 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 national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen November 26-December 2, 2012. 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 Slips A Point in November

The Rasmussen Employment Index which measures worker confidence dipped a point in November but remains seven points above August’s 10-month low of 72.0.

At 79.0, the Employment Index is two points below the level measured in January but is up two points from this time last 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 survey of 8,840 working Americans was conducted in November 2012 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.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 47%, Republicans 36%

Democrats have now jumped to an 11-point lead over Republicans on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending December 2, 2012.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 47% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 36% would choose the Republican instead.

Win an IPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge. 

The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from November 26-December 2, 2012. 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 December 1, 2012

How long will this current era of good feelings last?

President Obama, like most Election Day winners in years past, is enjoying a bounce in his job approval ratings in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll. 

For the second week in a row, 41% of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction. That’s up 25 points from a year ago and close to the highest level of optimism during the Obama presidency.

Democrats Now Trusted More on Nine of 10 Key Issues

Prior to Election Day, voters trusted Republicans on seven-out-of-10 key issues.  Now, in the first survey following the presidential election, Democrats are trusted more on nine of these issues. 

However, voters still give the GOP a slight edge on the most important issue, the economy.  Forty-four percent (44%) of Likely U.S. Voters say they trust Republicans more to handle that issue, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.  But nearly as many (42%) place their trust in Democrats, and another 15% are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge?  Check the leaderboard.

Two national surveys of 1,000 Likely Voters each were conducted on November 26-27 and 28-29, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC.  See methodology.

41% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

For the second week in a row, 41% 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, November 25.

That’s unchanged from the previous week and down just two points from two weeks earlier which marked the highest level of optimism during the Obama presidency. Still, the latest finding is up 17 points from the beginning of the year and up 25 points from 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 national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen November 19-21 and on November 25, 2012. 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 45%, Republicans 40%

Democrats continue to lead Republicans by five points on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the second week in a row, this time for the week ending November 25, 2012.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 45% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 40% would choose the Republican instead.

Win an IPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge. 

The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from November 19-21 and on November 25, 2012. 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.

44% Say U.S. Winning War on Terror

Confidence that the United States is winning the war on terror is down to its lowest level in over a year.  Voters also continue to strongly believe America should not send troops overseas unless there is a major national security concern. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely Voters believe the United States is winning the war on terror, while 22% think the terrorists are winning.  Another 24% say neither side has the advantage.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Win an IPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 20, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 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 - For The Week Ending November 24, 2012

Americans have a grimmer view of the economy since President Obama was elected, although it hasn’t made a dent in their holiday shopping. Many seem more accepting, too, of higher taxes in the future.

Fifty percent (50%) of American Adults now believe the economy will be weaker in a year's time. That's a 27-point jump from October and the lowest finding since September of last year. Thirty-six percent (36%) predict the economy will be weaker five years from now, the highest level of pessimism in nearly four years.

The increase in pessimism comes from Republicans and those not affiliated with either major political party. Just before President Obama was reelected, Republicans were evenly divided as to whether the economy would be better or worse a year from now. Today, only 11% of Republicans believe the economy will be stronger in a year.  An overwhelming 74% in the GOP believe it will be worse.