Politics

Voters Rate Surveillance Controversy Most Serious, IRS Second

Voters now rate the federal government’s secret surveillance of millions of Americans’ phone calls as the most serious controversy in Washington, The Justice Department’s targeting of reporters and the Obama administration’s handling of events surrounding the death of the U.S. ambassador to Libya are seen as the least serious.

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 10-11, 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.

Unlike Senate ‘Gang of Eight,’ Voters Put More Border Control First

An immigration reform bill stalled in the U.S. Senate six years ago this month, but supporters expect this year’s model to pass two procedural votes as early as today to advance for further debate. Enhanced border security remains the number one immigration issue with voters but is a secondary issue for many supporters of the so-called “Gang of Eight” reform effort.

Americans Still Have More Faith in Local Government Than in Feds, States

Americans continue to trust local government more than federal and state governments, but there’s a big difference of opinion based on party affiliation.  Thirty-four percent (34%) of American Adults have more faith in local government, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twenty percent (20%) trust the federal government more than the others, while 14% have more confidence in state government. But one-in-three (32%) are undecided. (To see question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on June 5-6, 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.

Despite Obama's Assurance, 68% Think It’s Likely Gov't Listening to Their Conversations

Last week, responding to the furor over the leaked news of massive government surveillance efforts, President Obama dismissed the concerns as “hype.” He added, “If people can’t trust not only the executive branch but also don’t trust Congress and don’t trust federal judges to make sure that we’re abiding by the Constitution with due process and rule of law, then we’re going to have some problems here.” (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 8-9, 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.

59% in Virginia Approve of McDonnell’s Performance as Governor

Most Virginians continue to like the job Governor Bob McDonnell is doing.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Virginia Voters finds that 59% at least somewhat approve of McDonnell's job performance. Thirty-four percent (34%) disapprove. This includes Strong Approval from 20% and Strong Disapproval from 13%.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters in Virginia was conducted on June 5-6, 2013 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.

59% Oppose Government’s Secret Collecting of Phone Records

Most voters oppose the U.S. government’s secret collection of the phone records of millions of Americans and think the feds are spying too much on U.S. citizens these days.  Just 26% of Likely U.S. Voters favor the government’s secret collecting of these phone records for national security purposes regardless of whether there is any suspicion of wrongdoing. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% are opposed to the practice. Fifteen percent (15%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 6-7, 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.

12% of Facebook Users Say Hate Speech A Very Serious Problem on the Site

Facebook has outlined new steps to identify and remove hate speech. But while most Americans believe hate speech is a serious issue in this country, Facebook users are less inclined to see it as a problem on the social networking site. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of American Adults think hate speech is at least a somewhat serious problem in the United States today, with 22% who consider it a Very Serious one.  Thirty-three percent (33%) don’t view hate speech as a serious problem, including eight percent (8%) who say it’s Not At All Serious. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on June 3-4, 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.

64% Say Most Members of Congress Don’t Care What They Think

Voters remain convinced that Congress doesn’t care what they think, and that includes the representative from their home district.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 16% of Likely U.S. Voters believe most members of Congress care what their constituents think. Sixty-four percent (64%) feel they don’t care what their voters think. Twenty percent (20%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

31% Favor Ban on Hate Speech

Americans remain overwhelmingly committed to their freedom of speech, but one-in-three think there should be a ban on so-called hate speech.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 72% of American Adults believe allowing free speech without government interference is better than letting the government decide what types of hate speech should be banned. Twelve percent (12%) prefer government-regulated speech, while 16% more are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on June 3-4, 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.

52% View WikiLeaks Suspect Bradley Manning As A Traitor

Most voters believe the WikiLeaks release of classified documents is likely to have hurt U.S. national security and think the American soldier who helped make the information public on the Internet is a traitor.  But they’re closely divided over whether that soldier deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 62% of Likely U.S. Voters think the WikiLeaks release of classified information is at least somewhat likely to have hurt U.S. national security. Twenty-four percent (24%) consider that unlikely. This includes 30% who say it’s Very Likely that public disclosure of the secrets hurt national security and just three percent (3%) who say it’s Not At All Likely to have done any damage. Fourteen percent (14%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 4-5, 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.

56% View Feds As Threat to Individual Rights

The United States was founded on a belief that governments are created to protect certain unalienable rights. Today, however, more voters than ever view the federal government as a threat to those rights.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of Likely U.S. Voters now consider the federal government a threat to individual rights rather than a protector of those rights. That’s up 10 points from 46% in December. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

68% Consider Freedom of the Press Very Important

Even with the addition of Fox News’ James Rosen to the list of reporters whose phone records were subpoenaed by the Department of Justice, voters haven’t changed their opinions about the motives behind the department’s actions. Voters are also fairly evenly divided about the balance between press freedoms and national security concerns.  

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

Voters Give Biggest Trust Margin to GOP on Spending, Democrats on Environment

When it comes to voter trust, Republicans are far and away the leaders on handling government spending, while Democrats lead by a similar margin on environmental issues.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 49% of Likely Voters trust Republicans more than Democrats when it comes to dealing with government spending. Thirty-three percent (33%) trust Democrats more. This 16-point gap is the widest between the two parties since Rasmussen Reports started regularly tracking this issue in January. 

The GOP holds a similar 15-point advantage on issues affecting small business.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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Three national surveys of 1,000 Likely Voters each were conducted on May 15-16, 19-20 & 23-24, 2013 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.

26% Expect Murder Verdict in Trayvon Martin Case

With the trial in the sensational Trayvon Martin case just two weeks away, Americans are closely divided over whether the man who shot the Florida teen last year should be found guilty of murder.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 31% of American Adults believe Neighborhood Watch volunteer George Zimmerman should be convicted of murder for shooting Martin. Nearly as many (29%) think he was acting in self-defense. But a sizable 40% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on May 28-29, 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.

42% Think Holder Should Resign, 24% Disagree

Most voters don’t approve of the U.S. Justice Department’s investigation of news reporters, and a plurality now thinks the department’s boss, Attorney General Eric Holder, should resign.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 25% of Likely U.S. Voters have a favorable opinion of Holder, while 47% view him unfavorably. This includes nine percent (9%) with a Very Favorable opinion and 32% with a Very Unfavorable view. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 29-30, 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.

On Gun Control: 43% Trust GOP, 41% Trust Dems

Democrats’ efforts to strengthen gun control laws may not have had the political impact they’d hoped for: Voters are becoming more likely to trust Republicans than Democrats on the issue.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters trust the GOP more than Democrats when it comes to gun control. Slightly fewer (41%) still trust Democrats more. Seventeen percent (17%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

59% Prefer Less Health Insurance, Bigger Paycheck

While employers wrestle with ways to meet the requirements of President Obama’s health care law, most Americans want the option of less health insurance coverage and more take home pay.

If they had a choice, 59% of Likely U.S. Voters would choose a less expensive health insurance plan that covered only major medical expenses and a bigger paycheck. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 31% would opt instead for a more expensive insurance policy that covered just about everything and receive a smaller paycheck.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 27-28, 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. 

27% Favor Moving Guantanamo Prisoners To A U.S. Prison

Voters are closely divided over President Obama’s plan to close the Guantanamo prison camp for terrorists, but most continue to oppose bringing some of those inmates to the United States to make closing the camp possible. Most also think it’s unlikely the Guantanamo facility will be closed a year from now.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% of Likely U.S. Voters agree with the president’s decision to close the prison camp at the Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba.  Slightly more (45%) disagree with the president’s plan. Thirteen percent (13%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

36% Favor Use of Drones To Stop Terrorists in the United States

Voters are now more supportive of using unmanned drones to kill U.S. citizens overseas who pose a terrorist threat. A surprising number favor their use against terrorist threats in this country. Sixty-nine percent (69%) of Likely U.S. Voters still favor the United States’ use of unmanned drone aircraft to kill terrorists, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. But this marks a continuing downward trend from the 76% who approved of their use in February of last year just after President Obama acknowledged the program’s existence. Fourteen percent (14%) are opposed, with slightly more (17%) not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

59% of New York City Voters Approve of Bloomberg’s Job Performance

New York City voters still approve of the job Mayor Michael Bloomberg is doing but are almost evenly divided when it comes to the “stop and frisk” policing policy he endorses.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds that 59% of Registered New York Voters at least somewhat approve of Bloomberg’s job performance, while 38% disapprove. This includes 16% who Strongly Approve and 19% who Strongly Disapprove. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Registered New York Voters was conducted on May 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.