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17% Say U.S. Heading In Right Direction

Seventeen percent (17%) 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, October 30.    

The latest finding is up a point from a a week ago,  but is down a point from a month ago and 14 points from this time last year. 

The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports October 24-30, 2011. 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.

Obama 43%, Cain 38%

Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain, who is dealing with a media firestorm surrounding past accusations of sexual harassment, earns the same level of support against President Obama as he did a week ago.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows the president picking up 43% of the vote to Cain’s 38%.

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on October 30-31, 2011 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.

Partisan Trends: 34.3% Republican, 33.1% Democrat

The number of Republicans increased by half a percentage point in October, while the number of Democrats decreased by a similar amount.

During the month of October, 34.3% of Americans considered themselves to be Republicans, up from 33.9% in September.  The number of Democrats fell to 33.1% from 33.7% the month before. September marked the smallest gap between the parties in nearly nine years of monthly tracking.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 43%, Democrats 40%

Republicans remain ahead of Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot but only by three points for the week ending Sunday, October 30. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election was held now, while 40% 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.

Obama 44%, Paul 35%

President Obama continues to lead Texas Congressman Ron Paul in a hypothetical Election 2012 matchup. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds Obama earning 44% support to Paul’s 35%.  Thirteen percent (13%) prefer some other candidate, and eight percent (8%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

37% Say America's Best Days Are in the Future

With the economy still in the tank, unemployment hovering around nine percent (9%) and a Congress and president that cannot cooperate, a plurality of U.S. voters continues to believe America's best days are behind us.
 
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 37% of Likely Voters think America's best days are in the future, while 45% say those days are in the past.  Eighteen percent (18%) are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Obama 45%, Perry 38%

Texas Governor Rick Perry made a media splash Tuesday when he unveiled his flat tax proposal, but his numbers against President Obama in a hypothetical Election 2012 matchup are little changed from last week.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows the president picking up 45% of the vote to Perry’s 38%.

(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 October 26-27, 2011 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.

Wisconsin Senate: Thompson (R) 49%, Baldwin (D) 42%

Former Governor Tommy Thompson is the leading vote getter in Rasmussen Report’s first Election 2012 survey of the race in Wisconsin to replace retiring U.S. Senator Herb Kohl.

A telephone survey of Likely Voters in the state finds Thompson, a Republican, earning 49% support, while Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, the only major declared Democratic candidate, picks up 42% of the vote. Given this matchup, four percent (4%) prefer some other candidate, and six percent (6%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Pelosi Remains Least Favorable Congressional Leader

While Congress’ overall job approval continues to hover around record lows, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi remains the most unpopular Congressional leader. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 63% of Likely Voters have at least a somewhat unfavorable opinion of Pelosi, just below her worst rating ever (64%) measured in July and February.

(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 survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on October 24-25, 2011 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.

16% Say U.S. Heading In Right Direction

Sixteen percent (16%) 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, October 23.    

The latest finding is up a point from a week ago, but is down a point from a month ago and 16 points from this time last year. 

Since the third week in July, the number of voters who are confident in the nation’s current course has resembled levels measured in the final months of the Bush administration, with voter confidence remaining in the narrow range of 14% to 19%.

Romney 44%, Obama 42%

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney continues to run neck-and-neck with President Barack Obama in a hypothetical Election 2012 matchup.  The two men have been within two points of each other in surveys since mid-September.

The latest national telephone survey finds Romney earning support from 44% of Likely Voters, while Obama picks up 42% of the vote.

(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 October 24-25, 2011 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.

2012: Generic Republican 46%, Obama 41%

A generic Republican candidate leads President Obama by five points in a hypothetical 2012 matchup for the week ending Sunday, October 23.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds the generic Republican earning 46% support, while the president picks up 41% of the vote.

(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 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted October 17-23, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error 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.

Obama 39%, Huntsman 32%

Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, who opted out of the Republican debate last week in Las Vegas in opposition to Nevada possibly moving its primary date and forcing other states to reschedule, trails President Obama by seven points in the latest hypothetical Election 2012 matchup.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 44%, Democrats 36%

As has been the case for over two years now, Republicans remain ahead of Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot.  The GOP has extended its lead to eight points for the week ending Sunday, October 23.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election was held now, while 36% would choose the Democrat instead.

9% Give Congress Positive Marks for Job Performance

Positive ratings for Congress’ job performance continue to hover near record lows, while the number of voters who feel the national legislators are more interested in their own careers than in helping people matches the all-time high. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just nine percent (9%) of Likely U.S. Voters rate the job Congress is doing as good or excellent.  Sixty-three percent (63%) view Congress’ job performance as poor.

Voters Still See Economy As Top Issue

When it comes to voting decisions, the economy is still far and away the most important issue on voters’ minds, while the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and national security remain at the bottom of the list of issues regularly tracked by Rasmussen Reports.

Voters Still See Economy As Top Issue

When it comes to voting decisions, the economy is still far and away the most important issue on voters’ minds, while the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and national security remain at the bottom of the list of issues regularly tracked by Rasmussen Reports.

Iowa: Cain 28% Romney 21% Paul 10%

Reflecting national trends, businessman Herman Cain has now jumped to the front of the Republican pack in Iowa.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Iowa caucus-goers shows that Cain is in front with 28% followed by former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney at 21%. Congressman Ron Paul is a distant third at 10% followed by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich at 9%, Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann at 8%, and Texas Governor Rick Perry at 7%. The sixth place finish for Perry is a sharp decline from early September when Perry was the frontrunner both nationally and in Iowa. (To see survey question wording, click here).

Former Senator Rick Santorum picks up 4% of the vote and former Governor Jon Huntsman is at 2%. Another 4% would prefer some other candidate and 8% are not sure.

Only one-third of the caucus-goers (32%) are certain of their vote and don’t expect to change their mind. Among these voters, 30% prefer Cain, 22% Romney, and 17% Paul.

Among those absolutely certain they will show up and participate in the caucus, Cain leads Romney 31% to 18%. Many have criticized the Cain campaign for not having a strong organization in Iowa which is seen as essential to turning out the vote. According to such conventional analysis, Cain might be at risk of raising expectations too high and then underperforming.

(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 800 Likely Iowa Republican Caucus Participants was conducted on October 19, 2011 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.

15% Say U.S. Heading In Right Direction

Fifteen percent (15%) 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, October 16.  That’s the lowest level measured in nearly two months of weekly tracking.  

Generic Republican 47%, Obama 43%

A generic Republican now leads President Obama by four points in a hypothetical 2012 match-up for the week ending Sunday, October 16.