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50% Say Health Care Law Has Not Impacted Them

Though one-in-three voters say their personal health care coverage has changed because of the national health care law, half still say the law hasn’t impacted them positively or negatively.

Forty-four percent (44%) of Likely U.S. Voters have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of the health care law, while 52% regard it unfavorably, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. This includes 19% who view the law Very Favorably and 41% who have a Very Unfavorable opinion of it. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

South Dakota Senate: Rounds (R) 44%, Weiland (D) 29%, Pressler (I) 18%

Former Governor Mike Rounds still leads his Democratic opponent Rick Weiland by double digits in South Dakota’s U.S. Senate race, but Republican-turned-Independent Larry Pressler has made the race a bit closer.

A new Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely South Dakota voters finds Rounds with 44% of the vote to Weiland’s 29%. Pressler, a former three-term Republican senator, picks up 18% of the vote. Two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate in the race, while seven percent (7%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 750 Likely Voters in South Dakota was conducted on June 4-5, 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 Ending June 7

Voters have made it clear for years that the economy is their number one concern, and if President Obama’s approval ratings are any indication, money appears to be talking louder that the numerous controversies the administration finds itself in.

Iowa Governor: Branstad (R) 49%, Hatch (D) 40%

Republican Governor Terry Branstad leads his Democratic opponent Jack Hatch by nine points in his bid for reelection in Iowa.

Branstad picks up 49% of the vote to Hatch’s 40% in a new Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Iowa Voters. Two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate in the race, while eight percent (8%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Iowa was conducted on June 4-5, 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 Senate Ernst (R) 45%, Braley (D) 44%

The U.S. Senate race in Iowa is a dead heat.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Iowa Voters finds Republican Joni Ernst, the winner of Tuesday’s crowded party primary, with 45% support to Democratic Congressman Bruce Braley’s 44%. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate in the race, while nine percent (9%) 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 June 4-5, 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.

21% Think EPA Actions Help the Economy

Fewer voters than ever believe the actions of the federal Environmental Protection Agency help the economy. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 36% of Likely U.S. Voters have a favorable opinion of the EPA, while 39% view the agency unfavorably. Twenty-five percent (25%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

30% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Thirty percent (30%) 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 June 1.

This is up one point from the week before. The number who say the country is heading in the right direction has been in the narrow range of 28% to 30% for 20 out of the 24 weeks since mid-December.

(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 May 26-June 1, 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.

Boehner, Pelosi Are Still Most Unpopular Congressional Leaders

House Speaker John Boehner is now the overall most unpopular leader in Congress, surpassing even House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi who has long held that title. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 26% of Likely U.S. Voters have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of Boehner, while 60% view him unfavorably. This includes four percent (4%) with a Very Favorable view of the Ohio Republican and 30% with a Very Unfavorable one. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

Rasmussen Employment Index Hits Six-Year High in May

The Rasmussen Employment Index which measures worker confidence jumped five points in May to its highest level in over six years of monthly tracking.

At 100.1, worker confidence is up from last month’s finding of 95.6. In March, the index had hit a previous six-year high of 96.2. The index fell to a recent low of 81.2 in October but gained steadily after that. It stood at 94.4 in May of last year.

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The survey of 9,176 working Americans was conducted in May 2014 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 41%, Republicans 38%

Democrats lead Republicans by three points on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending Sunday, June 1.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% 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.

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The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from May 26-June 1, 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. 

Obama’s Full-Month Approval Up Two Points in May

When tracking President Obama’s job approval on a daily basis, people sometimes get so caught up in the day-to-day fluctuations that they miss the bigger picture.  To look at the longer-term trends, Rasmussen Reports compiles the numbers on a full-month basis, and the results can be seen in the graphics below.  

The president’s monthly job approval rating climbed to 49% in May, up two points from April and matching his previous high for the year reached in February. His job approval held steady at 47% in March and April. Obama’s approval rating hit a two-year low of 45% in November during the troubled rollout period for the new national health care law. Through much of November and early December, his daily job approval ratings were at the lowest levels of his entire presidency. Since then, however, his approval ratings have returned to levels seen for much of his time in the White House.

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Daily tracking results are collected via telephone surveys of 500 likely voters per night. The monthly numbers in this article are based on approximately 15,000 interviews each month with likely voters. The margin of sampling error is less than +/- 1 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.

51% Oppose Obamacare Mandate That All Must Be Insured

Opposition to the new health care law’s requirement that every American have health insurance has risen to its highest level this year.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds 39% of Likely U.S. Voters continue to believe the government should require every American to buy or obtain health insurance. That’s down slightly from the first of the year but consistent with surveys for the past couple months. However, 51% now oppose this so-called individual mandate, up six points from late April and the highest level of opposition since December. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 31-June 1, 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 May 31

President Obama this week spoke of the diminished role of the military in his foreign policy and at week’s end dumped the former general in charge of veterans’ retirement benefits.

Kentucky Senate: McConnell (R) 48%, Grimes (D) 41%

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell now holds a seven-point lead over Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes in Kentucky’s U.S. Senate race following last week’s state party primaries.

McConnell earns 48% support to Grimes’ 41% in the latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Kentucky Voters. Five percent (5%) like some other candidate in the race, and seven percent (7%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Kentucky was conducted on May 28-29, 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.

Arkansas Governor: Hutchinson (R) 48%, Ross (D) 41%

In a gubernatorial race between two former U.S. congressmen, Republican Asa Hutchinson has pulled ahead of Democrat Mike Ross in Arkansas following last week’s party primaries.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Arkansas Voters shows Hutchinson with 48% of the vote to Ross’ 41%. Four percent (4%) prefer some other candidate in the race, while six percent (6%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Arkansas was conducted on May 27-28, 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.

58% Say It’s Possible To End U.S. Dependence on Foreign Oil

Voters are more optimistic than ever that the United States can completely end its dependence on oil imports, although most still think the country is not doing enough to develop its own resources.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 25% of Likely U.S. Voters think the United States does enough to develop its own gas and oil resources. Sixty-one percent (61%) disagree, but that’s down from 65% in September and is the lowest level of pessimism measured since 2011. Fourteen percent (14%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

29% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Twenty-nine (29%) 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 May 25.

This has held steady for three weeks now. The number who say the country is heading in the right direction has been in the narrow range of 28% to 30% for 19 out of the 23 weeks since mid-December.

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

Just 19% Think High School Grads Have Skills for College or Workforce

As high school graduation nears, fewer voters than ever think high schoolers have the skills necessary to enter the workforce, and they’re no more confident in their readiness for college.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 19% of Likely U.S. Voters think most high school graduates today have the skills needed to enter the workforce, down from February’s high of 25% and the lowest level of confidence since polling began in March 2012. Sixty-nine percent (69%) do not think high school graduates have the skills for a job, up five points and the highest finding to date. Twelve percent (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 May 21-22, 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.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 42%, Republicans 38%

Democrats continue to lead Republicans by four points on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending Sunday, May 25.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% 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 May 19-25, 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.

Georgia Governor: Carter (D) 48%, Deal (R) 41%

Incumbent Republican Nathan Deal trails Democratic challenger Jason Carter by seven points in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at the Georgia gubernatorial race.

A new statewide telephone survey of Likely Georgia Voters finds Carter with 48% support to Deal’s 41%. Three percent (3%) like another candidate in the race, while seven percent (7%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Georgia was conducted on May 21-22, 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.