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What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls -- For The Week Ending May 4, 2013

The flight delay gambit didn’t work.

In response to the recent sequester spending cuts, the Federal Aviation Administration decided to furlough air traffic controllers rather than finding savings in other areas of its budget, prompting airport delays across the country. But even after the delays, only 24% of voters think the sequester cut too much, unchanged from early March just after the government spending cuts took effect. Nearly twice as many still believe the sequester didn’t cut enough.

49% Rate Quality of U.S. Environment as Good or Excellent

Half of U.S. voters give the environment positive ratings, but far fewer believe it is getting better. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 49% of Likely Voters rate the quality of the environment in the United States as good or excellent. Just 11% think the environment is poor.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

Voters Favor Choices for Prayer, Uniforms in Schools

Most voters continue to think parents should be able to choose between schools based on such things as uniforms, prayer and how long the school year lasts.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 74% of Likely Voters think parents should have a choice of whether to send their children to schools that allow prayer and those that don’t. Just 16% say parents should not have this choice, while another 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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 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.

30% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

For the second week in a row, 30% 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, April 28.

Sixty-two percent (62%) of voters now think the country is heading down the wrong track, also unchanged from the week before. From January 2009 until October 2012, belief that the country was on the wrong track ranged from 55% to 80%, but it tracked in the low 50s from just before Election Day until early 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 April 22-28, 2013. 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.

President Obama’s Full Month Rating Slips Again in April

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.

For the month of April, the president's Total Job Approval Rating fell another two points from 52% in March to 50%.  That’s the lowest level measured since last September.   

In December, it reached 56%, the highest level since May 2009. Prior to the election, that rating had remained in the narrow range of 44% to 49% for two years straight.

Rasmussen Employment Index Hits 2013 High

The Rasmussen Employment Index which measures worker confidence rose six points in April to 90.7, the highest level of the year.

Worker confidence is up a full 10 points from April 2012 and is up 16 points from April 2011. In December of last year, the Index hit a five-year high of 91.2, but it had steadily fallen the first three months of this year. December marked the last time the Employment Index reached the 90-point mark.

(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 9,162 working Americans was conducted in April 2013 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: Republicans 40%, Democrats 39%

For the first time since before the presidential election, Republicans now hold a one-point lead over Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending April 28.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows 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 April 22-28, 2013. 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.

38% Give Obama Positive Marks for Job Creation

Following a government report of yet another anemic quarter of economic growth, voters give President Obama even less credit for his handling of the issues of job creation and small business.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 38% of Likely Voters rate the president’s handling of issues related to job creation as good or excellent. Forty-three percent (43%) give him a poor rating in this area. 

When it comes to issues related to small business, 35% give him a good or excellent rating.  Forty-three percent (43%) think Obama’s performance in this area is poor.  (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 April 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. 

35% Say Health Care Law Has Hurt Them; 19% Say It’s Helped

Voters continue to give President Obama’s health care law mixed reviews, but more voters believe the law has hurt more than helped them.

Forty-three percent (43%) of Likely U.S. Voters view the health care law favorably, while 49% have an unfavorable opinion of it, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. This includes 17% with a Very Favorable view of the law and 35% 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 April 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.

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls -- Week Ending April 27, 2013

While the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings and its aftermath will never forget, Americans in general appear to be recognizing that terrorism is part of the new normal. National security remains low on the list of voter concerns still topped by the economy.

37% Think U.S., Allies Winning War on Terror

Confidence that the United States and its allies are winning the War on Terror has fallen to its lowest level in roughly two years. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 37% of Likely U.S. Voters now believe America and its allies are winning that war. That’s down five points from 42% in January and down 18 points from 55% in May 2011 following the killing of Osama bin Laden by U.S. Navy SEALs.  Twenty-four percent (24%) feel the terrorists are winning, while 31% think neither side has the edge. (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 April 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.

30% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Thirty percent (30%) 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, April 21.

Voter optimism in the nation’s current course is down one point from the previous week. Two weeks ago, it appeared to have recovered from a downturn prompted by the political impasse in Washington, D.C. over the so-called sequester budget cuts. Belief that the country was heading in the right direction fell to 28% in late February-early March as political leaders were desperately looking for ways to avoid even modest reductions in the growth of federal spending. Now that the threat to undo the sequester has passed, confidence in the country's direction appeared to be returning to earlier levels but has been trending downward again over the past two weeks.

(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 April 15-21, 2013. 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.

Economy Still Tops in Importance to Voters

Regardless of what is happening in the news, the economy remains the number one issue for voters.

New national telephone surveying shows that 80% of Likely U.S. Voters think the economy is Very Important in terms of how they will vote in the next congressional election, topping the list of 15 key issues tracked by Rasmussen Reports as it has for years. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The surveys of 1,000 Likely Voters each were conducted on April 11-12, 15-16, & 21-22, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error for each survey 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.

45% Give Obama Good or Excellent Marks on Gun Control

Voters’ views of President Obama’s handling of issues related to gun control have changed little, despite his outspoken criticism of the Senate’s reluctance to pass expanded background checks for potential gun buyers.  

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of Likely U.S. Voters rate the way the president is handling issues related to gun control as good or excellent.  Thirty-nine percent (39%) give him a poor rating in this area.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

How did you do in The Rasmussen Challenge? Final results are in - check the leaderboard. 

(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 April 19-20, 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.

35% Say America’s Best Days Are in the Future

Confidence in the nation's future is down again, following a brief uptick around the election.

Only 35% of Likely U.S. Voters now believe America’s best days are in the future, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.  That’s down from 40% in late January.  Forty-nine percent (49%) think the nation’s best days are in the past. This is the lowest level of optimism and the highest level of pessimism since last August. (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 April 17-18, 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.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 41%, Republicans 39%

Democrats hold a two-point lead over Republicans on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending April 21.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows 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 39% 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 April 15-21, 2013. 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.

39% Are Aware If Their State Is Creating A Health Insurance Exchange

Under President Obama’s health care law, states have less than six months now to open exchanges for the sale of universal health insurance, but most voters still aren’t sure what their state has done. Voters remain evenly divided over whether their governor should help to get the health care law on track even as a key Democrat worries in Washington, D.C. that the law is headed for “a train wreck.”

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 39% of Likely U.S. Voters are aware whether their state has agreed to set up a health insurance exchange. Thirty-three percent (33%) say they don’t know what their state has done, and another 27% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

How did you do in The Rasmussen Challenge? Final results are in - check the leaderboard. 

(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 April 19-20, 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.

37% Rate Obama's Handling of Economy As Good or Excellent

Voter confidence in President Obama's handling of the economy has fallen back to pre-election levels. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 37% of Likely U.S. Voters now give the president good or excellent marks for his handling of the economy. Forty-five percent (45%) rate his performance in this area as poor. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

How did you do in The Rasmussen Challenge? Final results are in - check the leaderboard. 

(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 April 15-16, 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.

33% Give Obama Positive Marks for Social Security

Voter confidence in President Obama's handling of Social Security has fallen following his release of a proposed budget that does not address threats to the retirement fund's solvency.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 33% of Likely U.S.Voters rate the president's handling of issues related to Social Security as good or excellent. That's down eight points from 41% in February. Forty-one percent (41%) think Obama is doing a poor job of handling Social Security-related issues. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

How did you do in The Rasmussen Challenge? Final results are in - check the leaderboard. 

(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 April 17-18, 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.

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls -- Week Ending April 20, 2013

Boston.

The terrorist bombing at the Boston Marathon and the resulting manhunt for the perpetrators have held the attention of the nation for the past week, but Americans seem to be taking the events in stride.