Politics

46% Favor Stricter Gun Control Laws, 46% Disagree

Americans are evenly divided on whether the United States needs tougher gun control laws, but most still agree that existing laws need to be more strictly enforced.

Forty-six percent (46%) of U.S. Adults believe the United States needs stricter gun control laws, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. But just as many (46%) say the country does not need stricter gun laws. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on August 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.

58% Favor Death Penalty for Fort Hood Killer

Most voters continue to believe the Muslim-American U.S. Army officer now being tried for killing 13 of his fellow soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas should be sentenced to death if convicted.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% of Likely U.S. Voters think Major Nidal Malik Hasan should receive the death penalty if convicted. That’s down from 65% in November 2009 just after the shootings occurred.  Twenty-one percent (21%) oppose the death penalty for Hasan, while another 21% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 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 by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Christie Is Candidate GOP Voters Want Least As Their 2016 Nominee

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie holds a narrow lead among Republicans for the party’s 2016 presidential nomination, but even more GOP voters say he’s the candidate they least want to see nominated.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that Christie earns 21% support when Republican voters are asked whom they would vote for if the party’s primary in their state were held today. Florida Senator Marco Rubio runs a close second with 18% of the GOP vote, followed by former Florida Governor Jeb Bush at 16% and Kentucky Senator Rand Paul with 15% of the vote.

Congressman Paul Ryan, the unsuccessful Republican vice presidential candidate in 2012, picks up 13% of the Republican vote, with Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker dead last at six percent (6%). Just three percent (3%) prefer another candidate, and eight percent (8%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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

32% Say Child Born in U.S. to Illegal Immigrant Should Receive Automatic Citizenship

The August recess will allow members of Congress to hear concerns from constituents and other interests on some major legislation before next year’s mid-term elections, perhaps the biggest being immigration reform.  A majority of voters continue to see border security as the most important goal but also value a welcoming immigration policy that only excludes criminals and those looking to cheat the system. Fewer voters, however, favor automatic citizenship for children born to illegal immigrants.

Fifty-three percent (53%) of Likely Voters believe gaining control of the border is more important than legalizing the status of undocumented workers already living in the United States, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. While a majority of voters have felt this way for years, that finding ties the lowest level measured to date.  Thirty-six percent (36%) say it’s more important to legalize the status of undocumented workers in the United States. (To see survey question wording,click here.)

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

Hillary Clinton Is Leading Favorite – And Unfavorite – in Democratic Presidential Pack

Hillary Clinton is the Democrat voters most want to see win her party’s presidential nomination in 2016 – and least want to see win that nomination, too. Among Democrats, she’s the overwhelming favorite.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 63% of Likely Democratic Voters would choose Clinton if the 2016 Democratic presidential primary were held in their state today. Vice President Joe Biden is a distant second with 12% support. Several other prominent Democrats muster five percent (5%) or less support from voters in their own party. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

50% See U.S. Involvement in Middle East as Bad for U.S.

An unprecedented 19 U.S. embassies and consulates remain closed today throughout the Middle East and North Africa in response to a terrorist threat from al Qaeda.  While the Middle East has been a major focus of U.S. policy for decades, pluralities of U.S. voters say the country’s involvement in Middle East politics has had a negative effect on both sides. In addition, more voters than ever believe most Muslims view the United States as an enemy.

Thirty-seven percent (37%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe that U.S. involvement in Middle Eastern politics hurts stability in that region, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just 25% believe it helps stability. Nineteen percent (19%) believe U.S. involvement has had no impact on that region, while just as many (19%) aren’t sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

38% Agree with Obama’s Plan Linking Corporate Tax Cuts, New Jobs Program

President Obama in budget negotiations with congressional Republicans has proposed cuts in corporate tax rates in exchange for a new federal jobs program to tackle infrastructure needs. Thirty-eight percent (38%) of Likely U.S. Voters view Obama’s combination approach as the better way to create new jobs, but nearly as many (36%) think cutting corporate tax rates alone would be more effective. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 19% believe creating a new government jobs program alone is a better way to create new jobs. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 30-31, 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.

11% Still Think Snowden A Hero, 32% A Traitor

Even before a military judge handed down his verdict against Bradley Manning yesterday, nearly half of U.S. voters still believed the former Army intelligence analyst was a traitor for leaking government secrets. But voters remain more undecided when it comes to Edward Snowden, the private contractor who exposed the National Security Agency’s spying on domestic phone calls.

Thirty-two percent (32%) of Likely U.S. Voters consider Snowden a traitor who endangered lives and national security, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That compares to 46% who feel that way about Manning. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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

46% Favor More Restrictions on NSA Surveillance Program

Defenders of the National Security Agency’s recently disclosed surveillance of Americans’ telephone records seem to be getting somewhere. Voters tend to believe the NSA program should be reined in, but they’re not quite as suspicious of the government’s motives as they were earlier.   

Forty-six percent (46%) of Likely U.S. Voters favor putting greater restrictions on the NSA’s tracking of Americans’ telephone calls, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Thirty-six percent (36%) oppose additional restrictions on the program. Eighteen percent (18%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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

33% Still Favor Life in Prison for WikiLeaks Leaker Bradley Manning

A military judge is expected to rule as early as today on the guilt or innocence of former Army intelligence analyst Bradley Manning who is accused of leaking a huge amount of U.S. classified information to the WikiLeaks website. U.S. voters are slightly less convinced of his guilt these days.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of Likely U.S. Voters still believe it is at least somewhat likely that WikiLeaks’ release of this secret information has hurt national security. Just 28% think it’s unlikely that the exposure of these classified documents has hurt the nation’s security. This includes 26% who say it’s Very Likely to have hurt national security versus seven percent (7%) who say it is Not At All Likely to have done so. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 26-27, 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.

19% Support Florida Boycott Over Zimmerman Verdict

Despite a threatened boycott of Florida by those unhappy with the George Zimmerman trial verdict and the state’s “stand your ground” law, most voters nationwide don’t agree with a boycott of the Sunshine State.

Just 19% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it’s a good idea for states, cities, organizations and individuals to boycott Florida over the Zimmerman verdict, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Seventy percent (70%) don’t think a boycott of the state is a good idea. Eleven percent (11%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 22-23, 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.

57% Are Less Likely To Vote for A Candidate Caught in a Sex Scandal

Most voters say the rise of social media and increased electronic communication are causing more politicians to get caught misbehaving, and it’s costing those politicians their vote.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 81% of Likely U.S. Voters consider a candidate’s personal life at least somewhat important to how they will vote, while just 19% say it’s not important. This includes 38% who say the candidate’s personal life is Very Important versus three percent (3%) who view it as Not At All Important. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 24-25, 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% Rate Obama Administration’s Response to Zimmerman Verdict As Good or Excellent

Like responses to the George Zimmerman verdict itself, voters give the Obama administration mixed reviews for its reaction to the outcome of the Trayvon Martin case. But voters share President Obama’s concern about racial profiling.

Thirty-three percent (33%) of Likely U.S. Voters now rate the way the administration has responded to the Zimmerman verdict as good or excellent, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Slightly more (38%) view the administration’s response as poor. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 22-23, 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% Think Zimmerman Jury Would Have Found Black Shooter Not Guilty, Too

Most voters believe the jury in the George Zimmerman trial would have reached the same verdict if the shooter was black and the victim white. But blacks strongly disagree. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of Likely U.S. Voters think if all of the other facts were the same as those in the Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin case, the jury would have found the black shooter not guilty of murder if the victim was white. Thirty-one percent (31%) disagree and believe the jury would have found the black shooter guilty of murder. Seventeen percent (17%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 22-23, 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% Say Media Should Withhold Names, Pictures of Violent Criminals

Following outrage over Rolling Stone magazine’s decision to put a sympathetic picture of the Boston Marathon bomber on its cover, most Americans say the media pay too much attention to the personal lives of violent criminals. One-out-of-three believes the media should withhold the names and pictures of violent criminals in order to grant them less attention.

Sixty-two percent (62%) of U.S. Adults believe the news media focus too much on the personal lives of violent criminals, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just nine percent (9%) believe the media do not pay enough attention to violent criminals’ personal lives, while 19% say the level of attention is about right. Eleven percent (11%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 20-21, 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.

Half of NYC Voters Don’t Like Weiner, Spitzer

One-out-of-two New York City voters hold an unfavorable opinion of disgraced politicians Anthony Weiner and Eliot Spitzer who are both hoping to be returned to public office this fall.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone poll finds that 50% of Registered New York City Voters continue to view Weiner unfavorably, unchanged from mid-May. But now 40% have a favorable opinion of the married former congressman who was forced to resign after he was caught texting sexually suggestive photos of himself to women around the country. That’s up from 34% in the earlier survey.  The new findings include 18% with a Very Favorable opinion of Weiner and 29% with a Very Unfavorable one. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Registered New York Voters was conducted on July 16-17, 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.

44% Rate Obama Administration’s IRS Response As Poor

Voters remain suspicious that President Obama or his top aides knew about the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of Tea Party and other conservative groups, and they believe even more strongly that those involved should be jailed or fired.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of Likely U.S. Voters think it is at least somewhat likely that the president or his top aides were aware that the conservative groups were being targeted. Just 32% consider that unlikely. This includes 38% who say it’s Very Likely the president or his top aides knew of the rogue IRS activity versus only 10% who say it’s Not At All Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 20-21, 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.

46% Say U.S. Justice System Fair to Blacks, Hispanics

Following the George Zimmerman verdict, voters still believe the U.S. justice system is fairer to blacks and Hispanics than it is to Americans in general. But black voters don't see it that way.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of Likely Voters think the U.S. justice system is generally fair to black and Hispanic Americans.  Thirty-six percent (36%) say that is not the case, while 18% 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 July 18-19, 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.

71% View Rolling Stone's Terrorist Cover Photo As A Publicity Stunt

Rolling Stone magazine sparked outrage last week when it released an image of its August issue cover featuring a flattering photograph of accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. The magazine’s editors maintain that the photo properly reflects the article’s message and “falls within the traditions of journalism." Most Americans don’t see the decision as an example of good journalism and agree with retailers who have pulled the magazine off the stands, but they also recognize that Rolling Stone has a right to publish what it chooses.

Seventy-one percent (71%) of American Adults believe Rolling Stone’s decision to put Tsarnaev on its cover was simply a publicity stunt, according to a Rasmussen Reports national survey. Just 10% believe the decision was an example of good journalism. Eighteen percent (18%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 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.

45% Favor Stand Your Ground Laws, 32% Oppose

Florida’s “stand your ground” self-defense law, although ultimately not a part of the George Zimmerman trial, has now become a target for those unhappy with the verdict in that case. Americans tend to favor such a law in their state, although half are not sure if their state already has one or not. But they are evenly divided over whether such a law is good or bad for public safety.

Forty-five percent (45%) of American Adults favor having a stand your ground law in their state, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Thirty-two percent (32%) are opposed to such a law in their state. Twenty-two percent (22%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 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.