Presidential Approval Index: Bush -30
In the final full month of his Presidency, just 13% of American adults said they Strongly Approved of the way that George W. Bush performed his job as president. Forty-three percent (43%) Strongly Disapproved.
Politics
Most Recent Releases
January 5, 2009
January 4, 2009
46% Favor Opting Out of Social Security
Forty-six percent (46%) of U.S. voters believe working Americans should be allowed to opt out of Social Security to provide for their own retirement planning, an idea not likely to gain much traction with Democrats more strongly in control of Congress.
January 3, 2009
What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls: Week Ending January 2, 2009
Welcome to 2009! Last year was a rough one for all of us, but many Americans are pinning their hopes on Barack Obama, who becomes president in less than three weeks.
January 2, 2009
52% Believe Israelis and Palestinians Can Live In Peace
Over half of Americans (52%) now believe it is possible for Israel and the Palestinians to live in peace, but just 35% think Barack Obama is likely to help end the conflict during his presidency.
December 31, 2008
Americans Closely Divided Over Israel’s Gaza Attacks
Americans, while far more sympathetic to Israel than the Palestinians, are closely divided over whether the Jewish state should be taking military action against militants in the Gaza Strip.
December 30, 2008
Stability Was The Hallmark of Election 2008
The beginning and the end of the 2008 General Election campaign were remarkably stable. Initially, after Barack Obama wrapped up the Democratic nomination, he was ahead of John McCain by four to seven points just about every night for the entire month of June. At the other end of the campaign, Obama was consistently up by about five to seven points for the last 40 days of the campaign.
December 29, 2008
Revisiting the Democratic Primaries: Analysis by Scott Rasmussen
With the country preparing to inaugurate Barack Obama as the next president of the United States next month, it’s hard to remember how improbable the notion of a President Obama seemed just a year ago. In fact, all indications are that Obama himself wasn’t really expecting to win it all in 2008.
December 27, 2008
FDR vs. Reagan: May The Best President Win
It’s a showdown between the two most influential presidents of the 20th Century. Franklin D. Roosevelt versus Ronald W. Reagan.
December 27, 2008
What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending December 26, 2008
Finally, the commercial season comes to a brief close, and the real meaning of Christmas is celebrated.
December 20, 2008
What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - December 19, 2008
Barack Obama is just about the only bright spot on the horizon for most Americans as Christmas comes and the troubled year of 2008 nears a close.
December 20, 2008
47% Worry About ‘Dynasty’ Politics
Forty-seven percent (47%) of U.S. voters are worried that America is developing an unofficial group of “royal families” with too much influence over government and politics.
December 19, 2008
Most Voters Like Caroline, But Only 37% Say She Is Fit for Senate
Just 37% of U.S. voters believe Caroline Kennedy is qualified to be in the U.S. Senate, and only 16% say she would be considered as Hillary Clinton’s replacement if her last name wasn’t Kennedy.
December 17, 2008
71% Say Tobacco Companies Not Liable for Smoker Health Problems
The Supreme Court on Monday opened up another avenue for smokers to sue tobacco companies, but 71% of U.S. voters say the companies should not be held liable for health problems that current smokers develop.
December 16, 2008
Holiday Snapshots: Michigan Spends A Lot Less, Florida Needs To Get Going
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas – except maybe in economically hard-hit Michigan and slow-to-get-started Florida.
December 16, 2008
Most Voters Say Teachers’ Unions More Focused On Jobs Than Education
Debate ran high within Barack Obama’s transition team over whether the next secretary of Education should be a traditionalist in sync with the national teachers’ unions or a reformer who will help break the hold those unions have on Democratic Party policy. Obama's choice of Chicago School Superintendent Arne Duncan is seen as a move to bridge those competing camps.
December 15, 2008
Nearly Half of Michigan Homeowners Say Values Will Go Up in Five Years
Forty-seven percent (47%) of homeowners in Michigan believe their homes will be worth more in five years than they are now, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state. That result is 12 percentage points below what homeowners think nationwide.
December 15, 2008
78% in Florida Say Jeb Bush Likely to Run for Senate
Seventy-eight percent (78%) of Florida voters say former Governor Jeb Bush is likely to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Mel Martinez in 2010.
December 15, 2008
40% of Massachusetts Voters Say State’s Heath Care Model would be Good for U.S.
Even though half of Massachusetts voters say that the quality of healthcare in their state has stayed the same since enacting a universal healthcare bill, only 40% say using the system as a model would be good for the rest of the country.
December 15, 2008
46% Say Quality of Health Care Will Suffer Under Government Plan
Nearly half of U.S. voters (46%) say the quality of health care will decrease if the government oversees a national health plan, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
December 15, 2008
45% Suspect Obama Team Involved in Blagojevich Scandal
Forty five percent (45%) of U.S. voters say it is likely President-elect Obama or one of his top campaign aides was involved in the unfolding Blagojevich scandal in Illinois, including 23% who say it is Very Likely.
