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What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls
Saturday, April 28, 2012 

Despite media fixation on the scream of the week, most Americans remain focused on the essentials, and their views on them are consistent over time, even if the Political Class continues to ignore them. 

Take the auto bailouts. They’ve been unpopular since day one, and they’re still unpopular. Admittedly, thanks to the political spin out of Washington, the bailouts are a bit less unpopular because many Americans incorrectly believe the government made money or broke even on them. But when informed of the real price tag, opposition is just as high as ever. 

The majority of Americans nationwide still believes General Motors should have gone through the regular bankruptcy process instead of the federal government taking over in exchange for bailout money. 

But then President Obama recently suggested that government investment is what has made America great. Voters express a lot more confidence in the free enterprise system. In fact, just 27% agree that government investments made America great. By comparison, 69% think the free enterprise system deserves the credit. 

Unfortunately, and this is where the Political Class again enters in, many see crony capitalism at work in the free market system, especially when it comes to the awarding of government contracts. Sixty-six percent (66%) of voters believe most government contracts are given to the company with the most political connections rather than the one that can provide the best service for the best price. 

For some, government is the answer to economic inequality in this country, but for most voters, it’s not. Only 22% believe society would become fairer if there was greater government regulation. 

Most Americans still believe the price for a gallon of gas could top $5 in the next few months, and a plurality (44%), for example, now thinks government regulation is to blame for the higher prices. 

Shareholders recently rejected the compensation package for top executives at Citigroup, the first action of its kind against those who run a major U.S. bank.  Americans believe that executives at most major companies are paid too much, but few think the government should regulate CEO compensation. However, there is an exception: Nearly half support continued government regulation of executive compensation at companies that were bailed out. That’s true even if the company paid the money back. 

Illegal immigration remains an area where voters would like to see the government do more. For years, most voters have said the nation’s immigration priority should be controlling the borders, just as they’ve repeatedly said the federal government’s current policies encourage illegal immigration instead. 

In fact, the Obama administration is challenging Arizona’s crackdown on illegal immigration which is intended in part to make the government do its job. The U.S. Supreme Court this past week held hearings on that challenge. Yet most voters nationwide agree with the Arizona law’s most controversial provision, automatic immigration checks of those stopped by police for traffic violations. 

As Scott Rasmussen argues in his latest syndicated column, “Voters remember what many in Washington often forget: America is a nation of immigrants -- and of laws. The American people want both traditions to be honored.” 

It’s important to note, too, that while most voters want tougher enforcement of immigration laws, 60% continue to believe American society is generally fair and decent. 

Every day, millions of Americans get their mail from the U.S. Postal Service, and this is another area where voter sentiments haven’t changed for years. The USPS hopes to cut delivery to five days a week and close hundreds of post offices nationwide as major cost-cutting moves but continues having trouble getting the proposals through Congress. Most voters, however, are fine with both ideas rather than having to provide additional taxpayer money to keep the postal service afloat. 

After all, just 23% of voters say increased government spending helps the economy. 

Then there’s Medicare. Voters continue to have mixed feelings about the government health insurance program for retired Americans, and most still aren’t confident they’ll get the benefits they’re entitled to. Pessimism, not surprisingly, is highest among younger Americans as Scott Rasmussen explains in a radio update this week. 

Scott is now doing three Rasmussen Report radio updates every weekday, courtesy of the WOR Radio Network. Listen for the one-minute editions of “The Rasmussen Report” on radio stations in your area or here. Encourage your favorite station to sign up. 

The gap between what voters want and what Washington “gives” them should come as no surprise to readers of Scott’s New York Times bestselling book, The People’s Money: How the American People Will Balance the Budget and Eliminate the Federal Debt .  He contends that voters are ready to support the kind of long-term thoughtful changes needed to balance the budget and eliminate the federal debt. The only thing standing in the way is a Political Class committed to defending the status quo. 

With voters so passionate about these issues, they’re sure to be at the forefront of the accelerating presidential contest, but most voters aren’t counting on the traditional media to make sure that happens. In fact, 87% believe the media in covering presidential candidates is more interested in creating controversies about them than in reporting where they stand on the issues. 

On the election front, with Rick Santorum out of the Republican race and Newt Gingrich soon to follow, likely GOP nominee Mitt Romney now runs even with the president in the key swing states of Florida and Virginia.

Nationally, Romney has been running slightly ahead of the president in most daily matchups in recent weeks. 

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said publicly she’s not interested in being Romney’s running mate, but she is far and away the most popular in the latest batch of five possible vice presidential candidates Rasmussen Reports asked voters about. Even among just Republican voters, Rice is also viewed a lot more favorably than an earlier set of potential veep candidates including Florida Senator Marco Rubio, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Santorum. 

Both Obama and Romney are backing lower interest rates on some student loans, but nearly half of Americans nationwide believe the availability of student loans has driven up tuition costs for everyone. In fact, most Americans believe it’s better for students to work and attend school for a longer period of time rather than graduate in four years with loads of student debt. 

Americans still strongly believe good students can get student loans and grants if they need them, but they’re less supportive of government-backed loans for low-income students. 

More bad news for the president on Friday with new data showing the nation’s economic growth slowed in the first quarter of the year, and Romney is already hammering Obama on the jobs issue. The Rasmussen Consumer and Investor Indexes continued to show little movement in confidence among either group. 

Regardless of what they say now, though, only eight percent (8%) of voters think most politicians keep their campaign promises. 

Read this article with links at Rasmussen