Just 29 percent of U.S. voters now say the country is heading in the right direction, the lowest level measured since early February, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
The percentage of voters who felt the country is heading in the right direction remained in the narrow range of 31 percent to 35 percent from July to early November. For the previous three weeks, however, confidence in the country’s current course has held steady at 30 percent.
The majority of voters (65 percent) continue to believe the nation is heading down the wrong track. The latest finding is up slightly from last week and has remained fairly consistent for months. In the weeks just prior to Barack Obama's election, more than 80 percent of voters felt that way.
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This time last year, 17 percent said the country was heading in the right direction, while 77 percent said it was heading down the wrong track. Following Obama’s inauguration in January, voter confidence in the direction of the country began steadily increasing, peaking at 40 percent in early May. Since then voter confidence has steadily declined.
Eighty-nine percent (89 percent) of Republicans and 74 percent of unaffiliated voters believe the nation is heading down the wrong track, findings that have held roughly steady for months. Democrats are more closely divided on the question: 52 percent say right direction, 38 percent say wrong track. Just nine percent (9 percent) of GOP voters say the United States is heading in the right direction.
African-American voters (58 percent) remain more confident in the nation’s current course than whites (24 percent) and other voters (32 percent).
All voters strongly believe that black-white relations are better today - and improving - but are much less confident about the social situation with Hispanics.
As they have all year, voters rate cutting the federal deficit in half by the end of his first term as President Obama’s number one budget priority, followed by healthcare reform.
Forty-one percent (41 percent) of voters nationwide now favor the healthcare bill, but 55 percent are opposed. This is the fifth straight week with support for the legislation between 38 percent and 41 percent.
Fifty-seven percent (57 percent) of voters nationwide say that it would be better to pass no healthcare reform bill this year instead of passing the plan currently being considered by Congress.
Findings from today’s Rasmussen Consumer Index shows that just nine percent (9 percent) rate the economy as good or excellent while 55 percent say it’s in poor shape.
This may help explain why a majority (60 percent) of voters trust their own judgment more than Obama’s when it comes to the economic issues affecting the nation. Only 27 percent trust the president more. Another 13 percent are undecided.
Still, most voters blame his predecessor, George W. Bush, for the country’s continuing bad economy.
Sixty-six percent (66 percent) of voters prefer a smaller government with fewer services and lower taxes over a more active government with more services and higher taxes, the second highest finding of the year.
Republican candidates now have an eight-point lead over Democrats, their biggest lead of the year, in the latest edition of the Generic Congressional Ballot.