These poll numbers were released earlier today by Rasmussen Reports -- "an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information."
38% Agree With Perry's Goal of Making Washington, DC Inconsequential, 34% Don't
Monday, August 29, 2011
Governor Rick Perry recently caused a stir when he told voters it was his goal to make Washington, D.C. as inconsequential as possible in their lives. But voters are closely divided over whether that's such a good idea.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 38% of Likely U.S. Voters agree with the goal of making Washington as inconsequential as possible in the lives of Americans. But 34% disagree with that goal, and nearly as many (28%) are undecided about it. (To see survey question wording, click here .)
Perry has jumped to a double-digit lead over Mitt Romney and Michele Bachmann in the race for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination , and 56% of GOP voters agree with his stated goal of making the Nation's Capital inconsequential. But a plurality (48%) of Democrats disagrees with Perry's goal. Among voters not affiliated with either party, 39% favor Perry's idea, 35% don't.
Seventy-three percent (73%) of Tea Party members share Perry's enthusiasm for lessening the importance of Washington and the federal government, compared to just 28% of those who are not part of the grassroots movement.
Sixty-seven percent (67%) of the Political Class rejects Perry's goal, while a plurality (45%) of Mainstream voters approves of it.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 23-24, 2011 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 .
Fifty percent (50%) of voters believe the federal government has too much influence over state governments , and 54% believe states should be able to opt out of federal programs they don't like . Just 17% think the federal government now has the consent of the governed .
Fifty percent (50%) of male voters agree with Perry's goal of making Washington as inconsequential as possible, but only 28% of female voters share that view. Whites and voters of other races are more than twice as likely as blacks to favor a diminished role for the federal government.
Higher-income voters like the idea of an inconsequential Washington more than those who earn less.
Sixty-seven percent (67%) of all voters now think that thoughtful spending cuts should be considered in every program of the federal government as the nation searches for solutions to its budget crisis. Americans still overwhelmingly believe that those employed in the private sector work harder than government workers but receive less compensation and have less job security.
Perry is an early favorite of many Tea Party voters, and while many Democrats, journalists and establishment Republicans have been critical of the Tea Party, most Republicans think the smaller government movement will be a plus for their party in next year's presidential race . More voters still think the average Tea Party member has a better handle on America's problems than the average member of Congress does, but there's a sharp difference of opinion between Democrats and Republicans.
President Obama continues to trail a generic Republican candidate in a hypothetical 2012 election matchup but leads all named GOP candidates in the race for the White House. He holds a 43% to 40% lead over Perry.