Rasmussen: 56% See Media Witch Hunt of Public Figures Accused of Sexual Wrongdoing

A new Rasmussen Reports national survey finds that just 28% of Likely U.S. Voters say, when a public figure is accused of sexual wrongdoing, it is more likely that the media will regard him as innocent until proven guilty. Fifty-six percent (56%) believe it’s more likely the media will regard the public figure as guilty until proven innocent. Seventeen percent (17%) are not sure.

There is little disagreement on this question between men and women. Fifty-eight percent (58%) of men think it’s more likely the media will regard a public figure accused of sexual wrongdoing as guilty until proven innocent, a view shared by 54% of women.

Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is accused of attempting to sexually assault a girl when he was in high school, but only 33% of all voters believe the California woman who made those allegations. Slightly more (38%) believe Kavanaugh, who has denied those claims.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 19-20, 2018 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.

Most Republicans (74%) and voters not affiliated with either major political party (55%) think the media is more likely to regard a public figure accused of sexual wrongdoing as guilty until proven innocent. Democrats are evenly divided on this question.

Eighty percent (80%) of voters who Strongly Approve of the job President Trump is doing think the media is more likely to regard him as guilty until proven innocent. A plurality (43%) of voters who Strongly Disapprove of Trump’s job performance think the media is more likely to regard that person as innocent until proven guilty.

Voters who view media coverage of the Kavanaugh nomination positively are more likely to believe the media will give public figures accused of sexual wrongdoing a fair shake. Most voters who rate the Kavanaugh coverage as poor disagree.  

The wording of the question is here…

National Survey of 1,000 U.S. Likely Voters

Conducted September 19-20, 2018
By Rasmussen Reports

1* When a public figure is accused of sexual wrongdoing, which is more likely – that the media will regard him as innocent until proven guilty or guilty until proven innocent?

NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence

Voters don’t buy media hysteria over Manafort & Cohen

Two important polls are out this week from Rasmussen. 

One, released today, notes that voters still think the highly publicized cases of Trump associates Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen will not cause criminal problems for President Donald Trump.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters think the conviction of Manafort and the guilty pleas of Cohen are likely to lead to criminal charges against Trump. Fifty percent (50%) consider that unlikely. This includes 20% who say it’s Very Likely and 24% who see it as Not At All Likely. The question wording is below:

National Survey of 1,000 U.S. Likely Voters

Conducted August 22-23, 2018
By Rasmussen Reports

1* How closely have you followed recent news reports about the criminal cases of Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen – very closely, somewhat closely, not very closely or not at all?

2* How likely is it that that the conviction of Paul Manafort and the guilty pleas of Michael Cohen will lead to criminal charges against President Trump – very likely, somewhat likely, not very likely or not at all likely?

NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence

Another poll, also release today, reports most voters agree with President Trump that America should come first on the world stage but don't think the Democrat Party's next presidential nominee is likely to follow that path.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that, when thinking about problems in the world, 52% of Likely U.S. Voters are more interesting in finding a solution that most benefits the United States. Forty-one percent (41%) would rather find a solution that is better for the whole world.

For more information, visit Rasmussen Reports at www.rasmussenreports.com.

Rasmussen Reports invites you to be a part of our first-ever Citizen-Sourced National Midterm Election Polling Project. Learn more about how you can contribute.

Poll numbers on illegal immigration favor Republicans

Since the June primary, the Rasmussen polling firm has released a series of poll results that appear to bode well for Republicans in November.  50% of voters oppose their community declaring itself a sanctuary community.

Rasmussen found that just 37% of Likely U.S. Voters favor the community they live in declaring itself a sanctuary community, while 50% oppose it.  Another 12% are undecided.

National Survey of 1,000 U.S. Likely Voters

Conducted June 7 and 10, 2018
By Rasmussen Reports

1* Many communities in the United States have declared themselves sanctuaries for illegal immigrants, refusing to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Do you favor or oppose the community you live in declaring itself a sanctuary community?

2* Generally speaking, are sanctuary communities more safe or less safe than communities that do not protect illegal immigrants from federal authorities? Or is the level of safety about the same?

NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence

Most voters blame the parents of the separated children at the border for the latest illegal immigration crisis, not the federal government.

When families are arrested and separated after attempting to enter the United States illegally, 54% of Likely U.S. Voters say the parents are more to blame for breaking the law according to Rasmussen’s latest national poll on the issue.  The survey further finds that only 35% believe the federal government is more to blame for enforcing the law. Eleven percent (11%) are not sure.

A closer look shows that 82% of Republicans and 56% of voters not affiliated with either major political party feel the parents are more to blame for breaking the law. But 60% of Democrats say the government is more to blame for enforcing the law.

National Survey of 1,000 U.S. Likely Voters

Conducted June 19-20, 2018
By Rasmussen Reports

1* Do you agree or disagree with the following statement - "The United States will not be a migrant camp. And it will not be a refugee-holding facility - it won't be."

2* Is the Trump administration too aggressive or not aggressive enough in trying to stop the flow of illegal immigrants into the United States? Or are its policies about right?

3* When families are arrested and separated after attempting to enter the United States illegally, who is more to blame – the parents for breaking the law or the federal government for enforcing the law?

NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence

Many Democrats are calling for abolishing the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, but even among voters in their own party, there’s not much support for the idea. That’s because most voters think the government needs to be even more aggressive in deporting illegal immigrants.

A Rasmussen national survey found that only 25% of Likely U.S. Voters favor getting rid of ICE and border control.  55% are opposed.  20% are undecided. 

69% of Republicans and 53% of voters not affiliated with either major political party oppose getting rid of ICE.  Democrats agree by a narrower 44% to 36% margin.

33% of all voters believe the U.S. government is too aggressive in deporting those who are in this country illegally. 46% disagrees and says the government isn’t aggressive enough.  Just 13% consider the current number of deportations as about right.

National Survey of 1,000 U.S. Likely Voters

Conducted June 27-28, 2018
By Rasmussen Reports

1* U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a law enforcement agency of the federal government whose duties include border control. A proposal has been made to abolish ICE and assign its duties to other federal agencies. Do you favor or oppose getting rid of ICE?

2* Is the U.S. government too aggressive or not aggressive enough in deporting those who are in this country illegally? Or is the number of deportations about right?

NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence

San Francisco is allowing non-citizens, including illegal immigrants, to vote in the upcoming school board elections.  Nationwide, most voters strongly oppose it.

A recent Rasmussen survey finds that 31% of Likely U.S. Voters favor letting illegal immigrants vote for local officials in the area where they live, with 62% opposed.

National Survey of 1,000 U.S. Likely Voters

Conducted July 19 and 22, 2018
By Rasmussen Reports

1* Should illegal immigrants be allowed to vote if they can prove that they live in this country and pay taxes?

2* San Francisco is now the latest community that will allow illegal immigrants to vote in some local elections. Do you or favor oppose letting illegal immigrants vote for local officials in the area where you live?

NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence

For more information, visit www.rasmussenreports.com.