Poll Watch: Rasmussen Tea Party Survey

Rasmussen Tea Party Poll

Do you consider yourself part of the Tea Party Movement?

• Yes 13%
• No 74%
• Not sure 13%

Note: Tea Party participants include 23% of Republicans, but only five percent (5%) of Democrats and 10% of unaffiliateds.

Do you have a favorable or an unfavorable opinion of the Tea Party movement?

• Favorable 31%
• Unfavorable 47%
• Undecided 22%

Note: Fifty-nine percent (59%) of Republicans view the movement favorably; 73% of Democrats and a plurality (48%) of voters not affiliated with either of the major parties do not.

Who has a better understanding of the problems America faces today – the average Tea Party member or the average member of Congress?

• Tea Party 39%
• Congress 28%
• Not sure 34%

Note: Sixty-five percent (65%) of GOP voters think the average Tea Party member has a better handle on the nation’s problems than the average congressman does, a view shared by just 15% of Democrats and 35% of unaffiliateds. Among Tea Party members, 80% think they have a better understanding of the country’s problems. Among non-members, just 29% feel the average Tea Party member has a better understanding.

Thinking of the budget debate in Congress, has the impact of the Tea Party made things better or worse for the country?

• Better 30%
• Worse 43%
• No impact 10%
• Not sure 16%

Note: Two-out-of-three Democrats (66%) and 45% of unaffiliated voters believe the Tea Party has made things worse for the country during the budget debates. Fifty-five percent (55%) of Republicans say it has made things better.

Will the Tea Party movement help or hurt the Republican Party in the 2012 elections?

• Help 26%
• Hurt 46%
• No impact 11%
• Not sure 17%

Note: Most GOP voters (52%) think the Tea Party will be good for them in the upcoming elections, although that’s down from 58% in August. Sixty-six percent (66%) of Democrats and 49% of unaffiliated voters believe the Tea Party will hurt Republicans in November. Among Tea Party members, 66% believe they will help the GOP in the upcoming elections. Among non-members, 57% think the movement will hurt the GOP in the fall.

Survey of 1,000 likely voters was conducted January 9-10, 2012. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points.