Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 42%, Democrats 39%
Republicans continue to lead on the Generic Congressional Ballot as they have for over two years now. The GOP holds a three-point advantage over Democrats for the week ending Sunday, October 16.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election was held now, while 39% would choose the Democrat instead.
The week before, Republicans held a five-point lead over Democrats, 43% to 38%. Three weeks ago, Republicans led Democrats by only two points, 42% to 40%. That was the narrowest margin between the two parties in the last two years.
Democrats enjoyed a seven-point lead on the Generic Congressional Ballot - 42% to 35% - when Barack Obama took office as president in late January 2009. But every week since June 2009, the GOP candidate has been ahead, leading by as much as 12 points and as little as two. The week before Election Day last November, support for Republicans peaked at 51%, the highest level of support either party has enjoyed in the last two years.
Since the beginning of the year, GOP support has remained in the narrow range of 41% to 45%, while Democrats have earned 35% to 40% in the same period.
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