Forty-nine percent (49%) of U.S. voters now say it is at least somewhat likely that Republicans will win control of Congress next year. But only 18% say it is very likely.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 37% think it’s unlikely the GOP will take majority control away from the Democrats. Just seven percent (7%) say it’s not at all likely. Thirteen percent (13%) are not sure.

Fifty-two percent (52%) of all voters say Republicans are the party most likely to gain seats in Congress in next year’s mid-term elections. Thirty-two percent (32%) say Democrats will pick up seats. Sixteen percent (16%) are not sure.

The survey was taken the night of Election Day and the night after. On Tuesday, Republicans won the two marquee races of the year, taking away the governorships of New Jersey and Virginia from Democrats.

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Seventy-three percent (73%) of Republicans think it is likely that their party will regain control of the Senate and the House. Just 55% of Democrats say it’s unlikely. Even more telling is that 31% of Republicans say it is very likely, compared to 12% of Democratic voters who rate it as not at all likely.

A plurality (49%) of voters not affiliated with either party see the GOP returning to the majority in Congress.

Eighty-two percent (82%) of GOP voters and 55% of unaffiliateds say Republicans will gain seats in Congress next year. Sixty percent (60%) of Democrats say their party will increase its majorities.

But the new findings are not necessarily good news for Republican incumbents who are acutely aware of so-called “Tea Party” challenges on the right. Only 15% of Republicans who plan to vote in 2012 state primaries think the party’s representatives in Congress have done a good job of representing GOP values.

By contrast, a solid plurality (47%) of Democratic voters say their congressmen are on the same page with them ideologically.

Republicans continue to lead this week in the Generic Congressional Ballot. Forty-two percent (42%) would vote for their district’s Republican congressional candidate while 38% would opt for his or her Democratic opponent. Voters not affiliated with either party continue to favor Republicans, 39% to 23%.
Yet in October, for the third straight month, the number of Americans identifying themselves as Democrats inched up while the number of Republicans fell slightly.

Fifty-three percent (53%) of voters find it unlikely that the current Congress will seriously address the most important issues facing our nation. That’s the highest level found on the question since July 2008.

Most voters also think the news media has too much power over their elected representatives in Washington and the decisions they make.

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