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Democrats Lead by Eight on Generic Ballot
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The Republicans have tightened the gap somewhat in the Generic Congressional Ballot. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that, if given the choice, 45% of voters would choose their district’s Democratic candidate, while 37% would choose the Republican candidate.

From now through Election Day, Rasmussen Reports is tracking the Generic Congressional Ballot on a weekly basis. Premium Members can get the results each Monday and can also review Crosstabs.

Support for the Democrats is down just two points from last week, but support for the GOP is up three points from last week. However, since weekly tracking began in June, support for both parties has stayed in a fairly modest range. Support for Democrats has ranged from a low of 43% to a high of 50%. Over that same time, Republicans have been preferred by 34% to 41% of voters nationwide.

This week, the parties are tied at 41% among men, but the Democrats retain a big 49% to 33% lead among women. While both Democrats and Republicans receive big support from voters in their own parties, the Democrats continue to lead among unaffiliated voters, 33% to 28%. Another 30% of unaffiliated voters are not sure which candidates they would choose.

While Democrats have overwhelming leads among voters who make $40,000 or less, while voters with higher incomes are more evenly divided. Democrats have a 44% to 40% advantage among voters who make between $40,000 and $60,000 per year, while the GOP has a 44% to 37% edge among voters who make between $60 and $80,000 per year. Democrats lead 44% to 40% among voters who make over $100,000 per year.

The Democrats have just a 43% to 41% lead among investors, but lead 53% to 30% among non-investors. Barack Obama’s party also fairs much better among single voters than married voters. The Democrats lead 58% to 25% among single voters, while the Republicans have a 42% to 40% edge among married voters.

Rasmussen Reports tracking data also shows just 19% of voters believe the nation is heading in the right direction, while 77% think the country is heading down the wrong track. Those numbers have changed little over the past two weeks.

Please sign up for the Rasmussen Reports daily e-mail update (it’s free)… let us keep you up to date with the latest public opinion news.

Crosstabs available for Premium Members only.

Rasmussen Reports is an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information.

The Rasmussen Reports ElectionEdge™ Premium Service for Election 2008 offers the most comprehensive public opinion coverage ever provided for a Presidential election.

Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, has been an independent pollster for more than a decade.

Date

Dem

GOP

08-10-08

45%

37%

08-03-08

46%

36%

07-27-08

47%

34%

07-20-08

45%

36%

07-13-08

46%

36%

07-06-08

47%

34%

06-29-08

47%

35%

06-22-08

47%

34%

06-15-08

48%

34%

06-08-08

47%

34%

05-22-08

47%

39%

04-29-08

46%

41%

04-06-08

43%

37%

03-13-08

44%

40%

02-14-08

44%

40%

01-15-08

43%

38%

12-09-07

46%

36%

11-04-07

46%

35%

10-04-07

48%

36%

09-04-07

50%

32%

08-01-07

47%

37%

07-17-07

46%

37%

06-21-07

46%

34%

05-31-07

45%

38%

05-03-07

47%

36%

04-10-07

45%

35%

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