Generic Ballot: Republicans 51% Democrats 39%

Republicans have opened a 12-point lead over Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending Sunday, October 31, 2010.  New Rasmussen Reports polling finds that 51% of Likely Voters nationwide plan to vote for their district’s Republican congressional candidate, while 39% are opting for the Democrat.

If these results hold, it could lead to the election of more Republicans to Congress than at any time since the 1920s.

With just one day left until Election Day 2010, these new numbers reflect an increase in the Republican advantage from nine points in each of the preceding two weeks.

Republicans lead by 20 among men and by six percentage points among women. They lead by 20 among senior citizens and by 31 among voters not affiliated with either of the major political parties.

But propelling the GOP more than anything else is a huge enthusiasm gap. In a nation with more Democrats than Republicans, the Rasmussen Reports Likely Voter sample projects that 38% of those who actually vote will be Republican. Just 36% of voters are projected to be Democrats.

As Scott Rasmussen notes in today’s Wall Street Journal, the anticipated Election 2010 results reflect a vote against the Democrats rather than for the Republicans.  A webinar by Scott Rasmussen featuring Election Night polling data is scheduled for Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. Eastern for Platinum members.

In his column, Rasmussen explains that the health care issue is central to the Democratic woes this cycle. Currently, 58% of Likely Voters favor repeal of the health care law passed earlier this year.

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