Dems have early lead in 2010 congressional race
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/01/28/art.getty.capitol.rotunda.jpg caption="The Democrats currently hold a 255 to 178 advantage in the House, with two seats the Democrats won in November now vacant."]WASHINGTON (CNN) - The 111th Congress is just a few weeks old, but both parties are already planning their fight for the 112th — and a new national poll suggests Democrats may have the upper hand.
Forty-six percent of those questioned in a Diageo/Hotline survey released Wednesday say they would support the generic Democrat in the 2010 elections for the House of Representatives, with 22 percent backing the generic Republican candidate. That's a 24 point lead for Democratic congressional candidates in the so called "generic ballot" question, which asks voters their preference for the U.S. House without naming the candidates running in each district.
These results are in line with a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll conducted two weeks ago that found that 56 percent of those questioned think the country would be better off if Congress was controlled by Democrats. That 25 points higher than the 31 percent who said the nation would be better off if Republicans controlled Congress.
"The GOP hasn't met with much success in the last two election cycles, so it's not surprising that the Democrats start off the new Congress with an advantage," said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "Historically, however, the president's party loses seats in the House in the midterm election, so the question for the Democrats is whether they can buck that trend and hold onto the edge they currently have."
Forty-nine percent of those questioned in the Diageo/Hotline survey approve of how the Democrats in Congress are performing, with 38 percent disapproving. As for the GOP minority: Disapproval jumps to 62 percent, with 26 percent approving of how congressional Republicans are handling their jobs.
The Democrats currently hold a 255 to 178 advantage in the House, with two seats the Democrats won in November now vacant. The party also holds a 58 to 41 advantage in the Senate, with the Minnesota race still unresolved.
The Diageo/Hotline poll was conducted January 21-24, with 800 people questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
The Repubs inherited an economy in the "black" and in eight years led us into economic shambles. Their mantras of "get the Gov`t. out of our business" to "just let the free market work" wrecked when left unchecked as the administration did. It was a time when just look the other way, don`t worry, we`ll ALL make money, especially the top 1%. Our economy is in the CRAPPER. Thanks to our magnificent leadership of the last 8 years.
It's truly amazing to hear the like of McCain, Boehner, Spector, etc exhibit the same Republican idealism that LOST them the White House of the same old and tired "divisive show boating" on Capitol Hill.
What's even more distrubing is that we have Republican politicians appearing on the Rush Limbaugh show, after RUSH made the statement that he wishes the President FAILS, which means he wishes all Americans FAIL!!!
So WHAT does that tell us AMERICA? It tell us, the GOP remains "tone deaf" to the reality of the world. They continue to ignore the millions of voices that stated WE DON'T WANT ANY MORE REPUBLICAN IDEALISM IN THE WHITE HOUSE!!!! Bottom line.
November 4th obviously DID NOT sink into the brains of the GOP. They are still clueless, divisive, destructive and in denial of the role they played in our economic meltdown!!!
It's really unbelievable! The GOP has become a party of "The Blind leading the Blind".... sad, but true.
Yep.
All these Republican's who don't "get it"....need to keep oppossing Obama's stimulus plan and have to keep partisan Politics (And Rush, and Hannity and O'Reilly) as their Parties theme.
That way they can lose even more Seats and then we can see some progress.
The reason why the republicans are losing is because they're not thinking of any new ideas. They can't just vote unanimously NO on obamas stimulus plan and not give any ideas except to decrease taxes, when studies have showed that decreasing taxes wont help stimulate the economy as much as spending will. They have to become an intellectual party AGAIN, not an anti intellectual one.
I was going to say the Rush Limbaugh reminds me of Zippy the Pinhead, but I rather like Zippy the Pinhead. Rush is just a pinhead.
Thats right with the GOP Failing to work with the President and Rush Limbaugh I see 2010 Being all Democrats and the Republican party becoming Extinct
Can that tell you what is wrong with our Congress! These people are already worried about 2010 and they need to be worried whether we will have a country, the way it is going now! I would love to see Pelosi, Reid, Dodd and Frank put out to pasture! Let's get some new faces and ideas and honesty into Washington!!!
The Republicans will keep paying for their mistakes including the fact that they are just opposing the recovery bill without any concret reasons. I believe that this economy will revive and anyone who voted against this recovery bill will be remebered in history especially during the next election cycle.
I'm as fired up as .....and ready to go and kick some Repub. booty! They've been doing a lot of talking lately. I hope that we can put a muzzle on those voices. Guess who's back – who never left? That's right! And she's copying SOS Clinton's online format. SOS Clinton's gifts just keep on gving. Keep her close President Obama.
The First Amendment is a wonderful right...too bad there are so many fascists who wish to silence someone whose politics they disagree with. There is a right to express an opposing opinion in this country and no one who belives in freedom should try to deny this right.
let's do that same survey six months from now.
ITS OVER FOR REPUBS" obama is gonna set a certain standard in politics,that in the future it's gonna be hard to follow.
For those commenting on Rush, why don't you listen to the whole story before you start putting hate out there. He was referring to not wanting the President to succeed in Socialism! Now I know why we are having so many problems. You Liberals don't listen to the whole story before you comment because you are so filled with hatred that it clouds your common sense. Take a Valium and start educating yourself fully before you put your hateful comments out there.
Has anyone not realized that this isn't about Rush Limbaugh? This is about how people like Democrats more than Republicans. With that said;
Anyone not realized that the past two years, Congress has controlled congress? The deficit has grown more in the past two years than in any of Pres. Bush's first six years in office?
If people would pay attention to the fact that the GOP has not really filibustered that much, even though Democrats did so a few years back on practically everything in attempts to cripple and hurt their Republican counterparts?
Yet most people are blind to all of these facts, and want to bash on Republicans. Shame. Only change I see now is just how petty people can be when their party hasn't been in control for decades.
Yet more proof that it didn't matter who ran for President on the Democrap ticket! These same Americans who wanted "change" only want change in the party of the candidate. Don't care WHO is running, as long as they have a D in their party affiliation? Idiots!
Take Heed lest you fall, Corinthians 10: 1. 13
The Democrats will hold power in both house and senate and presidency for 26 years... thanks Bush.
I would guess that by the time 2010 gets here, the economy is still in shambles (the democrats will have been in control of congress and the senate for 4 years) and things are the same old politics, then this poll will show somewhat different. Do I agree with all republicans?? No. Do I agree with the democratic platform of today? No. We need people dedicated to this nation. Not the other countries. Just dedicated to putting this country back on the path that made us great. "But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." Mat 6:33 Putting God first in this country is the only action that will add back what has been lost.
I think the American people have witnessed first hand the obstructionist attitude of the republicans.
If they can't win, they will fight against the dems and destroy the entire country They want their power back to promote PNAC
Samantha, you seriously just said lowering taxes won't stimulate the economy as much as spending will. If you honestly believe that, then Obama is definately your man mortgaging over $1.2Trillion dollars of your kids/grandchildres's financial futires away. Mr Government is a perfect fit for you
The more people rely on the government, the less likely they are to rise against it..... Libralism = Communism.
repubs. just dont get it .
I cannot believe they are polling for an election 2 years away. in politicals the means infinity.
what a stupid, planted story by bill shneider and other liberal pollsters.
Remember folks this is the same congressional leadership that brought us in this mess to begin with, Polosi and Reed should be replaced by a younger free thinkers and more in line with the present situation. The same old same old does not work anymore. Reed should be reminder of his action and inaction by being replaced in the senate democrate or republican.
Kind of an insignificant poll at this point. The new Obama administration just started. Wait two years and see what the status of the country is then the polls will be much more significant than right now.