A new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll shows that voters are ready to listen to either party’s case when choosing who will run the Congress this year. That’s bad news for Democrats, who have been favored by the electorate in national congressional polls since 2003.
The poll shows voters split 41-41 on which party should control Congress after the 2010 elections, with 18% “unsure.” NBC/WSJ polling from as recently as July showed Democrats with a 7-point edge on the question. Since that time, support for Democratic control has steadily declined, though the poll released today was the first that showed voters tied on the question since Dec. 2003.
Voters are not as divided on President Obama, according to the poll. He still enjoys high personal approval ratings, with 64% of respondents saying they approve of him as a person. That number drops dramatically, however when voters were asked to consider him as a politician. Fifty-four percent said they approve of him as a leader, and just 41% said they approve of “his stands on issues.”
It’s not all rosy for Republicans either. Sixty four percent of respondents to the poll said they disapproved of the way the GOP in Congress has health care reform, a central issue for the Republican party as the election year unfolds.
