Politico’s Mike Allen notes that a series of new polls released today point to a Republican “tsunami” on November 2nd:
The fearsome Category 4 political storm facing Democrats looks like it’s turning into a crushing Category 5. New polls out Tuesday morning, at the start of the homestretch to midterm elections on Nov. 2, point to an escalating anti-incumbent tide that looks increasingly likely to cost Democrats control of the House, and perhaps even the more secure Senate. For the first time in Barack Obama’s presidency, the ABC News/Washington Post poll found that more people disapproved of his overall handling of his job than approved: 52 percent disapproved, while 46 percent approved. And in another first, more people said Obama’s economic plan was making the economy worse (33 percent) than thought it was making the economy better (30 percent), while 36 percent said his programs were having “no real effect.” An NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll out Tuesday found that that the administration’s “Recovery Summer” was a bust: In May, 40 percent of respondents said the economy would get better in the next 12 months. Now, that figure is 26 percent. Democrats, it’s now clear, could lose bigger than they did in the Republican revolution of 1994, which produced House Speaker Newt Gingrich in a 54-seat GOP gain. This year, Republicans would need a 39-seat pickup to seize control, and forecasts for their gains run as high as 60 seats.
A new ABC News/Washington Post survey shows that the Democrats’ costly failed economic policies have “pushed dissatisfaction with the federal government to its highest level in 18 years,” and “likely voters now favor the Republican over the Democratic candidate in their congressional district by 53-40 percent, the widest GOP margin on record in ABC News/Washington Post polls since 1981.” The Washington Post reports:
Republicans are heading into the final weeks of the midterm campaign with the political climate highly in their favor, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. Americans are increasingly frustrated by a lack of economic progress, deeply dissatisfied with the federal government and critical of President Obama’s leadership… Voters were also asked whether they think it is more important to have Democrats in charge of Congress to help support the president’s policies or to have Republicans in control to serve as a check on Obama’s agenda. Here, 55 percent say they prefer Republicans, while 39 percent choose Democrats. The GOP’s 16-point edge is double what it was in July.
While a new Rasmussen survey shows Republicans holding a strong lead in the generic ballot test:
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% of Likely Voters would vote for their district’s Republican congressional candidate, while 36% would opt for his or her Democratic opponent. The survey data was collected on the seven days ending Sunday, September 5, 2010. This matches the largest advantage ever measured for the Republicans. Three weeks ago, the GOP also held a 12-point lead. Still, while the margin has varied somewhat from week-to-week, Republicans have been consistently ahead in the Generic Ballot for over a year. During 2010, the GOP edge has never fallen below five points. When Barack Obama first took office as president of the United States, the Democrats enjoyed a seven-point lead on the Generic Ballot.
A new survey by CNN/Opinion Research shows President Obama hitting a “new low” when it comes to Americans’ approval of his handling of the economy:
Just four in ten Americans say they approve of the job President Barack Obama’s doing on the economy, according to a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation national survey. The 40 percent who give Obama a thumbs up is a new low for the president in CNN polling. The survey indicates that 59 percent of the public disapproves of how the president’s handling the economy.
And a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey shows Republicans enjoying a massive “nine-point edge among those considered likely voters, plus a near 20-point lead among those expressing the highest amount of interest in the midterms.” NBC News’ Mark Murray reports:
A combination of sky-high GOP enthusiasm, a deep sense of pessimism about the country’s direction and dissatisfaction with President Barack Obama’s stewardship of the economy has given Republicans a clear advantage heading into the November midterm elections, according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. With the Labor Day holiday marking the traditional starting point of the campaign season, Republicans have a nine-point edge among those considered likely voters, plus a near 20-point lead among those expressing the highest amount of interest in the midterms. In addition, six in 10 believe the country is on the wrong track; nearly two-thirds think the nation is in a state of decline; and a similar number aren’t confident that their children’s generation will enjoy a better life. Perhaps more ominous for Democrats, the number of Americans who approve of Obama’s handling of the economy — the top issue in the country — has declined below 40 percent for the first time.
