Is There a Democratic Surge?

YouGov
October 20, 2010, 7:13 PM GMT+0

As we come ever closer to the midterm elections, the Economist/YouGov Poll shows no indication of a surge in support for Democratic candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives – in fact, it suggests the opposite – and little or no change in public assessment of the President’s performance in office.

Once again, the President’s approval rating is near its all-time low, with just 42% approving of the way he is handling his job as President. 52% disapprove. 59% of independents disapprove.

On the critical issue of the economy, the President gets only a 35% approval rating – with 58% disapproving. That is only three points above his all-time low of 32% on this issue, as measured in late August.

And the Republicans now hold an eight-point lead when it comes to likely voters’ choices for the U.S. House of Representatives. 52% of likely voters say they will vote or are leaning towards voting for Republican candidates for the U.S. House in their district; 44% choose the Democrats candidate.

Last week, Republicans had a four-point lead – 49% to 45%.

Americans still have a slightly more positive view of the Democratic Party than of the Republican Party – which means only that fewer are unfavorable towards the Democrats than the Republicans. Both parties have suffered drops in favorability in the last two weeks.

Favorability Ratings

Do you have a favorable or an unfavorable opinion of the following groups?

October 2-5, 2010

October 16-19, 2010

Favorable

43%

40%

39%

35%

Unfavorable

48%

51%

51%

56%

Not sure

9%

9%

9%

9%

Favorable opinions about the Tea Party have also dropped in the last two weeks: now just 35% are favorable, 44% are not.

Favorability Ratings

Do you have a favorable or an unfavorable opinion of the following groups? (Independent respondents only)

The Democratic Party

25%

64%

11%

The Republican Party

28%

64%

8%

The Tea Party Movement

43%

41%

16%

Independent voters give the Republican Party a slight edge here. And they have mixed feelings about the Tea Party: just about as many independents have a favorable as an unfavorable opinion of it.

Image source: flickr (cliff1066)

Explore more data & articles