Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 44%, Democrats 38%

Generic Congressional Ballot

Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 44%, Democrats 38%

For the second week in a row, Republicans hold a six-point lead over Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot, this time for the week ending Sunday, July 17.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for their district’s Republican congressional candidate, while 38% would choose the Democrat instead. This is identical to findings last week. The GOP's support has remained in the narrow range of 41% to 44% since late March, while Democrats have earned 37% to 40% in the same period.

Republicans have led on the Congressional Generic Ballot ever week since June 2009, leading by as much as 12 points and as little as two. The week before Election Day last November, support for Republicans peaked at 51%, the highest level of support either party has enjoyed in the last two years, but GOP support tapered off since then.

Democrats enjoyed a seven-point lead on the Generic Ballot - 42% to 35% - when Barack Obama took office as president in late January 2009, but their support has generally remained in the mid- to upper 30s since June of that year. Republicans began to close the gap following the stimulus debate in February 2009.

Republicans lead by 15 points among male voters and run even with Democrats among female voters. GOP support is higher among voters over 30.

Voters not affiliated with either of the major parties prefer the Republican by 40% to 25% margin, but another 34% of that group remain undecided or lean towards a third-party candidate.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/generic_congressional_ballot