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Marked Shift in U.S. Congressional Race
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Public support for Republican Party candidates to the House of Representatives increased dramatically this month in the United States, according to a poll by Gallup released by USA Today. 50 per cent of respondents would vote for the GOP contender in their congressional district, up eight points since August.
Democratic Party contenders are second with 45 per cent, down six points in a month. Six per cent of respondents would vote for other candidates or are undecided.
American voters renewed the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate in November 2006. In January 2007, the Democratic Party took control of the lower house for the first time since 1994, with 233 lawmakers. A victory for the Democratic candidates for the Senate in Montana and Virginia also gave the party a majority in the upper house. Democratic California congresswoman Nancy Pelosi became the first female speaker of the House.
On Sept. 2, Republican House minority leader John Boehner criticized the record of the current Congress, saying, "At this time of anxiety, Americans are looking for solutions. But when they look at the Democratic Congress, they see politicians more interested in taking care of themselves. They see Congress adjourning for the summer without a vote on comprehensive energy reforms. And they see a Congress squandering their tax dollars on pork."
American voters will elect a new president, and renew the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate on Nov. 4.
Polling Data
If the elections for Congress were being held today, which party’s candidate would you vote for in your congressional district: the Democratic Party’s candidate or the Republican Party’s candidate?
|
Sept. 2008 |
Aug. 2008 |
Jun. 2008 |
|
|
Republican |
50% |
42% |
42% |
|
Democratic |
45% |
51% |
52% |
|
Other / Unsure |
6% |
7% |
7% |
Source: Gallup / USA Today
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 823 likely American voters, conducted from Sept. 5 to Sept. 7, 2008. Margin of error is 4 per cent.