Issue Watch
Track global public opinion on current issues.
- 2008: Race for the White House
- 2008: The U.S. Electoral College
- Abortion
- Africa
- Angela Merkel
- Death Penalty
- Economy and Globalization
- Environment
- European Union
- George W. Bush
- Global Warming
- Gordon Brown
- Hamas
- Immigration
- Iran
- Iraq War
- Kevin Rudd
- Latin America
- New Zealand Election 2008
- Nicolas Sarkozy
- North Korea
- Oil and Gas
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Silvio Berlusconi
- Stem Cell Research
- Stephen Harper
- Terrorism
- U.S. Election 2008 - The Democrats
- U.S. Election 2008 - The Republicans
- U.S. Election 2008: The Primaries
- Vladimir Putin
- Yasuo Fukuda
Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research
Democrats Drop, Still Lead GOP in U.S.
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - The Democratic Party maintains the upper hand in the early stages of this year's congressional race in the United States, according to a poll by Gallup published in USA Today. 51 per cent of respondents would support the Democratic candidate in their congressional district, while 42 per cent would vote for the Republican contender.
Support for the Democrats fell by three points since late April, while backing for the Republicans increased by the same margin. Seven per cent of respondents are undecided or will vote for other parties.
In the November 2004 congressional ballot, the Republican Party elected 232 lawmakers to the House of Representatives, while the Democratic Party secured 202 seats. The Republicans also have a majority in the Senate, with 55 members in the 100-seat upper house.
On Jun. 7, a proposal to enact a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage failed in the Senate after a 49-48 vote. Republican Ohio congressman John Boehner said the House of Representatives would discuss the topic next month, saying, "This is a big issue for lots of our members and frankly for lots of Americans."
American voters will renew the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate on Nov. 7.
Polling Data
If the elections for Congress were being held today, which party's candidate would you vote for in your Congressional district? As of today, do you lean more toward the Democratic Party's candidate or the Republican Party's candidate?
Jun. 4 | Apr. 30 | Mar. 12 | |
Democratic candidate | 51% | 54% | 55% |
Republican candidate | 42% | 39% | 39% |
Undecided / Other | 7% | 7% | 6% |
Source: Gallup / USA Today
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,002 American adults, conducted from Jun. 1 to Jun. 4, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.