GOP Falling, DEMS Leading

Republicans are waking up to some discouraging news this morning as two new polls from CBS/NYT and NBC/WSJ show Democrats in great shape less than four months before Election Day. Peter Hart, who conducted the NBC/WSJ poll, summed it up well saying: "I feel like Republicans are in a barrel and headed toward Niagara Falls" and are in "a python-like grip in terms of a negative mood."

DEMS LEAD BY 10 IN CONGRESSIONAL VOTE IN BOTH POLLS. According to the NBC/Wall Street Journal survey, Democrats have a 48-38 lead for Congress. The CBS/New York Times poll shows Democrats holding a 45-35 lead in the Congressional vote among registered voters. Among Independent voters, Democrats hold a 12-point lead.

BUSH IS A DRAG ON GOP CANDIDATES. According to the CBS/New York Times poll, 33% of Americans say their vote in the midterms will be a vote against Bush, while only 14% say it will be to support Bush. By a 19-point margin, Independent voters say their November vote will be a vote against Bush. The NBC/Wall Street Journal reinforces these findings, with 38% of voters saying their midterm vote will be a signal of opposition to Bush.

MAJORITY STILL VIEW GOP UNFAVORABLY. According to the CBS/New York Times poll, 51% of voters have an unfavorable view of the Republican Party and only 18% will be casting their midterm vote in order to keep the GOP in power. According to the NBC/Wall Street Journal survey, 60% disapprove of the GOP-led Congress.

DEMS LEAD ON THE ISSUES. According to the CBS/New York Times poll, Americans trust Democrats to make the right decisions about the War in Iraq by a 6-point margin and they trust Democrats on the economy by a 12-point margin.