Well, this poll -- released a half hour ago -- at least indicates that, although the recent effort of Bush and the GOP to focus on national security has indeed upped terrorism as an important issue to the country, it hasn't improved either Bush's job ratings nor Republicans' numbers in the generic ballot test.
If the election were held today...(August, June findings in parens)
Vote Democratic: 50 (50, 51)
Vote Republican: 39 (41, 39)
Bush's approval is 37%, unchanged from August.
As the congressional midterm campaign begins in earnest, the mood of the electorate is sharply drawn. Voters are disappointed with Congress and disapproving of President Bush. Anti-incumbent sentiment, while a bit lower than a few months ago, is far more extensive than in the previous two midterms and remains close to 1994 levels. Moreover, there are indications that voters are viewing the election through the prism of national issues and concerns. Many more voters see their vote as being against the president than at a comparable point in 1994, and a solid majority says party control of Congress will be a factor in their voting decision.
Voters are expressing strong and consistent anti-Republican attitudes. The GOP lags well behind the Democratic Party on nearly all major issues, including the economy, Iraq, education, health care, the environment and the budget deficit. And the Republicans have lost ground in recent years even on such traditional strengths as terrorism and improving the nation's morality.
When the sample is narrowed to likely voters, approximately half of registered voters, the Democratic lead is undiminished. That Democrats poll as well among likely voters as among all voters may reflect the fact that Democrats, in contrast to recent campaigns, are more enthusiastic about voting than are Republicans.
The survey was conducted Sept. 6-10 among 1,507 adults (1,191 registered voters).
It still may be an uphill battle in some respects for the Dems to take over, given the GOP's ground game advantage, but this should give a bit of comfort to those less optimistic about Pelosi and Reid's chances.
Link: http://people-press.org/...