The latest CNN poll (referenced on front page) has increadible news for the GOP. In the history of CNN polling (which goes back to '92), no national party has ever had an approval rating of below 36%.
It is impossible to underestimate the significance of these numbers. They suggest a huge shift in American politics.
GOP Favorability:
August 5th - 7th
Favorable: 33%
Unfavorable: 59
July 18-20
Favorable 41%
Negative 55%
Meanwhile, favorability numbers for the Democratic Party have barely moved and are now 47-47, versus 45-49 in the July Poll.
The CNN Poll confirms the shifts in perceptions of key GOP Leaders. Lets take Boehner
July 18-20
Favorable 43 Unfavorable 32
Now
Favorable 33, Unfavorable 40
The PPP Poll shows much worse numbers for Boehner now (28-55) versus 29-43 in late July
I want to highlight one number from the poll. According to CNN, voters 35 - 49 now have an unfavorable view of the GOP by a whopping 63-28. In 2010, the GOP split the vote of those in their 30's 48-47 and won the vote of those in their 40's 54-43.
This is a massive shift, and while we should be careful of drawing to much since subsamples can be small, suggests that the crisis has delivered an enourmous blow to the GOP
ht talkingpointsmemo
10:53 AM PT: Pollwatch notes that the results for the following question:
"The U.S. representative in your congressional district"
Deserves Re-election: 45
Does not: 48
By way of contrast, some comparison numbers:
November 2, 1994: 39-45
October 6, 2006: 52-31
If these numbers were to hold, 2012 would be a wave election. It is worth remembering that the Democrats took the House with the 52-31 2006 number.