From the HERE City National Desk
WASHINGTON — With the midterm elections a week away, Democrats hold a clear national advantage in the race for Congress, though a new Marist Poll also points to limits on how big their gains may be.
Among likely voters, 52% said they favor the Democratic candidate for Congress in their district and 44% back the Republican, an 8-point gap. The Democratic lead widens to 10 points among all registered voters, down from 12 in September.
Independents who plan to vote lean heavily toward Democrats, 52% to 39%. And a slim majority of likely voters, 51%, expect the Democrat in their own district to win.
President Donald Trump remains the central factor. Only 40% of likely voters approve of his job performance and 59% disapprove, while among registered voters his approval sits at 38%. A record-tying 53% strongly disapprove. Asked about their House vote, 44% of likely voters called it mainly a vote against the president, compared with 21% who said it was mainly a vote for him.
The survey is the first this cycle to screen for likely voters, and that group was slightly friendlier to the president and a bit less eager for Democratic control than registered voters overall, within the margin of error.
Pocketbook worries run deep. A third of respondents reported financial hardship over the past year, and 4 in 10 said their finances have gotten worse. Enthusiasm is high on both sides, with 91% of Democrats and 86% of Republicans eager to vote.
Marist surveyed 1,289 registered voters across Oct. 19-20. The margin of error is 3.7 points for registered voters and 3.8 points for likely voters.
Section: More Washington DC politics news
Filed under: Washington DC Politics News
