It confirms the results of other, perhaps more reliable polls, but since every poll is a snapshot of a moment in time, if you get enough pictures, a definite trend can emerge.
And this one is unmistakable:
According to a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Monday, the GOP leads the Democrats by 7 points on the "generic ballot" question, 52 percent to 45 percent. That 7-point advantage is up from a 3-point margin last month.The generic ballot question asks respondents if they would vote for a Democrat or Republican in their congressional district, without naming any specific candidates.
"The survey indicates that independents and voters who dislike both parties are starting to break toward the GOP," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "In a year when anger at incumbents is a dominant political force, the key to the election lies among those who aren't rooting for either side."
According to the poll, the two parties are equally unpopular. Forty-nine percent of all Americans have an unfavorable view of the Democrats, with the same percentage feeling the same way about the Republicans. Just over one in five questioned dislike both parties.
Back in April, Americans who dislike both parties appeared to mildly favor the GOP on the generic ballot, by a 43-to-39 percent margin, with a large number saying at the time that they would pick a minor-party candidate or stay at home.
"Now, a lot of those voters appear to be bolting to the GOP," Holland said. "Republicans now have a whopping 38-point advantage on the generic ballot among voters who dislike both parties."
Aside from issuing the usual caveats about it still being nearly 60 days out from election day and that anything could happen to change a result that currently looks very promising for Republicans, the fact that the ballot numbers keep growing and growing makes one wonder what it will look like on election day if this trend continues. Most observers have the number of vulnerable Democrats at about 70 right now with another 30 or so that might be in play if a truly seismic event occurs on election day. That doesn't mean the GOP will take 100 seats; they have a few vulnerable members of their own to worry about. But as long as the spread between the parties continues to grow, the idea of a truly historic shift is about to occur in Washington might create momentum of its own and add to the Democrat's debacle.
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