Democrats Hold Only Modest Lead On Generic Congressional Ballot

Fifty percent of Americans say they would back the Democratic candidate if the 2010 congressional elections were held today while 44 percent would support the Republican, according to a CNN/Opinion Research poll conducted Oct. 30 - Nov. 1. The margin of error is 3 points. Five percent say they wouldn't vote for either party's candidate and 2 percent were undecided.

Republicans are somewhat more energized about the midterms than Democrats with 46 percent saying they are enthusiastic about voting compared to 39 percent of Democrats.

CNN polling direct Keating Holland said "these tea leaves are hard to read" but the poll shows that when 2010 rolls around, candidates of both parties may face "a very different electorate than the one that put Barack Obama in power a year ago. In 2008, Democratic voters were generally more enthusiastic about voting than Republicans; now it's the GOP's turn to benefit from an enthusiasm gap."

Gallup yesterday released a poll yesterday saying Republicans had closed the gap with Democrats on a generic congressional ballot.