Support for Republican Party candidates has been increasing as President Barack Obama's approval rating plummets, with a plurality of voters saying they would choose the GOP if the midterm election was held today, a new poll has found.
According to a
New York Times/ CBS News poll conducted Sept. 12-15 of 854 registered voters, 45 percent of respondents said they would choose the Republican candidate in the generic ballot question, compared to 39 percent who say they would vote Democrat.
Urgent: Who Is Your Choice for the GOP's 2016 Nominee?
"A deeply unpopular Republican Party is nonetheless gaining strength heading into the midterms, as the American public's frustration with Mr. Obama has manifested itself in low ratings for his handling of foreign policy and terrorism," the Times said.
Among Republicans, 92 percent would vote for the GOP, compared to 84 percent of Democrats who say they would vote for the candidate in their own party. Forty-one percent of Independents say they would vote for the Republicans, compared to 31 percent for the Democrats.
On the issue of terrorism, more voters trust the Republicans at 52 percent, compared to 31 percent who say they have more faith in the Democrats. The GOP is also more trusted on the economy, considered to be the most important issue, at 49 percent, compared to 38 percent for Democrats. And on foreign policy, Republicans also have an advantage, with 49 percent of people saying they trust the GOP more, while 37 percent say they have more trust in Democrats on the issue.
Democrats come out ahead on the issue of healthcare, with 46 percent of those surveyed saying they trust the party more, compared to 41 percent for Republicans. Voters consider healthcare to be the second most important issue, followed by terrorism.
Despite voters in the survey preferring Republican candidates, the poll found that congressional Republicans are viewed more negatively than their Democratic colleagues. Nevertheless, a significant majority of people disapprove of both parties.
Meanwhile, nearly two-thirds of voters are so dissatisfied with the performance of their own federal representatives that they are willing to vote them out of office, the Times noted.
"The environment for incumbents of both parties is toxic, with more than nine in 10 voters saying it is time to give new people a chance," the Times said.
The poll also found that Obama's approval rating is comparable to former President George W. Bush's at the same point during his presidency in 2006 when Democrats subsequently won both houses of Congress in the midterm elections.
Urgent: Who Is Your Choice for the GOP's 2016 Nominee?
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