Despite President Donald Trump scoring his highest job approval to date and Republicans with its largest lead on the economy in history, 50 percent of likely voters prefer Democratic control of Congress over Republicans, which netted 41 percent in the latest NBC News/The Wall Street Journal poll.
"The current data shows that the Democratic advantage has ebbed but still with a large advantage," according to Democratic pollster Fred Yang. "And the GOP shows some life."
NBC's Meet the Press host Chuck Todd reported the larger likely voter advantage of 9 points vs. the registered voter edge of 7 points (48-41 percent) is unusual.
"Among likely voters, the Democrats' lead grows, not shrinks 50-41," Todd said. "Here's why that's interesting: It's the first time ever, in our polling, that our likely voter model shows a better number for the Democrats than the registered voter number. Normally, in midterms, Republicans have the likely voter advantage."
Todd points to "heightened enthusiasm for Democrats among millennial, Latinos, and younger women, groups that historically have low turnout rates but are making it into our voter model this year."
Voter turnout will be key, it is also expected be historically high.
"Midterms are about mobilization, and we are headed into the stretch run with unprecedented enthusiasm among both parties," Yang said.
These numbers come as President Trump scored 47 percent approval (49 disapproval) among registered voters, which has substantially improved from a 44-52 disparity in last month's poll.
The NBC/Wall Street Journal poll was conducted Oct. 14-17 among 900 registered voters (with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percent points) and 645 likely voters (with a plus or minus 3.9 percent points margin of error).
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