I haven't seen too much discussion about the Congress numbers in the Rasmussen poll. Granted I could have missed y'all's posts but I find the numbers striking enough to give em a diary.
We tend to focus on the prez race but that's only one half of the power in DC. The fact that the Dems have had such a substantial edge in this poll is amazing to me.
SNIP
Thursday April 22, 2004--If the Congressional elections were held today, forty-three percent (43%) of Likely Voters say they would vote for a Democrat while 36% say they would vote for a Republican.
The Democratic lead on the generic Congressional Ballot has ranged from 4 to 7 points since the first week of April. Both yesterday and today's margins match the high end of the range.
Republicans have had the edge just once in 2004 on this question (April 2). Other than that one day, the range has been from tied to a 10-point lead for the Democrats.
SNIP
I want Bush to lose. Badly. Barring that, if even one part of congress goes to the Dems you can kiss a bunch of Bush goals goodbye.
Can you say "Congressional Investigation"? I think a second Bush term with a Dem House or Senate would make Clinton's second term look like a lazy summer afternoon nap.
Imagining a worst case scenario I could see Bush and GOP winning 2004. But incumbents tend to lose seats in the mid-term and I think 2004 will see, at the LEAST, small gains for Dems, putting BOTH parts of congress in play in 2006. Which would make a second Bush term even more ineffective.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/Congressional_Ballot%20Survey.htm