A Republican-controlled Congress could be a real possibility for the second half of President Barack Obama’s four-year term, according to the latest Gallup poll.
The poll of 894 registered voters suggests Republicans would win the U.S. House of Representatives by 48 percent to 44 percent if the 2010 congressional election were held today.
The Republican lead is well within the poll’s 4 percentage point margin of error. But the results indicate that Republicans might have some momentum after gaining steadily on Democrats since July.
People who participated in the survey were asked only about their local House districts, so the results mean little for that other congressional chamber, the U.S. Senate. 
It’s way too early to gauge the outcome of a congressional election that won’t be held until November 2010. The primaries that choose the parties’ respective candidates don’t even begin until early next year. And as Gallup points out, the poll measures only voter preference, not likely voter turnout.
But a revival of Republican popularity could spell trouble for Obama, given that the GOP appeared to gain ground as the president’s main domestic priorities — healthcare and climate change reforms — gained public attention. Meanwhile, Democrats slipped 6 percentage points overall and plunged 12 points among independent voters.
Republicans would be in a very strong position to shut down much of Obama’s agenda if they won control of the House for 2011 and 2012. A Republican House would also pose a greater challenge for a 2012 Obama reelection campaign.
Tangible risks for Obama’s agenda could also lie closer at hand, if the whiff of electoral defeat encouraged enough Democrats today to avoid White House initiatives that might have political consequences tomorrow.
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Photo Credits: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst (U.S. Capitol); Reuters/Jason Reed (House Republican leader John Boehner); Reuters/Jim Young (Obama)
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- Posted by dr. ellen brandtPeople are not stupid they are listening to all the ridiculous claims that the democrats are making as to how government health care will be self financing.Combine that with the exaggerated claims as to how many jobs they have saved as unemployment continues to increase,this is blowing away their creditability.This is also making people uneasy about any unnecessary spending which in turn is related to the no demand for produce.If the democrats would only for once realize that they are not going to fool the electorate every time with this misinformation.
- Posted by brian leeYou hit the nail on the head jason! If Ron Paul had won, we’d be on our way to recovery by now. I sincerely hope the man runs in 2012. I have never voted before but if he gets the nomination, ALL of my family will vote Paul!
- Posted by thomas kI don’t believe that just simply, republicans winning a majority in the house or any office, will make much of any difference. To me the Constitution is the supreme law of the land and is the sole insurer of the strength of the nation but most republican and democrat leaders consistently go in the opposite direction of those fundamental ideas and laws. Elected officials generally only tout the constitution when it’s convenient for them when they’re outnumbered or up for election/re-election. We need some firm ethical Americans with the intestinal fortitude to insure the direction of this country is constitutionally sound. There are a few stepping forward and I believe that it may start a trend towards constitutionally ethical decision making among our elected officials on both sides and can truly have a positive effect on the direction we’re headed. People like Rand Paul in Kentucky and Peter Schiff in Connecticut are in the running and are very constitutionally minded and most importantly up to the task of the oath. I hope to see more like minded people in the running soon and perhaps another run for President by Ron Paul. It’s my opinion Republicans really got it wrong last time choosing McCain over Paul. There is little doubt in my mind that America would be in much better shape had he won the nomination.
- Posted by jasonThis groups seems to backup the gallop poll by being in favor of a takeover by Republicans of the house to minamize the results of the Obama administration. A few Leftists are still trying to blame the last admin. even after a year later. They forget that the legislature were Democrats for many years but are given a pass.
- Posted by hals1