Midterm Election Poll: Republicans Outperforming Democrats Ahead Of November Elections

Republicans are poised to win control of the Senate and keep the House in the November midterm elections and make things very difficult for President Barack Obama during his final two years. A New York Times/CBS News poll released Wednesday shows voters are more likely to support Republican candidates in November than Democrats and that voters believe Republicans could do a better job dealing with terrorism, the economy and foreign policy.

The poll asked voters about generic party choices, not specific candidates.

Obama's low voter approval ratings could help deliver Congress to the GOP. The poll found 40 percent of those surveyed approve of Obama's "overall job," while 50 percent who disapprove. In contrast, George W. Bush's overall approval rating was 37 percent in 2006, when Democrats won control of both houses.

A Republican-controlled Congress would make it difficult for Obama to pass his agenda in his final two years, but a GOP victory, at least in the Senate, is far from certain.

Various polls in recent weeks suggest Republicans no longer face an easy battle to take back the Senate from Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. The Washington Post's Election Lab said Wednesday Democrats had a 51 percent chance of keeping their majority. Meanwhile, FiveThirtyEight’s election forecasting model gave Republicans a 53 percent chance of winning the Senate Wednesday.