PPP: Dems still lead in generic polling.
-PPP's newest national poll finds Democrats leading the generic Congressional ballot 43/40. That 3 point lead is down just slightly from the 5 point one they had at 46/41 during the height of the government shutdown in October. Congressional Democrats (-25 at 35/60) have a net approval rating 19 points better than their Republican counterparts (-44 at 25/69) although both parties remain quite unpopular.
-Americans narrowly support the budget deal that was passed in the House last week, 37/30. 33% of voters with no opinion one way or the other may serve as a reality check on how closely a lot of voters are following this. Democrats support the deal by a pretty wide margin (45/23) but Republicans oppose it 29/33, which may help explain why so many facing Senate primaries next year have voted against it. One aspect of the deal that's not popular is ending extended unemployment benefits for 1.5 million workers on December 28th- just 35% of voters support that happening to 50% who are opposed.
Overall just 25% of voters want to see another government shutdown to 67% who are opposed. With GOP voters though there is 34% support for a shutdown repeat with just 56% against the concept.
-Congress has just a 7% approval rating, with 85% of voters disapproving of it. But when it comes to voters' own Representatives their feelings are a lot more mixed- 41% approve of the job their member is doing to 44% who disapprove. Democrats (49/36) are more inclined to be happy with their rep than Republicans (37/47) are.
-Barack Obama has only a 41% approval rating with 55% of voters disapproving of him, the weakest numbers we've found for him in his entire time in office. With independents he's at just a 27/69 approval spread. 63% of voters think the rollout of the Affordable Care Act has been unsuccessful to just 33% that label it a success. Overall 37% of voters say they support the ACA to 54% who disapprove of it. Americans are closely split on whether the ACA (46%) or the government shutdown in October (43%) has been worse for the country.
http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2013/12/obama-approval-at-record-low-but-dems-lead-generic-house-ballot.html
