Republicans behind '06 election polls

WASHINGTON, March 26 (UPI) -- Strategists say if congressional elections were held today, the Democratic Party would probably win control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Democrats would also come close to winning control of the U.S. Senate, Time magazine reported.

Time said its latest poll showed President George W. Bush's public approval rating was 39 percent, and 60 percent of those surveyed said they think the country is on the wrong track. The poll found 50 percent favored the Democratic Party, while 41 percent favored the Republican Party.

Time said the war in Iraq, the response to Hurricane Katrina and criticism of the new Medicare Part D drug benefit are dragging down Republican poll numbers -- along with ethics scandals and increased government spending.

Stuart Rothenberg, who writes the Rothenberg Political Report, said the Democratic Party gain in congressional seats this November "will be considerable."