Poll: Generic ballot tilts more Republican

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- With Election Day upon the United States, Republicans hold a 10-point lead over Democrats in the battle for the control of Congress, a CNN poll indicates.

The 10-point advantage in the "generic ballot" question in the national survey released Sunday was slightly larger than the 7-point advantage GOP candidates held on the eve of the 1994 midterms, when Republicans overwhelmed Democrats to take control of Congress.

There's one big difference between now and then, CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said

"(Unlike) 1994, when polls indicated the public had a positive view of the Republican party, a majority of Americans now do not have a favorable view of the GOP," Holland said.

Fifty-two percent of likely voters said they would vote for the generic Republican in their congressional district, and 42 percent saying they would choose the generic Democrat, results indicated.

Results indicated 44 percent of likely voters said they have a favorable view of the GOP, with 43 percent saying they hold an unfavorable view. Forty-six percent of likely voters said they have a favorable opinion of the Democratic Party compared to 47 percent expressing an unfavorable view.

The public split on the Tea Party movement, with 37 percent expressing a favorable view, and an equal number saying they viewed the movement negatively.

The CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll surveyed 1,006 adults Wednesday through Sunday. The margin of error is 3 percent.