NPR Poll Offers Sliver Of Hope For Democrats [View All]

NPR Poll Offers Sliver Of Hope For Democrats
by Mara Liasson

October 15, 2010

With only 18 days left until Election Day, an NPR survey of likely voters in battleground districts found that while the overall field still tilts to the GOP, Democrats are closing the gap in some places.

The good news for Democrats is that they have improved their position in 58 of the battleground districts. In June, Democratic candidates trailed their Republican opponents in these districts by 8 points. Now, the GOP advantage is only 3 points.

A Small Shift
If the election for Congress were being held today, for whom would you vote:



But, says Republican pollster Glenn Bolger, the bad news for Democrats is that there are now more of their seats at risk. The battleground has expanded.

"That's a succinct way to put it," Bolger said. "Having Republicans ahead or tied across 86 districts just gives Republicans a much larger margin for error to win back the House."

'Small Movements Matter'

Seventy swing seats were examined in June. Now, 96 are up for grabs — 86 of them held by Democrats.

Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg sees a small, but silver lining.

"This is still an election that it would be very hard for Democrats to hold the House with these numbers," Greenberg said. "But there is movement here and it's not trivial movement.

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