Washington (CNN) - A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Monday indicates that 7 in 10 Americans believe the Democrats loss of their 60 seat supermajority in the Senate is a positive move for the country.
Americans are also divided on whether Democratic control of Congress is good for the country according to a new national poll. 45 of people questioned in the poll said Democratic control of Congress is a good thing with 48 disagreeing.
The margin is within the surveys sampling error. But the results are a shift from last June when 50 felt that Democratic control of both chambers of Congress was good and 41 felt it was bad for the country.
Read the full results of the CNN poll here.
Democrats control the House 256 to 178 with one seat vacant. Last weeks victory by Republican Scott Brown in a Massachusetts special Senate election to fill the final three years of the late Sen. Ted Kennedys term means that Brown will become the 41st Republican in the chamber leaving Democrats with 59 senate seats. Thats one short of the filibuster-proof supermajority they have held since last spring when Republican Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania switched parties.
The poll provides more evidence of the dwindling appeal of the Democratic party in the wake of last weeks special election in Massachusetts said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. Fewer Americans have a favorable view of the Democrats and fewer support Democratic control on Capitol Hill.
Brown a state Senator became the first Massachusetts Republican to win a U.S. Senate election since 1972 but the survey indicates that most Americans dont see his victory as a huge blow for the Democratic party. Thirty-eight percent of those questioned said its a major defeat while 44 percent said its a minor setback. Seventeen percent said it will no effect on the Democrats.
According to the poll 46 percent of the public has a favorable opinion of the Democratic Party with 44 percent viewing the Republican Party in a positive light. Thats a change from October when 53 percent had a favorable opinion of Democrats and 36 percent saw the GOP in a positive light.
While the surveys numbers are not great news for the Democrats the coming midterm campaign may not be smooth sailing for the Republicans either Holland said. Nearly half the public says they are angry at both parties; only one in ten are angry only at the Democrats.
All 435 seats in the House as well as 18 Democratic-held and 18 Republican-held Senate seats are up for grabs in Novembers midterm elections.
The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll was conducted January 22-24 following the January 19 special election in Massachusetts with 1009 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The surveys overall sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report
Washington (CNN) - A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Monday indicates that 7 in 10 Americans believe the Democrats loss of their 60 seat supermajority in the Senate is a positive move for the country.
Americans are also divided on whether Democratic control of Congress is good for the country according to a new national poll. 45 of people questioned in the poll said Democratic control of Congress is a good thing with 48 disagreeing.
The margin is within the surveys sampling error. But the results are a shift from last June when 50 felt that Democratic control of both chambers of Congress was good and 41 felt it was bad for the country.
Read the full results of the CNN poll here.
Democrats control the House 256 to 178 with one seat vacant. Last weeks victory by Republican Scott Brown in a Massachusetts special Senate election to fill the final three years of the late Sen. Ted Kennedys term means that Brown will become the 41st Republican in the chamber leaving Democrats with 59 senate seats. Thats one short of the filibuster-proof supermajority they have held since last spring when Republican Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania switched parties.
The poll provides more evidence of the dwindling appeal of the Democratic party in the wake of last weeks special election in Massachusetts said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. Fewer Americans have a favorable view of the Democrats and fewer support Democratic control on Capitol Hill.
Brown a state Senator became the first Massachusetts Republican to win a U.S. Senate election since 1972 but the survey indicates that most Americans dont see his victory as a huge blow for the Democratic party. Thirty-eight percent of those questioned said its a major defeat while 44 percent said its a minor setback. Seventeen percent said it will no effect on the Democrats.
According to the poll 46 percent of the public has a favorable opinion of the Democratic Party with 44 percent viewing the Republican Party in a positive light. Thats a change from October when 53 percent had a favorable opinion of Democrats and 36 percent saw the GOP in a positive light.
While the surveys numbers are not great news for the Democrats the coming midterm campaign may not be smooth sailing for the Republicans either Holland said. Nearly half the public says they are angry at both parties; only one in ten are angry only at the Democrats.
All 435 seats in the House as well as 18 Democratic-held and 18 Republican-held Senate seats are up for grabs in Novembers midterm elections.
The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll was conducted January 22-24 following the January 19 special election in Massachusetts with 1009 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The surveys overall sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report
