E Pluribus Unum

• Support for the Republican-led Congress has eroded to its lowest point since the party's watershed 1994 victory that brought it House and Senate majorities.

• Voters' approval of Congress has fallen to 16% (lowest ever in this poll) from 20% since early September, while their disapproval has risen to 75% from 65%

• By 52% to 37%, voters say they want Democrats rather than Republicans to control Congress. (Biggest margin ever in this poll).

• Half of independents say they want Democrats to take charge, while only a quarter of them back Republicans. Also unusual -- a majority of independents don't usually pick one party over the other.

• Two-thirds of the electorate rates this year's Congress "below average" or "one of the worst" -- also a record for this poll.

• Bush's disapproval rating is 52% -- a record in this poll.

• Only 32% of voters rate the Republican Party positively, 49% negatively -- the highest negative ever in the surveys for either party. (Democrats = 37-35).

• Voters now see Democrats as at least "a marginally acceptable alternative."

  Woo hoo! Put THAT on a bumper sticker!!

• "Despite the steady drumbeat of ever-worsening polls, Republican leaders say they are counting on their superior get-out-the-vote operation and financial advantage to salvage enough seats to maintain control of the Senate, if not the House."

• "House Majority Whip Roy Blunt, a Missouri Republican, yesterday sent an email to the media suggesting House Democrats would 'plot to establish a Department of Peace, raise your taxes and minimize penalties for crack dealers.' "

  Crack dealers? That sounds like a racist comment. What about the meth dealers? Oh, I forgot: there are no meth labs in Missouri. NOT.

• A 52% majority of voters says it disapproves of Bush's handling of the economy.

• A plurality of voters -- 45-39 -- say it's tiime to give a new person a chance in Congress. That's bad for the Republicans because they hold the majority.

• "Some 60% of Democratic voters express the highest possible level of interest in the election, compared with 48% of Republicans. Similarly, 53% of Democrats call themselves more enthusiastic than in the past about voting, compared with 38% of Republicans."

• By 48% to 26%, voters call Republican control of the White House, House and Senate "a bad thing."

• Nearly four of 10 voters say their vote for Congress will be a signal of opposition to Mr. Bush; two in 10 say it will signal support for him.

• Nearly all have heard of the Foley scandal, and most are unhappy with how House Speaker Dennis Hastert and other Republican leaders have handled it. Fully 55% -- including four of 10 conservatives -- are dissatisfied with the actions of Republican leaders. That is twice the 27% who say they are satisfied.

• Just 33% of voters approve of Mr. Bush's handling of the war, down from 36% in June. Disapproval has risen to 63%.

Yeah, I know what you're thinking -- "too bad the election ain't today." I agree. But, all in all, this climate sure beats the alternative one.

So hang in there: only 18 days left.

P.S. Hey check this out from the Washington Times:

"The Republican leadership spent $1 million on helping Chafee, and then it wonders why conservatives don't think they're wanted in this party," Mr. Shaftan said. "They think the leadership wants them to come out every year, shine your shoes, then go sit in the back of the bus, take their Bibles and read them and shut up."

I'm shocked, simply shocked! that the Republicans could be so crass. Oh and the headline on the story? "Conservative voters likely to stay home." Heh.