NATIONAL USA TODAY POLL finds U.S. sentiment similar to '94

[gully]

WASHINGTON — A national USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds remarkable parallels between the congressional elections Tuesday and the watershed elections in 1994 that swept Republicans into control of Congress.
ELECTION DAY: Senate control in play

•Then, likely voters by 51%-44% favored GOP congressional candidates. Now, 51%-44% favor Democratic ones.

•Then, 52% said they were paying "quite a lot" of attention to the elections, the highest since the Gallup Poll began asking the question in 1958. Now, 50% say they are paying "quite a lot" of attention.

•Then, disapproval of Congress was at 66%. Now, disapproval of Congress is at 70%.

"Based on history, a 7-point lead among likely voters still suggest Democrats will take enough votes to win a majority of seats in the House," says Frank Newport, editor-in-chief of the Gallup Poll. What gives some analysts pause, however, is the sophisticated redistricting over the past decade that has made most congressional districts less competitive.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-11-05-election-poll_x.htm