Poll Watch 2010: GOP Maintains Lead on Congressional Generic Ballot

Republicans have a 49% to 43% lead over Democrats among registered voters in Gallup’s generic ballot for Congress for the week of Aug. 2-8, the second straight week in which Republicans have held an edge in projected voting.

The current six-percentage-point Republican lead ties the largest for either party so far, although Republicans have generally tied or held an advantage over Democrats since Gallup began tracking the generic ballot in March. The major exception to this prevailing pattern came July 12-25, when Democrats moved ahead with six- and four-point weekly advantages.

Republicans have maintained at least a 10-point advantage in voting enthusiasm since March, including this past week’s 16-point lead over Democrats in the percentage who are “very enthusiastic” about voting. The widest such gap was 24 points in late June.

And, the Republican turnout in November will eclipse that of the Democrats. Obama driven enthusiasm has waned as the bloom has come off the “Hope and Change” rose.

The Republicans will pick up a goodly number of House and Senate seats in November. But, does the GOP really want control of Congress as they go after Obama in 2012?

Good question.