Republicans lead Democrats 51% to 41% on a generic ballot heading into November's midterm election, the largest gap in favor of the GOP in Gallup's 68-year history of tracking the critical political benchmark. The Republican lead has steadily increased from five percentage points earlier this month to the current 10 point spread, suggesting Republicans have the upper hand and momentum.
Previously, the largest GOP advantage measured by the poll, five points, was found in 2002 and 1994. Republicans made significant gains in the House both years.
"The last Gallup weekly generic ballot average before Labor Day underscores the fast-evolving conventional wisdom that the GOP is poised to make significant gains in this fall's midterm congressional elections," according to Gallup's website.
Republicans, meanwhile, are now twice as likely as Democrats to be "very" enthusiastic about voting, according to the poll. Half of Republican registered voters said they are "very" enthusiastic, compared with 28% of independents and 25% of Democrats.
The widest generic ballot lead in the poll's history was 32 points in Democrats' favor. That was measured in July 1974 before Republican President Richard Nixon resigned. In a generic ballot, pollsters ask whether voters are more likely to vote for a Republican or a Democrat for Congress.
