WASHINGTON – The Republican brand is surging thanks to ObamaCare.
A new poll shows that voters are flocking to the Republican Party in a generic congressional ballot, erasing the lead Democrats held just one month ago.
The CNN/ORC International poll released Tuesday found that Republicans edged out Democrats 49-47 percent.
A month ago, before the fury over ObamaCare consumed the country, Democrats led in the same poll 50-42 percent.
In the October poll, the GOP was still suffering after-effects of the 16-day government shutdown that most voters blamed on Republicans.
But a 10-point swing since the disastrous rollout of ObamaCare has reversed the party’s fortunes.
“There is no doubt that our failure to roll out the ACA (Affordable Care Act) smoothly has put a burden on Democrats, whether they are running or not because they stood up and supported this effort through thick and thin,” Obama has said.
The new poll, released as the President makes a West Coast campaign fundraising swing on behalf of fellow Democrats, indicates both parties making gains within their base.
“It looks like the biggest shifts toward the Republicans came among white voters, higher-income Americans, and people who live in rural areas, while Democrats have gained strength in the past month among some of their natural constituencies, such as non-white voters and lower-income Americans,” said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.
“If those patterns persist into 2014, it may indicate that ObamaCare is popular among those who it was designed to help the most, but unpopular among the larger group of voters who are personally less concerned about health insurance and health care,” Holland told CNN.
Republicans currently have a 17-seat advantage in the House. Senate Democrats enjoy a 55-45 majority.
Pollsters caution that the next election is a year away and individual candidates will largely determine the outcome of close races.
The generic ballot, which asks respondents to choose between Democrats and Republicans but not specific candidates in their congressional district, reflects the overall political mood of the country.