Noted Quote: GOP Leads Generic Ballot Test

It's impossible to prove, but it seems likely that the weak economy and the feeling that the government is overreaching have become the two common dynamics in this election. These two monumental challenges would have seemed unlikely when Democrats celebrated Obama's inauguration, but they are very real today. After back-to-back weeks with Democrats holding leads over Republicans on the generic congressional ballot test, the Gallup Organization reported this week that Republicans were ahead by 5 points, 48 percent to 43 percent. Since March, when Gallup began tracking this year's battle for Congress, the two parties have averaged a tie among registered voters, although Gallup notes that this result actually translates to about a 5-point lead for the GOP, because younger and minority voters are much less likely to turn out in midterm elections than older and white voters are. ~ National Journal columnist Charlie Cook

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