CNN poll shows Democrats fired up for midterms despite low leader approval

A CNN poll conducted by SSRS finds Democrats have a deeply motivated base and hold a five-point edge on the national generic congressional ballot, widening to about a 16-point edge among the most motivated voters. Yet approval of congressional Democratic leaders sits at 28% (Republicans at 35%), with a large share of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents saying Democrats have done too little to oppose Trump and have been ineffective against GOP policies. Independents broadly disapprove of both parties’ leaders (around 75%). Despite the tepid mood about leadership, many voters still favor Democrats on the generic ballot, and Republicans remain competitive in some districts. The poll surveyed 1,209 adults (968 registered voters) from Jan. 9–12, with a margin of sampling error of ±3.1 percentage points (±3.5 for registered voters).