NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll show hope for 2006

With the 2006 congressional elections a year away, 48 percent of respondents said they preferred a Democratic-controlled Congress, compared with 39 percent who said they preferred Republican leadership, NBC said.

The 9-point difference was the largest margin between the parties in the 11 years the NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll had been tracking the question, NBC said.

This is indeed cause for cautious optimism for a sea change in congress in 2006. Will the Dems be able to capitalize on public sentiment and actually mount a credible and coherent drive to regain majorities in congress?

The poll also reveals that the public is finally seeing past the Bush smoke screen of lies and mythology. His approval rating has hit a new low, 39%, while only 28% of respondents believe the country is headed in the right direction.

That is NOT good news for the Repubs.