According to the respected political analyst Charlie Cook:

Just as the economic news was relentlessly negative until the last few days, poll numbers for Republicans were horrific for months. So the GOP should be heartened by the first encouraging polling news it has received perhaps since Lehman Brothers defaulted in mid-September: Republicans have pulled even with Democrats on the generic congressional ballot test, according to a survey by a respected pair of firms . . .
If Republicans really have pulled even or slightly ahead among independent voters, that is a very ominous sign for Democrats . . .

I can’t help but point out that this news comes in the aftermath of Team Obama targeting Rush Limbaugh and attempting to make him the face of the GOP. So much for the brilliant political tactics of Emanuel, Axelrod, & Company. Next time they might consider governing in responsible manner rather than practicing petty and childish politics. Maybe Obama, like Democrats before him, would be wiser to stay away from tangling with Rush.