Poll: Republicans hold slight lead on ballot test

Another poll shows the Democratic advantage on a generic congressional ballot has been wiped away since the troubled launch of ObamaCare last month. 

A CNN-ORC poll released Tuesday found Republicans hold a slight advantage — 49 percent to 47 percent — on the ballot test going into 2014. That is a 10-point reversal among registered voters in the last month. 

{mosads}A CNN poll in October showed a Democratic advantage of 50 percent to 42 percent. Similar polling during, and shortly after, the government shutdown showed similar results. 

But as the focus turned to the troubled rollout of the ObamaCare health exchanges, that advantage has been erased. 

A Quinnipiac poll earlier this month also showed a 9-point turnaround in a generic congressional ballot test for Republicans. 

Republicans hold a 17-seat advantage in the House going into the 2014 elections. And even with a large generic ballot advantage last month, Democrats had an uphill climb to retake the chamber. 

The numbers also come as President Obama’s approval rating and his rating on character issues have fallen. 

The same poll showed Obama’s approval rating has dropped to 41 percent. Majorities also believe that Obama cannot manage the government effectively and words like “honest and trustworthy” do not apply to him. 

The poll surveyed 749 registered voters last week and has a 3.5 percent margin of error.