One key factor in any election is the popularity, or unpopularity, of a president. An unpopular president can drag down his party and make life difficult for vulnerable incumbents in tough races.
That can be especially true in midterms when fewer voters turn out. The ones who do show up are generally the most politically active.
President Barack Obama’s approval rating sits at about 41 percent, if you take an average of the last two months of major national polls. So what might that mean for this election? CONT.
Domenico Montanaro, PBS NewsHour
Recent polls: President Obama