AP poll: GOP gains ground

Numbers showa shift toward Republicans as elections approach.

washington » The latest Associated Press-GfK poll holds bad news for President Barack Obama, but as the November elections draw closer, there are ominous signs for congressional Democrats as well.

Alook at the findings from the March poll on this year’s election and the burgeoning 2016 presidential field:

• GOP gaining ground: Preferences for control of Congress are tight, but Republicans have gained on Democrats since January. Thirty-six percent in last month’s poll said they would rather see Democrats in charge ofCongress, and 37 percent chose Republicans.

The shift stems largely from a change among those most interested in politics.

In the new poll, registered voters who are most strongly interested in politics favored the Republicans by 14 percentage points, 51 percent to 37 percent. In January, this group was about evenly split.

That’s not the only positive sign in the poll for the Republicans. Favorable views of the GOP have improved, with 38 percentoverall saying they hold a favorable impression of the party.

• Congressional approval: Congressional approval is stagnant and negative, with 16 percent saying they approve while 82 percent disapprove. Among those who have “a great deal” or “quite a bit” of interest in politics, 90 percent disapprove, including 61 percent who strongly disapprove.

Nearly 4 in 10, or 39 percent, would like to see their own member of Congress re-elected, an improvement since January. Here, there’s a glimmer of hope forDemocrats. Thosewho consider themselves Democrats are now more likely than Republicans to say their own member of Congress ought to be re-elected.

• Looking to 2016: The poll measured impressions of 19 potential 2016 presidential candidates. HillaryRodham Clinton generated the most positive response, with 46 percent viewing the former secretary of state and first lady favorably and 39 percent unfavorably.

Among potential GOP contenders, none generated a net positive reaction from the public, with 2012 vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan faring best — 27 percent viewed him favorably, 29 percent unfavorably.