Poll: GOP leads by nine on generic ballot, largest margin in years

The latest generic ballot numbers highlight a remarkable change in the political environment during 2009. When President Obama was inaugurated, the Democrats enjoyed a seven-point advantage on the Generic Ballot. That means the GOP has made a net gain of 16 percentage points over the course of the year. Support for Democrats has declined eight points since Obama’s inauguration while Republican support is up nine points…

While reviewing these trends, it’s important to remember that the numbers could shift in 2010 just as much as they did in 2009. When the health care debate in Congress comes to an end, Democrats will have the opportunity to begin damage control efforts.