I think we’re seeing a lot of caution lights for the Republicans — but not yet any red flags. The nearest thing to an exception is probably this: the recent CNN poll that finds that 58 percent of voters think the policies proposed by Republicans in Congress would take the country in the wrong direction. Not only is that figure up significantly from where it was when CNN last polled it in January (when it stood at 50 percent). It’s also by some margin the worst rating that CNN has found for either party since they began polling on the question in 1994.

The good news for Republicans: the ratings for Democrats in Congress are nearly as bad, with 53 percent of voters saying their policies would take the country in the wrong direction. That’s the worst that Democrats have ever rated on the question. But I don’t think Republicans have done themselves any favors in the debate; they have probably weakened their chances of retaining the House some.

The impact on the presidential race is less clear and do not necessarily work to Mr. Obama’s advantage.