GOP +7 in Generic Poll

Rasmussen has the details:

Republican candidates have bounced back to a seven-point lead over Democrats in the latest edition of the Generic Congressional Ballot.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 44% would vote for their district’s Republican congressional candidate while 37% would opt for his or her Democratic opponent.

Support for GOP candidates is up just one point over the past week, but support for Democrats slipped two points. A week ago, the Republican lead was down to four points from a seven-point margin the last week in November.

Republicans have held the lead on the ballot for over four months now. Democrats currently have majority control of both the House and Senate.

If a Tea Party candidate is in the race, the picture changes dramatically. A separate, three-way Generic Ballot test finds that Democrats attract 36% of the vote, while the Tea Party candidate picks up 23% and Republicans finish third at 18%. Another 22% are undecided.

I'm not sure why Rasmussen is polling a "Tea Party" candidate since there is no political party knows as the Tea Party. However, it could have some value if it shows those pushing for a third party that their efforts would only guarantee Democrat victories. If those in the Tea Party movement want to elect candidates, they must do it from within the GOP, not without.