Obama Behind Congressional Dems' Sinking Ship: CNN Poll

The Democrats have lost the lead in next year's Congressional mid-term elections and President Barack Obama and the rocky healthcare rollout may be to blame, a new CNN poll revealed Thursday.

Republicans have gained a 13-point swing in the polls in the past two months, when Democrats held a healthy 50-42 percent command. That was a likely result after congressional Republicans got negative reviews during a bitter fight over the federal government shutdown and the debt ceiling.

However, a month later, Republicans eked out a 49-47 percent lead. The new CNN survey, conducted in mid-December, in which 1,035 people were polled by phone, showed Republicans had widened the gap with a 49-44 percent edge.

That changeover follows the public outcry over the disastrous HealthCare.gov rollout and the controversy concerning some insurance policy cancellations due to Affordable Care Act deadline complications.

Republicans have a 17-seat advantage in the House and Democrats hold a 55-45 majority in the Senate.

Another GOP advantage is the president's plummeting popularity with the public. Fifty-five percent of registered voters say that they are more likely to vote for a congressional candidate who opposes Obama than one who supports him.

"Virtually all the movement toward the GOP has come among men," CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said. "Fifty-four percent of female voters chose the Democratic candidate in October; 53 percent pick the Dem now. But among male voters, support for Democratic candidates has gone from 46 percent in October to just 35 percent now."

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