Poll: 37% Congressional approval rating

Just 37% of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing, according to a new poll conducted by the Pew Research Center. Congress has been controlled by the Democrats for the past three years.

The job approval number has dropped 12 points since April, the last time Pew surveyed Americans about Congress.

The 37% figure is the lowest favorable percentage in more than two decades of Pew surveys.

Although Americans are clearly disenchanted with the Democrats, they aren't exactly thrilled with Republicans.

From an Associated Press story on the Pew results:

Forty-five percent of respondents said they would vote for a Democratic candidate in their district or lean Democratic, while 44 percent said they would vote or lean Republican.

Four years ago the numbers favored Democrats 52 percent to 40 percent, as the party went on to gain control of Congress.

The survey found that favorable ratings for the GOP remain low at 40 percent.

Most of the shift in voting intentions occurred among political independents, who backed Democrats by a wide margin previously but now say they would back Republicans in their districts by 43 to 38 percent.

For more poll results, go to the Pew Research Center Web site.