While President Obama's overall job approval numbers have slipped, voters still favor him and his policies, along with those of congressional Democrats, more than those of the Republican opposition when measured by favorability and approval numbers and who is trusted more on a range of issues, according to a George Washington University "Battleground" poll conducted July 19-23.

Reflecting findings of other polls, 48 percent viewed congressional Republicans unfavorably while 37 percent saw them in a positive light. Democrats were seen favorably by a bare 45 percent to 44 percent ratio. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is viewed unfavorably by 51 percent (including 43 percent who see her "very" unfavorably) while 32 percent see her positively, indicating that she has become a polarizing figure. The numbers on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid are not very significant since 38 percent never heard of him and 16 percent had no opinion. Only 7 percent never heard of Pelosi.

Most of the new national polls released today are all good news for Barack Obama, although one survey has the race tighter than the others.

Obama has opened up a 53 percent to 45 percent lead over John McCain among likely voters in a CNN/Opinion Research poll conducted Oct. 3-5. The margin of error is 3.5 points. CNN's mid-September poll had Obama ahead by 4 points.

A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll conducted Oct. 4-5 has Obama ahead by 49 percent to 43 percent. The margin of error is 3.8 percent. Two weeks ago, this survey gave Obama a 2 point lead.

A CBS News poll conducted Oct. 3-5 has Obama ahead 48 percent to 45 percent among likely voters with 5 percent undecided. The margin of error is 3 points.

A George Washington University Battleground Poll conducted Sept. 30 - Oct .2 had Obama leading McCain 50 percent to 43 percent with 7 percent undecided. The margin of error is 3.5 percent

John McCain is in a statistical tie with Barack Obama, leading him 47 percent to 45 percent with 2 percent for Ralph Nader, 1 percent for Libertarian Bob Barr and 5 percent undecided in a George Washington University Battleground Poll conducted Sept. 21-25. The margin of error is 3.1 percent. McCain had led by4 points earlier this month. When asked unaided who they would vote for without the minor ticket candidates, McCain and Obama were tied at 43 percent. McCain's favorable to unfavorable ratio is 58 percent to 38 percent while Obama's is 57 percent to 39 percent.

Forty-four percent of voters think McCain is running the more negative campaign compared to 32 percent who believe that of Obama with 12 percent saying both and 9 percent saying neither. That's little changed from earlier this month.

Asked whether they would vote for the Republican or Democratic candidate in their home districts, voters said Democrat by 46 percent to 41 percent with 13 percent undecided. Voters disapprove of the job Congress is doing by 77 percent to 17 percent.

John McCain leads Barack Obama by 48 percent to 44 percent nationwide, according to George Washington University's "Battleground Poll" that was conducted by the Democratic firm Lake Research Partners and The Tarrance Group, a Republican firm, of 1,000 registered likely voters from Sept. 7-11. McCain and Obama have nearly identical favorable/unfavorable ratings (58/37 for McCain and 57/37 for Obama), as do vice-presidential running mates Joe Biden (49/29) and Sarah Palin (53/29). When voters were asked to compare McCain and Obama on a range of qualities, McCain led Obama on "is a strong leader" and "keeping America safe and secure" and Obama led McCain on "handling the health care issue" and "will bring change to Washington." More voters say Obama rather than McCain "will unite the country" and "fights for people like me," but McCain has significantly narrowed the gap since May.

A Rasmussen Reports survey on Sept. 14 of 500 likely voters in each of five battleground states found McCain making marginal gains in Colorado, Florida and Pennsylvania and Obama gaining a bit in Ohio and Virginia. All five states, which have 90 electoral votes between them, are very close: only in Florida, where McCain leads Obama by 49 percent to 44 percent, is any candidate's advantage larger than the survey's margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points. (For specific results, check out these states in our latest general election match-ups posting today).

The Battleground Poll found that in the race for Congress, respondents said, by a 48 percent to 40 percent margin, that they would vote for the Democratic candidate over the Republican candidate. The Democrats have the edge even though most of the public has a dim view of the Congress they control: just 19 percent approve and 72 percent disapprove of the job Congress has done this year.