Polls are not like a weather forecast. We can't do anything about the weather. If the prediction is rain, the only thing to do is get ready for it. Polls measure public sentiment. But that sentiment can be influenced.

Current polling seems to justify hand-wringing on the part of Republicans regarding the outlook for November. Real Clear Polling's latest general congressional poll shows Democrats leading Republicans 47.9 percent to 40.3 percent.

However, it's not the weather. We've got months, and this can be influenced.

The overall sentiment in the country is not good. Real Clear Polling shows 33.8 percent saying the country is going in the "right direction" and 60.1 percent saying the country is on the "wrong track."

Regarding party favorability, the unhappiness is meted out evenly--Democrats stand at 36.7 percent favorable, 55.5 percent unfavorable; Republicans 38.3 percent favorable, 56.1 percent unfavorable. So let's separate some of the wheat........

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