THE GENERIC BALLOT – AT 1:30 P.M. ET:  The last-minute generic ballot polls are in, and most place the Democratic lead over Republicans at about seven or eight points.  One final poll, though, from Politico/Morning Consult reduces the lead to three points. 

And then there's Rasmussen, the only poll left that tracks every day:

The final Rasmussen Reports Generic Congressional Ballot before Election Day shows Republicans edging ahead by one point, but in essence, the two parties are tied. The survey has a +/-2 percentage point margin of error.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds that 46% would choose the Republican candidate if the elections for Congress were held today. Forty-five percent (45%) would vote for the Democrat. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, and six percent (6%) remain undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

A week ago, Democrats held a 47% to 44% lead. Since Rasmussen Reports began the weekly surveying in early May, Democrats have led every week but one until early last month. Following the controversy surrounding the Senate confirmation of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanuagh, the Generic Congressional Ballot was tied for two weeks, but then Democrats moved back ahead. 

The GOP now has a small lead among voters not affiliated with either major party. But significantly, 20% of these voters remain undecided or prefer someone other than the Republican or Democratic candidates.  

COMMENT:  Rasmussen is the most controversial of all the major polls, and is sometimes considered a Republican poll.  We'll see tomorrow night how accurate they've been.

November 5,  2018