Republican candidates now hold an eight-point lead over Democrats in the latest edition of the Generic Congressional Ballot.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% would vote for their district’s Republican congressional candidate while 35% would opt for his or her Democratic opponent. Voter support for GOP congressional candidates dipped slightly from last week, while support for Democrats held steady.

Last week, Republicans posted a 10-point lead, their biggest margin in nearly three years of weekly tracking. GOP candidates started 2010 ahead by nine points, while support for Democrats fell to its lowest level over the same period.

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Republican candidates have now stretched their lead over Democrats to 10 points in the Generic Congressional Ballot, their biggest lead ever in nearly three years of weekly tracking. The GOP has been leading on the ballot for months.

The new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% would vote for their district’s Republican congressional candidate while 35% would opt for his or her Democratic opponent. Voter support for GOP congressional candidates increased slightly from last week, while support for Democrats fell two points.

Republicans started 2010 ahead by nine points, while support for Democrats fell to its lowest level over the same period.

Get full story here.

By Christina Bellantoni

Sen. Byron Dorgan told MSNBC’s Ed Schultz tonight his surprise retirement decision was “no reflection” on the Democratic party and insisted he would have won reelection if he’d decided to stay. Get full story here.