Q&A: Five key questions about midterm elections in Congress

Will Republicans take control of the House and Senate? All 435 House seats are up for election every two years. A majority in the House is 218 seats. Republicans need a net gain of 39 seats in the Nov. 2 midterm election to get there. Polls now show the Democrats are in trouble. Why?

- John Whitesides, Reuters

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President Barack Obama speaks on the economy in Milwaukee, Monday, Sept. 6. His popularity rating among independents has fallen below 50 percent. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP)

Why are Democrats in such trouble?

Worries about the economy, unhappiness with Democratic leadership in Washington, and plummeting confidence in President Barack Obama have created a perfect political storm.

Obama has seen his approval ratings slide well below 50 percent over the summer, while the number of Americans who believe the country is on the wrong track has climbed to above 60 percent in most polls.

Most polls show the sweeping healthcare overhaul passed by Democrats in Congress remains unpopular with a majority of Americans, and public dissatisfaction with congressional Democrats is widespread.

Obama's popularity among independents, a crucial bloc that backed him in 2008, has dipped below 50 percent in many polls, and Republicans are more enthusiastic about the election and more likely to vote than Democrats.

Obama and Democrats got no help from the latest jobless report, which showed the unemployment rate inching up to 9.6 percent.