Over one in six Americans view Republicans unfavorably

Washington, Jan.31 (ANI): Washington's brutal political battles have taken a toll on Republicans.

According to Politico, long drawn-out skirmishes over the debt ceiling, the super-committee and the payroll tax holiday have led to a 64 percent unfavorable rating for Republicans, with their favorable numbers sitting at 29 percent.

An internal poll conducted by GOP pollster David Winston in the final days of December 2011 further states Republicans started off 2011 with a 43 percent favorable rating and 46 percent unfavorable rating.

At the same time, President Barack Obama continues to gain ground on congressional Republicans on a central issue: jobs and growing the economy.

When asked who is more focused on those two objectives, 49 percent of those polled believe it's Obama, while 40 percent say it's Republicans in Congress.

It's the fifth straight month Obama was ahead of Republicans in Congress -

Republicans say the dip in poll numbers is because the party slipped up on its jobs message.

Democrats, by contrast, have 38 percent favorable ratings, and 57 percent unfavorable numbers a slight improvement from November.

The poll, which was conducted on Dec. 28-29, is the first comprehensive look at where congressional Republicans stand in the eyes of the public.

The fact that the poll comes from Winston, a longtime Republican pollster, makes it that much more difficult for the House GOP to ignore.

The poll had a 3.1-percentage-point margin of error. (ANI)