US November elections; Democrats bracing for major losses

But the nationwide barrage of last-ditch attack ads and the sniping among the country's political leaders appeared to have little effect on the dynamics of the year. Republicans enter Election Day confident that they will recapture control of the House as Democrats struggle to face what appears likely to be a significantly smaller majority in the Senate.

The 2010 election will be remembered for the thousands of negative ads aired by candidates and outside groups, many which are not required to report the names of their contributors, and for spending up to $4 billion, according to some estimates.

The Pew Research Center's final survey of the intentions of likely voters in House races showed Republicans at 48 percent and Democrats at 42 percent. "Our numbers suggest Republicans will comfortably take back the House," said Andrew Kohut, the center's director. Among all registered voters, the GOP's advantages were far smaller. Gallup put the gap at four points and the Post-ABC poll showed Democrats with the advantage.

For more: Democrats bracing for major losses