RED EYE - OCTOBER 1, 2014 FULL EPISODE

Greg welcomes guests Katherine Timpf and Dennis Prager.

U.S. Voters Give GOP Edge vs. Dems on Handling Top Issues

The Republicans in Congress hold significant leads over the Democrats on four of the six issues that U.S. registered voters say are most important in determining how they will vote in November: the economy, the way the federal government is working, the situation with Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria, and the federal budget deficit.

Notably, as the GOP tries to gain control of the Senate, the current GOP advantage on the economy nearly matches the 12-point advantage the party held in August 2010, shortly before the midterm elections that gave the Republicans control of the House of Representatives.

The GOP's lead on the federal budget deficit has also widened, to 20 points from 14 points in April, and is now higher than at any other time during Barack Obama's presidency.

Republicans are also in a better position than Democrats on several new items included in the poll, including the way the federal government works and the situation in Iraq and Syria. Republicans hold a solid eight-point advantage on how the federal government functions, despite gripes from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) that "Republican obstruction" is the source of federal dysfunction.

Voters also prefer the GOP by a commanding 19-point margin regarding Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria. The GOP has historically held an edge over Democrats on terrorism and national security, and they continue to lead in this arena, even as the Obama administration conducts airstrikes against Islamic militant targets in Iraq and Syria.

Also read: War, poverty and disease? Guess who just notched up his 200th round of golf?