With the midterm election campaigns on their homestretch, public disapproval of Congressional Democrats hit record high, while their Republican counterparts are faring just as bad, a new poll released over the weekend indicated.

According to the Washington Post-ABC News poll, 50 percent of Americans are not pleased with the way lawmakers are doing business in Congress.

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Over all, Congress has hit the worst approval rating it has received prior to midterm elections since 1974, with only 20 percent of those surveyed saying they are contented with how lawmakers on Capitol Hill are doing their job.

Between both parties, the Democrats have received comparatively greater public scorn.

The recent poll shows their highest disapproval rating in two decades: 67 percent, while 30 percent are pleased with how they have performed in recent weeks.

They fare better popularity-wise, though, than Republican lawmakers who only received 25 percent approval rating, with 73 percent disapproval rating. The GOPs, who are historically less liked than the Democrats, narrowly missed their 2012 all-time low disapproval rating of 75 percent.  

The disapproval ratings follow a trend. In an earlier Washington Post-ABC News poll, Congressional Democrats were held in worst regard in the last three decades, receiving favorable/unfavorable percentage split of 39/51.

Still, GOP lawmakers were far less liked, having received only 33 percent approval rating compared to 56 percent disapproval rating.

The parties' poor image ratings may also have something to do with how members regard their own parties, The Post speculated.

In terms of the parties' support of their congressional representatives, Democrats are 56 percent happy about their party's congressional contingent and 42 percent disapproving, while GOPs rate theirs at 55-38.

However, while the GOPs have a less favorable image than the Democrats, the latter are far more at risk as it presently holds the presidency, ABC News observed.

Using data closest to midterm elections from 1974 to 2010, ABC News has found that approval ratings of the Congress are directly linked to losses in the president's party. 

The Washington Post said the newest poll shows a narrowing public view of both the Democrats and the Republicans. More importantly, it shows a growing political discontent among the American public.

TagsCongress, disapproval rating, Republicans, Democrats, U.S. election, midterm election