Polls point to Democratic gains in US midterms, but misses loom

Democrats enter the US midterm elections with polls showing a path to retake the House and stay competitive in key Senate races, but recent misses have cast uncertainty over those forecasts. Surveys cited by the BBC show Democratic candidates leading in enough House contests to reach the 218 seats needed for control, while Senate races in South Carolina, Texas, Kansas and Maine appear tied or narrowly Democratic. Pollsters warn that reaching voters has become harder as Americans abandon landlines, screen calls and opt out of surveys. Ipsos Public Affairs President Clifford Young said conservatives on the far right are often less likely to participate, a pattern that could skew results if Republican voters are systematically undercounted.