There's less than a week to go before the U.S. midterm elections, which will shape the remaining two years of President Trump's first term in office.<br />For more on this and other news around the world we turn to our Ro Aram…<br />Aram… how are the odds looking for both parties?<br /><br />Well Mark... opinions polls suggest Democrats are favorites to win the House, while Republicans may maintain control of the Senate.<br />According to a Washington Post-Schar School poll, across 69 congressional districts identified as competitive in late August, 50 percent of likely voters support the Democratic candidate, while 46 percent support the Republican.<br />The Post says the four percentage-point difference is superficial, given the poll's 3.5-percentage point margin of error.<br />However, it notes the finding marks a sharp turn from 2016, when voters in these districts backed Republicans by a margin of 15 percentage points.<br />The paper suggests that with 63 of the battleground districts held by Republicans, that kind of shift in sentiment would be sufficient for Democrats to take control of the House.<br />The hurdle the Democrats face, meanwhile, is voter turnout. <br />The party is usually dogged by low turnout and is at greater risk of falling short of what the candidates in competitive races might need to win.<br />In terms of campaigns, two main issues are at the forefront of voters' minds. <br />The Democratic Party is focusing its campaign on healthcare, while the GOP is betting on Trump's harsh rhetoric on immigration to motivate conservative voters.<br />According to CNN, more than 23 million ballots have been cast already in early voting and the rest of the American public will go to the polls next Tuesday. <br />All 435 seats in the House are up for grabs, as well as 35 seats in the Senate, and 39 governorships. <br />
