A WeAskAmerica poll out of Illinois CD-13 gives Republican Rodney Davis a 50-45 lead over Democrat David Gill in that open seat race, and in a duel between partisan polls in Republican Chip Cravaack's Minnesota CD-8, the incumbent's 10-point lead in a Republican poll outpaces Democrat challenger Richard Nolan's 4-point edge in his own internal poll.  As a result of this polling data, both GOP-held seats are projected to be Republican holds once again.

Significantly, these party-switchers convert a projected 1-seat net gain for Democrats in the House to a 1-seat gain for their Republican counterparts.  The projected balance of power in the lower chamber now stands at 243 Republicans and 192 Democrats.

Here are a couple reminders as we move into the final week before Election Day.  Be sure to bookmark my 2012 Election Results page.  I'll be updating battleground state voting every 15 minutes on election night once returns start coming in.  Also, let me give a heartfelt thank you to the folks who have participated in EP's 2012 fundraiser to this point.  However, in the wake of the destruction left behind by Sandy, I want to encourage those who would like to contribute to Election Projection to consider contributing to the relief effort in the Northeast instead.  Please help those in real need.  Thanks!