WASHINGTON (AFP) - Less than three weeks ahead of US elections, approval of the Republican-led Congress has sunk to its lowest point since the party took control from Democrats 12 years ago, a poll showed.

The NBC/Wall Street Journal poll found that only 16 percent of registered voters approved of Congress"s performance, compared with 20 percent in early September, the lowest point since the 1994 elections that gave President George W. Bush"s Republicans control of the Senate and House of Representatives.

That victory was a turning point under the Democratic administration of then-president Bill Clinton, and ended 40 years of Democratic control of the House.

According to the NBC/Wall Street Journal nationwide telephone poll conducted October 13-16, disapproval of Congress rose to 75 percent from 65 percent.

Fifty-two percent of those interviewed said they want Democrats rather than Republicans to control Congress, compared with 37 percent favoring the Republicans.

The 15-point margin is the widest registered by either party in the surveys and marks the first time voter preference for one party has topped 50 percent, The Wall Street Journal noted.

The slump in approval for the Republican Congress comes ahead of November 7 elections to fill a third, or 33, of the seats in the Senate and all 435 seats in the House. Also up for grabs are 36 of 50 state governors races and local elections.

Bush, who has seen his performance marks fall since his 2004 reelection, now has a 38 percent approval rating while 57 percent of voters disapprove.

"Republicans look headed for the loss of at least the House," the business newspaper said.