An ABC News/Washington Post poll found that the Democrats are wielding a solid lead in the race to control the US Congress.
"Now is the time for all good men -- and women -- to come to the aid of the party," conservative commentator Bill Bennett told the National Review.
It comes on the heels of scandal involving Republican lawmaker Mark Foley’s lewd e-mails to underage congressional aides, and the response of Republican leaders.
The party of US President George W. Bush is worried socially conservative voters may stay home on Election Day.
"Don't do it. Please don't do it," Mr Bennett implores followers on his website.
Iraq discontent
Democrats have opened their biggest lead over Republicans in 20 years this close to an election, amid public discontent with the Iraq war and Bush's handling of it.
The scandal over Florida lawmaker Mark Foley's sexual overtures to teen aides has also taken its toll: 75 percent of those polled by CNN said Republicans mishandled the matter.
"A Capitol Hill sex scandal has reinforced public doubts about Republican leadership and pushed Democrats to a huge lead," USA Today concurred in coverage of its own USA Today/Gallup poll.
And Republicans have lost their edge on national security, a New York Times/CBS News poll showed.
Asked which party "was more likely to make the right decisions when it comes to dealing with terrorism," 41 percent said Republicans, and 40 percent said Democrats.
Republicans in damage control
All four polls gave Democrats a lead, ranging from 13 to 23 points, when voters were asked whether they planned to pick a Republican or a Democrat for Congress on November 7.
US voters will elect 33 of 100 senators, all 435 members of the lower House of Representatives and 36 of 50 state governors.
Democrats must win at least six seats to gain control of the Senate, and at least 15 seats to get control of the House. Capturing both could hobble the final two years of Mr Bush's presidency.
The White House put on a brave face on Tuesday, with spokesman Tony Snow confidently quipping: "We certainly look forward to working with a Republican House and Senate" after the vote.
But he acknowledged the challenge. "The Foley scandal certainly hasn't been a lift."
Mr Snow said the White House will work over the next month to turn sentiment back in Republicans' favour.
"What the White House is going to do is talk about what's important. We're going to talk about the issues."
Other Republicans were less sanguine.
"This adds to a very difficult atmosphere for Republican candidates going into the last 30 days," said Virginia lawmaker Tom Davis.
The polls do not indicate how many districts the Democrats could win, but they are a gauge of the national political mood.