Poll: Blumenthal Still Popular Among Conn. Voters

HARTFORD (AP) — A week after acknowledging he “misspoke” about his military service during the Vietnam era, a new poll released last week shows Democratic Senate candidate Richard Blumenthal remains popular among Connecticut voters and maintains a double-digit lead in the race.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, conducted May 24–25, shows Blumenthal leading the endorsed Republican Senate candidate, former wrestling executive Linda McMahon, by a 56 percent to 31 percent margin in the race to fill the seat being vacated by the retiring Senator Chris Dodd.

Blumenthal had led McMahon 61 percent to 28 percent in a March 17 survey.

“It looks like Connecticut voters forgive Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, or feel that there is nothing to forgive in the Vietnam service flap,” said poll director Douglas Schwartz. “While he has taken a hit with voters, his poll numbers were so high to begin with that he still maintains a commanding lead over Linda McMahon.”

After The New York Times first reported on its website on May 17 that Blumenthal misstated his military service during Vietnam on various occasions, the longtime attorney general came forward at a news conference and acknowledged he unintentionally said he served “in” Vietnam when he meant “during” Vietnam.

Blumenthal served stateside as a Marine Reserve during the Vietnam era.

Forty-one percent of voters said the controversy was very important or somewhat important to their vote in the general election, while 57 percent said it was not too important or not important at all.

McMahon, who acknowledged her campaign provided the Times with some information for the article, received her party’s endorsement last weekend, besting former Republican US Representative Rob Simmons, who announced Tuesday he was ending his campaign but leaving his name on the August 10 primary ballot.