Poll Shows Rell With A Favorable Impression Statewide

A recent poll by the University of Connecticut Center for Survey Research and Analysis showed that strong majorities of Connecticut residents have confidence in Governor Jodi Rell while saying they don’t know a lot about her. She is still largely unknown to many state residents.

The latest UConn poll was conducted by telephone with a scientific sample of 501 Connecticut residents from June 25 to 27. The sampling error is plus or minus 4.4 percent.

Nearly a majority (49 percent) of state residents say their impression of Gov Rell is either “very” or “somewhat” favorable, though nearly as many (45 percent) say they do not know enough about her to say.

“The fact that Gov Rell is not well known is not surprising, given the role that the office typically has in state government and the dominance of John Rowland stories in the media,” said Chris Barnes, associate director of the Center for Survey Research & Analysis.

“The elements of a honeymoon period are in place: the public has confidence in Jodi Rell to do the job as governor, and are certainly going to give her the benefit of the doubt as they get to know her better,” he said.

Residents are optimistic about how she will execute the duties of the office, according to the survey. Solid majorities express confidence in Gov Rell’s abilities to effectively lead the state (70 percent), work well with Democrats in the legislature (66 percent), and to act ethically and responsibly as governor (77 percent).

“These results show both a high degree of confidence, but also high expectations of this new administration,” Mr Barnes said.

When asked what is the most important issue facing the state that Gov Rell should deal with as governor, nearly one in five (18 percent) say that dealing with corruption and restoring confidence in state government should be the new governor’s top priority. Taxes (16 percent), jobs (ten percent), and education (nine percent) are also mentioned as important issues for her to focus on as governor.

Ethics reform is also considered to be important by state residents, with nearly nine in ten (88 percent) saying that there should be “significant ethics reform” in the next legislative session.

Residents are evenly divided over just how difficult it will be for Gov Rell to give Connecticut a new start as governor. Just over half (51 percent) of residents say it will be “very” or “somewhat” difficult for her to give the state a new start, while 46 percent say it will be “not too” or “not at all” difficult for her to do so.

Incoming Lt Gov Kevin Sullivan, formerly state senate president, a Democrat, remains largely unknown by state residents, with about two out of three (65 percent) saying they do no’t know enough about him to have either a favorable or unfavorable impression.

Connecticut residents, while not accustomed to having a split party administration, are optimistic Gov Rell and Lt Gov Sullivan will be able to work together. About three quarters of residents (74 percent) think the governor and lieutenant governor will work “very” or “somewhat” well together.

“The fact that three quarters of the state is optimistic about Gov Rell and Lt Gov Sullivan working together bodes well for the new administration, because a good working relationship between the new governor and lieutenant governor is considered critical by state residents,” Mr Barnes said. “Ninety five percent of residents think it’s important for this new team to work well together.”