Democrats For Governor, US Senate

Hold Onto Lead In Latest Q-Poll

HAMDEN — Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, the Democratic candidate in the US Senate race, leads Republican former wrestling executive Linda McMahon 54-42 percent among likely voters, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released October 26.

This is virtually unchanged from a 54-43 percent Blumenthal lead in an October 14 likely voter survey by the independent Quinnipiac University poll.

In the most recent survey, three percent are undecided and six percent of voters who name a candidate say they could change their mind by Election Day. Mr Blumenthal leads 86-12 percent among Democrats and 56-40 percent among independent voters, while Ms McMahon is ahead 85-10 percent among Republicans.

Women back Mr Blumenthal 61-35 percent. Men split, with 49 percent for Ms McMahon and 47 percent for Mr Blumenthal.

“The vote for Connecticut governor and senator is solidifying. There has been little movement in either race in the last two weeks,” said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, PhD.

“Linda McMahon has tried to raise Attorney General Richard Blumenthal’s negatives over the last several weeks, but she hasn’t been successful,” Dr Schwartz said. “He remains popular, but McMahon’s own negatives have risen above 50 percent. One has to wonder if over the last few weeks McMahon would have been better off spending more of her millions on positive ads.”

By a 55-39 percent margin, likely voters have a favorable opinion of Mr Blumenthal, while Ms McMahon gets a negative 43-51 percent favorability, down from a split 46-46 percent favorability October 14.

Governor’s Race

In the Connecticut governor’s race, Democrat Dan Malloy leads Republican Tom Foley 48-43 percent among likely voters. This compares to Mr Malloy’s 49-42 percent lead October 15.

Another seven percent are undecided and 11 percent of likely voters who name a candidate say they could change their mind in the next week.

In this week’s results, Mr Malloy leads 80-9 percent among Democrats while Mr Foley takes Republicans 90-7 percent. Independent voters back Mr Malloy 50-41 percent.

Men split with 46 percent for Mr Foley and 45 percent for Mr Malloy, while women back the Democrat 52-41 percent.

Mr Malloy gets a 47-34 percent favorability from Connecticut likely voters, compared to Mr Foley’s 45-33 percent favorability.

“Throughout the fall campaign Democrat Dan Malloy’s share of the vote has been between 45 and 50 percent, while Republican Tom Foley’s has been stuck between 41 and 43 percent,” Dr Schwartz added.

 “While both Democrats remain ahead, Blumenthal is in a stronger position than Malloy. Malloy has a slight lead while Blumenthal has a comfortable lead.”

From October 18 to 24, Quinnipiac University surveyed 702 Connecticut likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.7 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, and the nation as a public service and for research.