July 3, 2008 - Red Sox Are No. 1, By 1 Point, In Hearts Of Connecticut Fans, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Boston Inches Past Yankees For First Time Ever Word format In a game of inches, 41 percent of Connecticut baseball fans support the Boston Red Sox, while 40 percent back the New York Yankees, the first time in five years that the Sox even came close to the Yanks in this baseball battleground state, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. A total of 58 percent of Connecticut residents say they are "very interested" or "somewhat interested" in Major League Baseball, while 41 percent say they are "not at all interested." Among those interested, the Yankees are up 58 - 18 percent in Fairfield County, bordering New York, while the Red Sox are up 56 - 31 percent in Hartford County and 59 - 23 percent in eastern Connecticut, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. The biggest shift is in New Haven and Middlesex counties, where the Yankees margin dropped from 18 points in 2007 to 7 points, 44 - 37 percent, today. Men split 39 - 39 percent while women tip to the Sox 43 - 41 percent. "The Red Sox have been gaining on the Yankees since 2003 and were 6 points behind last year in the hearts of Connecticut fans. Is this a casual fling, driven by the current standings, or a real change of heart?" asked Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D. From June 26 - 29, Quinnipiac University surveyed 2,816 Connecticut residents with a margin of error of +/- 1.9 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. For more data -- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201. 35. How interested are you in following major league baseball - very interested, somewhat interested or not interested at all? ALL ADULTS ................................ AGE IN YRS......... Tot Men Wom 18-34 35-54 55+ Very interested 26% 33% 20% 27% 25% 27% Smwht interested 32 33 32 31 34 32 Not at all 41 34 47 42 40 40 DK/NA - - - - - - MdlSex Toll,Wndm Fairfld Hrtford Ltchfld NewHvn NewLon Very interested 24% 27% 23% 27% 28% Smwht interested 37 26 27 32 39 Not at all 39 46 51 40 33 DK/NA - - - 1 - TREND: How interested are you in following major league baseball - very interested, somewhat interested, or not interested at all? * = Registered Voters ALL ADULTS................................... Jul 3 May 14 May 4 Apr 8 Jun 7 May 5 2008 2007 2006 2005* 2004 2003 Very interested 26 26 23 26 22 20 Somewhat interested 32 30 34 32 35 33 Not interested 41 44 43 41 43 47 DK/NA - - - - - - 36.(If Very or Smwht interested q35) What is your favorite major league baseball team? BASEBALL FANS............................. AGE IN YEARS...... Tot Men Wom 18-34 35-54 55+ Atlanta BRAVES 1 1 - 2 - - Baltimore ORIOLES 1 1 - - 1 1 Boston RED SOX 41 39 43 37 39 46 Chicago CUBS 1 1 1 - 1 1 Cleveland INDIANS 1 1 1 2 1 - New York METS 9 10 7 10 9 8 New York YANKEES 40 39 41 42 41 38 Philadelphia PHILLIES 1 1 1 2 1 1 St. Louis CARDINALS 1 1 - 1 - 1 OTHER SPECIFY - - - - 1 - DK/NA 2 1 2 2 2 2 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Fairfld Hrtford Ltchfld NewHvn NewLon Atlanta BRAVES 1 1 - 1 - Baltimore ORIOLES - - 2 1 1 Boston RED SOX 18 56 42 37 59 Chicago CUBS 2 - 1 1 - Cleveland INDIANS 1 2 - - 2 New York METS 13 5 11 8 9 New York YANKEES 58 31 34 44 23 Philadelphia PHILLIES 1 - 4 1 - St. Louis CARDINALS 1 - - 1 - OTHER SPECIFY - - - - - DK/NA 2 2 - 2 1 TREND: (If baseball fan) What is your favorite major league baseball team? * = Registered Voters BASEBALL FANS ............................... Jul 3 May 14 May 4 Apr 8 Jun 7 May 5 2008 2007 2006 2005* 2004 2003 Atlanta Braves 1 1 1 2 2 1 Baltimore Orioles 1 1 1 1 1 1 Boston Red Sox 41 37 35 35 33 33 Chicago Cubs 1 - 1 1 2 1 Cleveland Indians 1 - - - 1 1 Detroit Tigers - 1 - - - - Los Angeles Dodgers - 1 1 1 1 1 New York Mets 9 10 12 9 9 9 New York Yankees 40 43 42 43 43 47 Oakland Athletics - - - 1 - - Philadelphia Phillies 1 - - 1 - 1 Pittsburgh Pirates - - - - 1 St. Louis Cardinals 1 - - - - 1 Other - 1 - - 3 - DK/NA 2 3 3 3 4 2
