March 10, 2009 - Connecticut's Dodd Tied With Simmons, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Say Loosen Pot Laws And Sell Liquor On Sunday Word format In an early look at the 2010 U.S. Senate race in Connecticut, Democratic incumbent Christopher Dodd gets just 42 percent to 43 percent for former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons, a possible Republican challenger, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Sen. Dodd leads State Sen. Sam Caligiuri 47 - 34 percent and tops CNBC-TV host Larry Kudlow 46 - 34 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. In the Dodd-Simmons matchup, Democrats back Dodd 74 - 15 percent while Simmons leads 80 - 10 percent among Republicans and 49 - 32 percent among independent voters. Connecticut voters approve 49 - 44 percent of the job Dodd is doing, compared to a negative 41 - 48 percent approval rating February 10. Dodd gets a split 46 - 45 percent favorability. For Simmons, 53 percent do not know enough to form an opinion. Caligiuri and Kudlow are even more unknown, at 88 and 87 percent. "These numbers have to worry Sen. Christopher Dodd. Former Congressman Simmons is not well known outside his district, yet he is running neck and neck with Dodd at this point," said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, PhD. "Simmons easily wins his former district. The good news for Dodd is that this is the first poll in a long time where Dodd's job approval hasn't dropped. It appears that Dodd's slide may have ended." "Recently, there has been talk that CNBC host Larry Kudlow is considering running against Dodd." "While regular CNBC watchers are familiar with Larry Kudlow, Connecticut voters don't know much about him," Dr. Schwartz added. "Only about 1 in 10 voters know enough about him to offer an opinion. State Sen. Sam Caligiuri has similarly low recognition numbers." Connecticut voters give Gov. Jodi Rell a 75 - 19 percent approval rating. The 69 - 23 percent Democratic approval for the Republican Governor is higher than the overall approval rating for any governor in any state polled by Quinnipiac University so far this year. Voters also approve 61 - 28 percent of the way Gov. Rell is handling the state budget. State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal does even better, with an 81 - 10 percent approval rating, including 73 - 17 percent among Republicans. Connecticut liquor stores should be allowed to sell alcohol on Sunday, voters say 54 - 44 percent. There is a substantial gender gap on this issue: Men support Sunday sales 62 - 37 percent while women split with 50 percent opposed and 48 percent supporting the measure. Voters oppose 58 - 39 percent allowing the sale of wine and hard liquor in grocery stores. Here, men and women are in agreement. Decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana, where low-level users face a fine similar to a traffic ticket rather than a criminal charge, is a good idea, Connecticut voters say 58 - 37 percent. Republicans oppose a reduction in marijuana penalties 51 - 44 percent. Decriminalization wins 68 - 30 percent among Democrats and 58 - 35 percent among independent voters. Voters in every age group, even those over 65, approve. "Although Connecticut is known as the land of steady habits, Nutmeggers appear willing, to change the law so that Connecticut package stores can sell alcohol on Sunday," Schwartz said. Connecticut does not need a tax increase to balance the budget, voters say 63 - 32 percent. Democrats say no new taxes 51 - 43 percent, joining Republicans at 79 - 19 percent and independent voters at 66 - 28 percent. Voters oppose tolls on state highways 61 - 35 percent. Opposition crosses all party lines and ranges from 50 - 45 percent opposed in Litchfield County to 73 - 23 percent opposed in Fairfield County. From March 3 - 8, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,238 Connecticut registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.8 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. 1. If the two thousand ten election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were - Chris Dodd the Democrat, Rob Simmons the Republican, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Dodd 42% 10% 74% 32% 39% 45% Simmons 43 80 15 49 47 39 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - 1 2 2 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 - 3 1 2 1 DK/NA 12 9 8 16 10 14 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Dodd 39% 43% 47% 51% 31% Simmons 42 44 40 36 55 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 - 2 - 3 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 4 - 2 DK/NA 15 12 6 13 9 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT........... First Second Third Fourth Fifth Dodd 44% 34% 50% 40% 45% Simmons 44 54 35 39 40 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - 2 - 2 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 1 3 1 DK/NA 11 9 14 16 12 2. If the two thousand ten election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were - Chris Dodd the Democrat, Sam Caligiuri the Republican, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Dodd 47% 14% 76% 39% 45% 48% Caligiuri 34 75 9 34 37 31 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 1 2 2 3 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 - 3 1 2 2 DK/NA 16 10 10 23 13 18 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Dodd 44% 49% 51% 52% 36% Caligiuri 35 31 41 31 38 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 3 2 1 1 4 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 3 2 1 2 DK/NA 16 15 5 16 19 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT........... First Second Third Fourth Fifth Dodd 50% 41% 50% 44% 48% Caligiuri 30 36 31 34 37 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 4 1 4 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 4 2 1 3 1 DK/NA 15 17 17 16 12 3. If the two thousand ten election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were - Chris Dodd the Democrat and Larry Kudlow the Republican, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Dodd 46% 14% 76% 38% 45% 48% Kudlow 34 73 8 36 37 30 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 1 1 3 2 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 4 2 3 2 DK/NA 16 12 10 22 13 18 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Dodd 39% 50% 51% 54% 36% Kudlow 39 30 37 27 41 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 2 3 1 4 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 3 4 1 2 DK/NA 17 15 5 17 17 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT........... First Second Third Fourth Fifth Dodd 51% 41% 52% 39% 48% Kudlow 29 37 28 39 35 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 4 1 2 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 2 2 4 2 DK/NA 15 16 18 16 13 4. Is your opinion of -- Chris Dodd favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 46% 22% 68% 39% 45% 47% Unfavorable 45 69 24 50 50 40 Hvn't hrd enough 7 8 6 6 4 10 REFUSED 3 1 1 5 1 4 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Favorable 42% 46% 39% 54% 40% Unfavorable 49 45 46 37 51 Hvn't hrd enough 6 6 14 6 7 REFUSED 2 3 1 3 2 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT........... First Second Third Fourth Fifth Favorable 45% 41% 55% 43% 45% Unfavorable 44 50 37 48 45 Hvn't hrd enough 7 8 5 7 7 REFUSED 3 2 3 3 3 TREND: Is your opinion of Chris Dodd favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Mar 10 May 10 Feb 19 2009 2007 2007 Favorable 46 45 49 Unfavorable 45 31 30 Hvn't hrd enough 7 22 18 REFUSED 3 2 3 5. Is your opinion of -- Rob Simmons favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 36% 50% 22% 41% 38% 34% Unfavorable 10 4 15 8 11 8 Hvn't hrd enough 53 45 62 49 49 56 REFUSED 1 1 1 2 1 2 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Favorable 17% 41% 32% 34% 60% Unfavorable 2 14 5 11 13 Hvn't hrd enough 80 43 62 54 26 REFUSED 1 2 - 2 1 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT........... First Second Third Fourth Fifth Favorable 41% 55% 34% 13% 29% Unfavorable 14 13 7 1 10 Hvn't hrd enough 41 30 59 86 59 REFUSED 3 1 - 1 2 6. Is your opinion of -- Sam Caligiuri favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 9% 21% 4% 8% 12% 7% Unfavorable 3 1 3 3 3 2 Hvn't hrd enough 88 78 93 89 85 90 REFUSED 1 - - 1 - 1 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Favorable 6% 11% 6% 13% 5% Unfavorable 2 3 3 3 2 Hvn't hrd enough 91 84 91 85 93 REFUSED - 1 - - - 7. Is your opinion of -- Larry Kudlow favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 8% 18% 3% 8% 11% 6% Unfavorable 4 - 5 5 5 3 Hvn't hrd enough 87 81 92 87 84 90 REFUSED - 1 - - - 1 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Favorable 13% 6% 7% 9% 4% Unfavorable 5 4 7 3 1 Hvn't hrd enough 80 90 85 88 95 REFUSED 1 - - - 0 8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jodi Rell is handling her job as Governor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 75% 81% 69% 79% 73% 77% Disapprove 19 15 23 16 22 15 DK/NA 6 4 8 5 5 7 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Approve 85% 72% 69% 75% 68% Disapprove 10 21 28 19 24 DK/NA 5 6 4 6 9 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jodi Rell is handling her job as Governor? Highest Lowest Approve Approve Mar 10 Feb 10 Dec 17 Jul 1 Mar 27 Jan 13 Jul 1 2009 2009 2008 2008 2008 2005 2008 Approve 75 75 68 65 76 83 65 Disapprove 19 19 20 23 13 3 23 DK/NA 6 6 12 12 10 14 12 9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Lieberman is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 46% 68% 32% 49% 47% 45% Disapprove 46 24 61 43 46 45 DK/NA 8 8 7 8 7 9 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Approve 53% 49% 48% 41% 39% Disapprove 42 41 45 51 52 DK/NA 5 10 6 8 9 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joseph Lieberman is handling his job as United States Senator? Highest Lowest Approve Approve Mar 10 Feb 10 Dec 17 Jul 1 Mar 27 Sep 21 Dec 17 2009 2009 2008 2008 2008 2000 2008 Approve 46 45 38 45 52 80 38 Disapprove 46 48 54 43 35 14 54 DK/NA 8 7 8 13 13 6 8 10. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Chris Dodd is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 49% 25% 72% 41% 46% 51% Disapprove 44 67 22 52 50 40 DK/NA 7 8 6 7 4 9 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Approve 48% 47% 52% 58% 36% Disapprove 48 44 44 36 55 DK/NA 5 9 4 6 9 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Chris Dodd is handling his job as United States Senator? Highest Lowest Approve Approve Mar 10 Feb 10 Dec 17 Jul 1 Mar 27 Apr 19 Feb 10 2009 2009 2008 2008 2008 2001 2009 Approve 49 41 47 51 51 71 41 Disapprove 44 48 41 34 28 16 48 DK/NA 7 11 12 16 21 13 11 11. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Chris Dodd is handling his job as Senate Banking Committee Chairman? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 32% 13% 50% 27% 35% 29% Disapprove 50 72 30 57 55 46 DK/NA 18 16 20 16 9 25 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Approve 28% 29% 34% 41% 28% Disapprove 51 51 47 46 57 DK/NA 21 20 19 13 15 12. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Richard Blumenthal is handling his job as State Attorney General? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 81% 73% 85% 83% 81% 82% Disapprove 10 17 6 8 11 8 DK/NA 9 10 9 9 8 10 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Approve 78% 79% 82% 88% 78% Disapprove 10 10 10 7 13 DK/NA 11 11 8 5 9 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Richard Blumenthal is handling his job as State Attorney General? Highest Lowest Approve Approve Mar 10 Feb 10 Jul 27 Apr 6 Nov 23 Mar 10 Nov 23 2009 2009 2005 2005 2004 2009 2004 Approve 81 79 73 76 71 81 71 Disapprove 10 12 14 15 15 10 15 DK/NA 9 9 13 9 13 9 13 13. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Susan Bysiewicz is handling her job as Secretary of the State? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 64% 53% 74% 61% 61% 66% Disapprove 9 16 2 9 12 6 DK/NA 28 31 24 30 27 28 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Approve 46% 73% 68% 74% 58% Disapprove 8 10 11 6 10 DK/NA 46 17 21 20 32 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Susan Bysiewicz is handling her job as Secretary of the State? Mar 10 Feb 10 Apr 6 Nov 23 2009 2009 2005 2004 Approve 64 59 51 53 Disapprove 9 10 9 7 DK/NA 28 31 40 40 14. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 67% 30% 94% 62% 63% 69% Disapprove 23 56 2 24 26 20 DK/NA 10 14 4 13 11 10 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Approve 58% 68% 65% 75% 61% Disapprove 33 20 28 14 28 DK/NA 9 12 6 11 11 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? Mar 10 Feb 11 2009 2009 Approve 67 69 Disapprove 23 18 DK/NA 10 13 15. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Connecticut today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very satisfied 3% 1% 5% 2% 2% 4% Smwht satisfied 39 35 45 36 35 42 Smwht dissatisfied 36 40 32 38 39 33 Very dissatisfied 21 23 18 23 23 20 DK/NA 1 2 1 2 1 2 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Very satisfied 2% 2% 2% 6% 1% Smwht satisfied 43 37 42 38 35 Smwht dissatisfied 38 38 31 35 32 Very dissatisfied 14 21 22 21 31 DK/NA 3 1 2 - 1 TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Connecticut today? Very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? VERY+SMWHT SAT.. High Low Mar 10 Feb 10 Dec 17 Jul 1 Mar 27 Oct 21 Mar 13 2009 2009 2008 2008 2008 1998 2003 Very Satisfied 3 4 2 4 6 21 4 Smwht Satisfied 39 37 41 37 48 62 32 Smwht Dissatisfied 36 38 35 35 30 14 34 Very Dissatisfied 21 21 20 24 14 3 29 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 - 1 16. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jodi Rell is handling the economy? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 68% 70% 65% 71% 66% 70% Disapprove 24 22 27 23 28 21 DK/NA 8 7 8 6 6 9 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Approve 74% 68% 62% 73% 56% Disapprove 17 26 35 20 34 DK/NA 9 6 4 7 10 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jodi Rell is handling the economy? Mar 10 Feb 10 2009 2009 Approve 68 67 Disapprove 24 23 DK/NA 8 10 17. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 62% 21% 93% 58% 57% 66% Disapprove 27 65 3 28 31 24 DK/NA 11 14 4 14 12 10 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy? Mar 10 Feb 11 2009 2009 Approve 62 63 Disapprove 27 21 DK/NA 11 16 18. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jodi Rell is handling the budget? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 61% 64% 58% 61% 62% 60% Disapprove 28 26 33 25 30 26 DK/NA 11 9 10 13 8 14 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Approve 66% 58% 58% 65% 51% Disapprove 20 29 34 27 38 DK/NA 14 13 8 8 11 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Governor Rell is handling the state budget? Mar 10 Feb 10 Apr 6 Feb 18 2009 2009 2005 2005 Approve 61 66 54 51 Disapprove 28 22 20 29 DK/NA 11 13 26 20 19. How serious do you think Connecticut's budget problems are - very serious, somewhat serious, not too serious, or not at all serious? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very serious 61% 57% 61% 63% 62% 60% Smwht serious 34 38 34 32 32 35 Not too serious 3 2 3 2 3 2 Not at all serious - 1 - - 1 - DK/NA 2 2 2 3 2 3 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Very serious 57% 58% 68% 60% 70% Smwht serious 33 38 26 35 30 Not too serious 3 3 4 3 - Not at all serious - - 1 1 - DK/NA 7 1 - 1 1 TREND: How serious do you think Connecticut's budget problems are - very serious, somewhat serious, not too serious, or not at all serious? Mar 10 Feb 10 Mar 13 2009 2009 2003 Very serious 61 58 60 Smwht serious 34 36 35 Not too serious 3 3 4 Not at all serious - - - DK/NA 2 2 1 20. How likely do you think it is that the state will pass a new state budget by the legislature's last day of the session on June 3rd? Very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely at all? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very likely 18% 15% 18% 17% 18% 17% Smwht likely 49 53 50 46 45 52 Not too likely 21 21 21 22 20 21 Not likely at all 8 7 6 10 10 6 DK/NA 5 4 5 5 6 4 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Very likely 24% 14% 17% 18% 14% Smwht likely 53 45 56 52 42 Not too likely 15 24 20 18 28 Not likely at all 4 11 7 7 11 DK/NA 4 6 - 6 5 21. Do you think an increase in taxes is necessary to balance the budget or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 32% 19% 43% 28% 36% 28% No 63 79 51 66 59 66 DK/NA 5 2 6 5 5 6 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Yes 25% 33% 32% 39% 27% No 68 61 61 59 67 DK/NA 7 6 7 3 6 22. Do you support or oppose putting tolls on state highways in Connecticut? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 35% 34% 38% 33% 33% 37% Oppose 61 63 58 64 64 59 DK/NA 3 3 4 2 3 4 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Support 23% 38% 45% 44% 31% Oppose 73 57 50 54 67 DK/NA 3 5 5 2 3 23. Currently, Connecticut liquor stores are not allowed to sell alcohol on Sunday. Do you think Connecticut liquor stores should be allowed to sell alcohol on Sunday or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 54% 51% 58% 53% 62% 48% No 44 47 41 45 37 50 DK/NA 2 2 1 2 2 1 AGE IN YRS.............. NoColl College 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Degree Degree Yes 72% 61% 60% 33% 49% 65% No 28 39 39 65 50 33 DK/NA - 1 2 3 1 2 24. As you may know Connecticut grocery stores, are not allowed to sell wine or hard liquor. Do you think Connecticut grocery stores should be allowed to sell wine and hard liquor or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 39% 35% 43% 39% 41% 37% No 58 63 55 58 55 61 DK/NA 3 2 2 3 4 2 AGE IN YRS.............. NoColl College 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Degree Degree Yes 49% 44% 42% 26% 32% 52% No 50 55 54 70 65 45 DK/NA 1 1 4 4 2 3 25. There is a proposal in the state legislature that would decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. Low-level marijuana users would be punished with a fine, instead of a criminal charge. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Good idea 58% 44% 68% 58% 64% 54% Bad idea 37 51 30 35 32 40 DK/NA 5 5 2 7 4 6 AGE IN YRS.............. NoColl College 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Degree Degree Good idea 60% 57% 68% 52% 58% 59% Bad idea 40 41 28 37 36 37 DK/NA - 2 4 11 6 3
