July 16, 2010 - Blumenthal Up By 17 Points In Connecticut Senate Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Dem Tops McMahon On Every Measure Word format Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, the Democrat, tops Republican wrestling executive Linda McMahon 54 - 37 percent in the U.S. Senate race, and leads her on every voter measure, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. This compares to a 55 - 35 percent Blumenthal lead in a June 10 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. In today's survey, Blumenthal leads 84 - 11 percent among Democrats and 54 - 35 percent among independent voters, while Republicans back McMahon 77 - 15 percent. McMahon leads the contest for the August 10 Republican primary with 52 percent of likely voters, followed by 25 percent for Rob Simmons and 13 percent for Peter Schiff. This is the first survey of likely primary voters and cannot be compared with earlier surveys of registered voters. Blumenthal wins possible general election matchups, 55 - 35 percent over Simmons and 58 - 31 percent over Schiff. "Connecticut voters still trust Attorney General Richard Blumenthal despite the Vietnam controversy. While Blumenthal remains very popular, Linda McMahon's favorability numbers are only slightly positive," said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, PhD. "Ms. McMahon, however, has the momentum, even if the latest movement is only a small three-point change. She is inching up on Blumenthal. In January, she trailed Blumenthal by 41 points. In every subsequent poll she has cut into his lead and now has cut that lead by 24 points. "She still has a long way to go, but she has a lot of time and a lot of money." Connecticut voters approve 72 - 21 percent of the job Blumenthal is doing, continuing his string of plus 70 approval ratings. By a 60 - 28 percent margin, they have a favorable opinion of him. McMahon gets a 43 - 37 percent favorability. Looking at Blumenthal and McMahon on other measures, voters say: 65 - 24 percent that Blumenthal has the right kind of experience to be a U.S. Senator; 49 - 38 percent that McMahon does not have the right kind of experience; 67 - 24 percent that he cares about their needs and problems; 50 - 34 percent that she cares about their needs and problems; 60 - 28 percent that he is honest and trustworthy; 47 - 28 percent that she is honest and trustworthy; 71 - 19 percent that he has strong leadership qualities; 61 - 26 percent that she has strong leadership qualities. "Linda McMahon's biggest problem with voters is that only 38 percent think she has the right kind of experience to be a U.S. Senator, which tracks very closely with the percentage of the vote she gets against Blumenthal," Dr. Schwartz said. "She has improved her experience number slightly, but she must do more to convince Connecticut voters that her background as an executive in professional wrestling is the right kind of experience." President Obama's Approval Connecticut voters approve 50 - 44 percent of the job President Barack Obama is doing, down from 53 - 42 percent June 10 and his lowest score ever in the state. Independent voters disapprove 49 - 43 percent, down from a 48 - 46 percent split last month. Gov. Jodi Rell gets a 60 - 32 percent approval, one of her lowest scores ever. Voters disapprove 50 - 40 percent of the job Sen. Joe Lieberman is doing and disapprove 54 - 38 percent of the job Sen. Chris Dodd is doing. From July 7 - 13, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,367 Connecticut registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points. Also from July 7 - 13, Quinnipiac University conducted a separate survey of 854 Connecticut likely Republican primary voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.4 percentage points. These likely voters were selected from lists of people who have voted in past elections. 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 or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. THE FOLLOWING RESULTS ARE BASED ON A POLL OF 854 LIKELY REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS 5REP. If the Republican primary for United States Senator were being held today, would you vote for Linda McMahon, Rob Simmons, or Peter Schiff? (If undecided q5REP) As of today, would you say that you lean a little more toward McMahon, Simmons, or Schiff? (This table includes "Leaners".) LIKELY REP PRIMARY VOTERS Tot Men Wom McMahon 52% 50% 54% Simmons 25 27 22 Schiff 13 15 11 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - - - DK/NA 10 8 12 5aREP. (If express choice q5REP) Is your mind made up, or do you think you might change your mind before the primary? LIKELY REP PRIMARY VOTERS CHOSE CANDIDATE Q5REP.... CAND CHOICE Q5REP. Tot LM RS PS Made up 56% 60% 52% 47% Might change 44 39 48 53 DK/NA 1 1 - - 6REP. Is your opinion of - Rob Simmons favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? LIKELY REP PRIMARY VOTERS Tot Men Wom Favorable 46% 51% 42% Unfavorable 23 25 20 Hvn't hrd enough 29 23 36 REFUSED 2 1 2 7REP. Is your opinion of - Linda McMahon favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about her? LIKELY REP PRIMARY VOTERS Tot Men Wom Favorable 65% 66% 65% Unfavorable 21 22 20 Hvn't hrd enough 10 10 11 REFUSED 3 2 4 8REP. Is your opinion of - Peter Schiff favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? LIKELY REP PRIMARY VOTERS Tot Men Wom Favorable 26% 30% 22% Unfavorable 9 10 8 Hvn't hrd enough 63 59 69 REFUSED 1 1 2 THE FOLLOWING RESULTS ARE BASED ON A POLL OF 1,367 REGISTERED VOTERS TREND: (If registered Republican) If the 2010 Republican primary for United States Senator were being held today and the candidates were Rob Simmons, Linda McMahon and Peter Schiff, for whom would you vote? (Data available upon request back to May 2009) REGISTERED REPS....................................... Jul 16 Jun 10 May 27 Mar 17 Jan 14 Nov 12 Sep 17 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009 2009 McMahon 53 45 49 44 27 17 na Simmons 20 29 23 34 37 28 43 Schiff 8 13 11 9 4 5 2 Foley na na na na na 9 5 Caligiuri na na na na na 4 4 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - 1 1 1 2 - 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 2 1 2 2 2 DK/NA 17 12 15 12 28 36 43 15. If the 2010 election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Richard Blumenthal the Democrat and Rob Simmons the Republican, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Blumenthal 55% 14% 89% 53% 49% 60% Simmons 35 79 5 33 44 27 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 - - 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 - 2 1 1 DK/NA 9 6 6 12 6 11 TREND: If the 2010 election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Richard Blumenthal the Democrat and Rob Simmons the Republican, for whom would you vote? Jul 16 Jun 10 May 27 Mar 17 Jan 14 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 Blumenthal 55 54 55 62 62 Simmons 35 33 28 26 27 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 2 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 3 1 1 DK/NA 9 10 13 10 10 16. If the 2010 election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Richard Blumenthal the Democrat and Linda McMahon the Republican, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Blumenthal 54% 15% 84% 54% 47% 59% McMahon 37 77 11 35 45 31 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - - - 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 3 1 2 2 1 DK/NA 7 5 4 9 5 8 TREND: If the 2010 election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Richard Blumenthal the Democrat and Linda McMahon the Republican, for whom would you vote? Jul 16 Jun 10 May 27 Mar 17 Jan 14 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 Blumenthal 54 55 56 61 64 McMahon 37 35 31 28 23 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - 1 1 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 2 1 1 DK/NA 7 8 10 10 11 17. If the 2010 election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Richard Blumenthal the Democrat and Peter Schiff the Republican, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Blumenthal 58% 20% 89% 58% 50% 64% Schiff 31 73 4 27 40 23 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - - - 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 - 2 1 1 DK/NA 9 6 6 13 8 11 TREND: If the 2010 election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Richard Blumenthal the Democrat and Peter Schiff the Republican, for whom would you vote? Jul 16 Jun 10 May 27 Mar 17 Jan 14 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 Blumenthal 58 56 59 64 66 Schiff 31 29 25 21 19 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - 1 1 - 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 2 2 2 1 DK/NA 9 12 13 13 14 18. Is your opinion of - Richard Blumenthal favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 60% 26% 85% 62% 52% 67% Unfavorable 28 60 4 27 39 19 Hvn't hrd enough 10 12 11 9 7 13 REFUSED 1 2 - 2 2 1 TREND: Is your opinion of Richard Blumenthal favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Jul 16 Jun 10 May 27 Mar 17 Jan 14 Feb 10 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009 Favorable 60 59 61 70 74 71 Unfavorable 28 29 29 18 13 13 Hvn't hrd enough 10 9 9 10 12 15 REFUSED 1 2 2 2 1 2 19. Is your opinion of - Rob Simmons favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 39% 58% 28% 35% 49% 31% Unfavorable 16 8 21 16 16 15 Hvn't hrd enough 44 33 49 48 35 53 REFUSED 1 1 2 1 1 1 TREND: Is your opinion of Rob Simmons favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Favorable..... High Low Jul 16 Jun 10 May 27 Mar 17 Jan 14 Sep 17 May 27 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009 2009 Favorable 39 36 36 38 36 41 34 Unfavorable 16 13 14 21 18 11 12 Hvn't hrd enough 44 50 48 40 45 46 53 REFUSED 1 1 2 1 2 2 1 20. Is your opinion of - Linda McMahon favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about her? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 43% 71% 26% 39% 47% 39% Unfavorable 37 16 51 39 37 37 Hvn't hrd enough 20 12 23 21 16 23 REFUSED 1 1 - 1 1 1 TREND: Is your opinion of Linda McMahon favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about her? Jul 16 Jun 10 May 27 Mar 17 Jan 14 Nov 12 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009 Favorable 43 38 32 36 24 20 Unfavorable 37 35 39 26 21 13 Hvn't hrd enough 20 25 27 36 54 66 REFUSED 1 1 2 2 1 1 21. Is your opinion of - Peter Schiff favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 16% 34% 4% 13% 22% 11% Unfavorable 6 2 10 4 7 5 Hvn't hrd enough 78 64 86 82 71 84 REFUSED 1 - 1 1 - 1 TREND: Is your opinion of Peter Schiff favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about him? FAVORABLE..... High Low Jul 16 Jun 10 May 27 Mar 17 Jan 14 Jul 16 Sep 17 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009 Favorable 16 15 15 10 8 16 6 Unfavorable 6 5 6 6 5 6 2 Hvn't hrd enough 78 79 78 85 86 78 92 REFUSED 1 1 1 - 1 1 - 22. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jodi Rell is handling her job as Governor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 60% 73% 50% 60% 61% 60% Disapprove 32 23 40 33 33 31 DK/NA 8 5 11 7 6 9 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jodi Rell is handling her job as Governor? (*Low also 59% Sep 2009) APPROVE....... High Low Jul 16 Jun 10 Mar 18 Jan 14 Nov 10 Jan 13 Mar 18 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009 2005 2010* Approve 60 62 59 64 64 83 59 Disapprove 32 32 34 28 30 3 34 DK/NA 8 6 8 7 6 14 8 23. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 28% 24% 41% 23% 20% 35% Disapprove 58 66 41 65 70 48 DK/NA 14 11 17 12 10 17 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? (*Low also 28% Mar 2010) APPROVE....... High Low Jul 16 Jun 10 Mar 18 Jan 14 Nov 10 Jun 3 Jul 16 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009 2004 2010* Approve 28 29 28 30 33 48 28 Disapprove 58 57 59 58 54 33 58 DK/NA 14 14 13 13 13 19 14 24. 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 40% 51% 33% 41% 44% 37% Disapprove 50 42 57 51 50 51 DK/NA 9 7 10 8 7 12 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joseph Lieberman is handling his job as United States Senator? APPROVE....... High Low Jul 16 Jun 10 Mar 17 Jan 14 Nov 12 Sep 21 Dec 17 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009 2000 2008 Approve 40 41 39 39 49 80 38 Disapprove 50 50 54 54 44 14 54 DK/NA 9 9 7 6 8 6 8 25. 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 38% 14% 71% 30% 31% 44% Disapprove 54 83 20 62 63 45 DK/NA 8 3 10 8 6 10 TREND: Do you approve or dispprove of the way Chris Dodd is handling his job as United States Senator? APPROVE....... High Low Jul 16 Jun 10 Mar 17 Jan 14 Nov 12 Apr 19 Apr 2 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009 2001 2009 Approve 38 36 35 36 40 71 33 Disapprove 54 58 58 58 54 16 58 DK/NA 8 7 7 6 6 13 9 26. 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 72% 46% 87% 75% 67% 76% Disapprove 21 47 3 20 28 15 DK/NA 7 7 9 5 5 9 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Richard Blumenthal is handling his job as State Attorney General? APPROVE....... High Low Jul 16 Jun 10 May 27 Mar 17 Jan 14 Jan 14 Nov 23 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2004 Approve 72 73 76 79 84 84 71 Disapprove 21 22 16 13 11 11 15 DK/NA 7 6 9 8 5 5 13 27. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 50% 16% 86% 43% 44% 55% Disapprove 44 81 9 49 51 39 DK/NA 6 3 4 8 6 6 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? (*High also 71% Apr 2009) APPROVE....... High Low Jul 16 Jun 10 Mar 17 Jan 14 Nov 12 May 27 Jul 16 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009 2009* 2010 Approve 50 53 54 55 58 71 50 Disapprove 44 42 42 41 35 22 44 DK/NA 6 5 4 4 7 7 6 29. Do you think Richard Blumenthal has the right kind of experience to be a United States Senator from Connecticut or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 65% 42% 84% 66% 62% 68% No 24 48 3 26 31 18 DK/NA 11 10 14 9 7 15 TREND: Do you think Richard Blumenthal has the right kind of experience to be a United States Senator from Connecticut or not? Jul 16 Jun 10 May 27 Jan 14 2010 2010 2010 2010 Yes 65 70 76 82 No 24 21 15 11 DK/NA 11 9 9 8 30. Would you say that Richard Blumenthal cares about the needs and problems of people like you or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 67% 39% 84% 69% 60% 72% No 24 44 9 23 31 18 DK/NA 9 17 7 8 9 10 TREND: Would you say that Richard Blumenthal cares about the needs and problems of people like you or not? Jul 16 Jun 10 May 27 Jan 14 2010 2010 2010 2010 Yes 67 66 69 80 No 24 25 21 12 DK/NA 9 9 10 7 31. Would you say that Richard Blumenthal is honest and trustworthy or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 60% 31% 80% 62% 56% 64% No 28 54 11 26 37 21 DK/NA 11 15 9 12 6 16 TREND: Would you say that Richard Blumenthal is honest and trustworthy or not? Jul 16 Jun 10 May 27 Jan 14 2010 2010 2010 2010 Yes 60 60 60 81 No 28 29 27 9 DK/NA 11 11 13 10 32. Would you say that Richard Blumenthal has strong leadership qualities or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 71% 48% 88% 73% 67% 75% No 19 40 3 19 26 14 DK/NA 9 12 9 8 7 11 TREND: Would you say that Richard Blumenthal has strong leadership qualities or not? Jul 16 Jun 10 May 27 Jan 14 2010 2010 2010 2010 Yes 71 71 73 82 No 19 20 19 9 DK/NA 9 9 9 9 33. Do you think Linda McMahon has the right kind of experience to be a United States Senator from Connecticut or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 38% 62% 26% 34% 40% 36% No 49 30 61 52 50 48 DK/NA 13 8 13 14 9 16 TREND: Do you think Linda McMahon has the right kind of experience to be a United States Senator from Connecticut or not? Jul 16 Jun 10 May 27 Jan 14 Nov 12 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009 Yes 38 34 29 24 25 No 49 52 52 43 34 DK/NA 13 15 19 33 41 34. Would you say that Linda McMahon cares about the needs and problems of people like you or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 50% 76% 36% 46% 52% 49% No 34 15 46 36 37 31 DK/NA 16 9 18 18 11 20 TREND: Would you say that Linda McMahon cares about the needs and problems of people like you or not? Jul 16 Jun 10 May 27 Jan 14 2010 2010 2010 2010 Yes 50 48 45 37 No 34 33 33 26 DK/NA 16 19 22 37 35. Would you say that Linda McMahon is honest and trustworthy or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 47% 70% 36% 43% 50% 45% No 28 16 37 28 32 25 DK/NA 25 14 27 29 18 31 TREND: Would you say that Linda McMahon is honest and trustworthy or not? Jul 16 Jun 10 May 27 Jan 14 2010 2010 2010 2010 Yes 47 45 45 35 No 28 26 24 15 DK/NA 25 29 31 50 36. Would you say that Linda McMahon has strong leadership qualities or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 61% 78% 51% 59% 60% 62% No 26 15 34 26 31 21 DK/NA 13 7 14 16 10 17 TREND: Would you say that Linda McMahon has strong leadership qualities or not? Jul 16 Jun 10 May 27 Jan 14 2010 2010 2010 2010 Yes 61 56 54 38 No 26 22 23 21 DK/NA 13 22 24 41 37. In general, if a wealthy candidate relies on their own money to fund their political campaign, does that make you more likely to vote for that candidate, less likely to vote for that candidate, or doesn't it make a difference? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More likely 13% 11% 17% 12% 13% 13% Less likely 15 8 17 20 18 13 Doesn't make diff 71 81 65 67 69 72 DK/NA 1 - 2 1 1 2 38. In general, if a candidate uses public financing to fund their political campaign, does that make you more likely to vote for that candidate, less likely to vote for that candidate, or doesn't it make a difference? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More likely 7% 3% 12% 7% 10% 5% Less likely 17 13 15 20 15 17 Doesn't make diff 73 83 70 70 73 73 DK/NA 3 1 4 2 1 4
