March 12, 2013 - Connecticut Gov Hits New High In Midst Of Gun Debate, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Back Tolls To Repair Roads, Reduce Gas Tax Word format PDF format As the gun-control debate flashes in the State Legislature, Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy wins an overall 48 - 39 percent job approval rating from voters, his highest ever, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. This compares to Gov. Malloy's split 43 - 43 percent approval in a March 6 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. In today's results, Democrats approve 72 - 15 percent, while disapproval is 69 - 21 percent among Republicans and 45 - 41 percent among independent voters. Women approve 51 - 33 percent while men are divided 45 - 46 percent. Connecticut voters approve 48 - 39 percent approve of the governor's handling of gun policy. They also approve 76 - 17 percent of Malloy's response to the Newtown shootings and 80 - 14 percent of his response to the February blizzard. This comes on top of a 78 - 16 percent approval for his response to Hurricane Sandy. Malloy is a strong leader in a crisis, voters say 67 - 27 percent. Voter approval on his handling of other issues is mixed: 57 - 33 percent disapprove of his handling of the state budget; 45 - 39 percent approve of his handling of education; 61 - 29 percent disapprove of his handling of taxes; 56 - 35 percent disapprove of his handling of the economy. "Connecticut voters say Gov. Dannel Malloy is a good man to have in a crisis and give him very high grades for his response to recent crises in the state," said Douglas Schwartz, PhD, director of the Quinnipiac University poll. "On the day-to-day issues of governing, such as budget, taxes and the economy, he gets failing grades." Only 42 percent of Connecticut voters say Gov. Malloy deserves to be reelected, while 45 percent say he does not deserve four more years. Democrats in the State Legislature get mixed grades, with 44 percent of voters approving and 46 percent disapproving. Republicans get a negative 32 - 55 percent grade from voters. Highway Tolls Connecticut voters oppose 58 - 39 percent putting tolls on highways in the state. But voters support tolls 57 - 40 percent if toll proceeds are used to repair the state's roads and bridges. Additionally, voters support tolls 53 - 44 percent if proceeds are used to reduce the state gas tax. Voters are divided 44 - 45 percent in whether they support or oppose eliminating the local car tax. They oppose eliminating the tax 77 - 18 percent if that leads to higher property taxes. Voters oppose 65 - 31 percent allowing illegal immigrants to get drivers' licenses. Gun-Control Voters support 66 - 29 percent stricter gun-control laws in Connecticut, with 70 - 27 percent support for a statewide ban on ammunition magazines with more than 10 rounds and 71 - 26 percent support for expanding the statewide ban on the sale of assault weapons. Republicans and Democrats in the State Legislature will not be able to work together to reduce gun violence in the state, voters say 53 - 41 percent. By a 49 - 27 percent margin, voters trust Democrats more than Republicans on gun policy, but they still are divided 48 - 47 percent on whether the governor and the State Legislature will be able to get something done to reduce gun violence this year. "Connecticut voters by wide margins want action on gun-control, but they have less confidence that the State Legislature will deliver on this issue," Dr. Schwartz said. "Voters trust Democrats more than Republicans on gun-control and overall they dislike Democrats less than they dislike Republicans." From March 7 - 10, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,144 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percentage points. Live interviewers call landlines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, and the nation as a public service and for research. For more information, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. 1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling his job as Governor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 48% 21% 72% 41% 45% 51% Disapprove 39 69 15 45 46 33 DK/NA 13 10 13 13 9 17 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling his job as Governor? APPROVE....... High Low Mar 12 Mar 06 Oct 24 Aug 28 Jun 06 Mar 12 Mar 09 2013 2013 2012 2012 2012 2013 2011 Approve 48 43 45 43 44 48 35 Disapprove 39 43 41 43 47 39 40 DK/NA 13 15 14 14 9 13 25 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 38% 21% 57% 32% 33% 42% Disapprove 47 67 26 56 56 40 DK/NA 15 12 17 12 11 18 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? APPROVE....... High Low Mar 12 Jun 06 Apr 25 Mar 21 Sep 15 Jun 03 Sep 15 2013 2012 2012 2012 2011 2004 2011 Approve 38 35 32 35 27 48 27 Disapprove 47 51 49 50 57 33 57 DK/NA 15 14 20 15 16 19 16 3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in the state legislature are handling their job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 44% 7% 77% 35% 40% 48% Disapprove 46 87 11 56 54 39 DK/NA 10 6 11 9 6 13 4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in the state legislature are handling their job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 32% 56% 19% 34% 35% 29% Disapprove 55 36 66 54 55 55 DK/NA 13 9 15 12 10 16 5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Chris Murphy is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 50% 24% 78% 40% 46% 54% Disapprove 34 58 13 40 40 29 DK/NA 16 18 8 20 14 18 6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Richard Blumenthal is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 63% 40% 81% 60% 56% 69% Disapprove 27 48 12 31 37 19 DK/NA 10 12 8 10 8 12 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Richard Blumenthal is handling his job as United States Senator? Mar 12 Jun 06 Apr 25 Mar 22 Sep 16 Jun 15 Mar 09 2013 2012 2012 2012 2011 2011 2011 Approve 63 61 58 64 60 54 49 Disapprove 27 25 27 23 23 25 25 DK/NA 10 14 15 14 17 21 26 7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 53% 9% 88% 43% 45% 60% Disapprove 44 90 9 53 53 36 DK/NA 3 1 4 3 2 4 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 Mar 12 Jun 06 Apr 25 Mar 22 Sep 16 May 27 Sep 16 2013 2012 2012 2012 2011 2009* 2011 Approve 53 53 49 53 48 71 48 Disapprove 44 43 47 43 48 22 48 DK/NA 3 4 4 4 4 7 4 8. Do you feel that Dannel Malloy deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes/Deserves 42% 17% 65% 35% 39% 44% No/Does not 45 73 21 53 50 41 DK/NA 13 10 14 12 10 15 9. 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 4% 1% 9% 3% 4% 5% Smwht satisfied 36 16 56 30 34 39 Smwht dissatisfied 31 37 24 35 29 33 Very dissatisfied 28 47 11 32 33 23 DK/NA - - - - - - TREND: 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? VERY+SMWHT SAT High Low Mar 12 Jun 06 Apr 25 Sep 15 Jun 15 Oct 21 Sep 15 2013 2012 2012 2011 2011 1998 2011 Very satisfied 4 4 2 2 4 21 2 Smwht satisfied 36 37 37 27 30 62 27 Smwht dissatisfied 31 33 33 39 32 14 39 Very dissatisfied 28 26 27 32 35 3 32 DK/NA - - 1 1 - - 1 10. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling - the budget? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 33% 13% 51% 28% 35% 32% Disapprove 57 78 38 64 59 55 DK/NA 10 9 11 8 6 13 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling the budget? Mar 12 Apr 25 Sep 15 Jun 15 Mar 09 2013 2012 2011 2011 2011 Approve 33 31 36 36 32 Disapprove 57 54 55 52 51 DK/NA 10 15 9 13 16 11. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling - education? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 45% 34% 59% 40% 45% 45% Disapprove 39 48 26 45 38 40 DK/NA 16 18 16 15 17 15 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling education? Mar 12 Apr 25 Mar 21 2013 2012 2012 Approve 45 38 36 Disapprove 39 43 41 DK/NA 16 20 23 12. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling - taxes? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 29% 13% 46% 23% 28% 30% Disapprove 61 78 42 69 65 58 DK/NA 10 9 12 8 7 12 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling taxes? Mar 12 Apr 25 2013 2012 Approve 29 25% Disapprove 61 64 DK/NA 10 11 13. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling - the economy? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 35% 15% 56% 28% 34% 36% Disapprove 56 76 34 65 59 53 DK/NA 9 9 10 7 6 11 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling the economy? Mar 12 Apr 25 2013 2012 Approve 35 31 Disapprove 56 56 DK/NA 9 13 14. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling - gun policy? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 48% 21% 73% 40% 43% 51% Disapprove 39 65 17 46 46 33 DK/NA 13 15 10 14 10 16 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling gun policy? Mar 12 Mar 06 2013 2013 Approve 48 41 Disapprove 39 38 DK/NA 13 21 15. Do you approve or disapprove of Dannel Malloy's overall response to - Hurricane Sandy? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 78% 74% 85% 75% 80% 77% Disapprove 16 18 11 20 16 16 DK/NA 6 8 4 6 4 7 16. Do you approve or disapprove of Dannel Malloy's overall response to - the Newtown school shootings? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 76% 59% 88% 73% 69% 81% Disapprove 17 33 4 21 23 12 DK/NA 7 8 8 6 7 7 17. Do you approve or disapprove of Dannel Malloy's overall response to - the February blizzard? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 80% 73% 85% 80% 80% 80% Disapprove 14 16 11 15 14 14 DK/NA 6 11 3 5 6 6 18. Do you think Dannel Malloy is a strong leader in a crisis or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Strong leader 67% 52% 81% 62% 62% 70% Not strong leader 27 44 13 32 32 23 DK/NA 6 4 6 5 5 6 19. Do you think Dannel Malloy has a likable personality or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 53% 35% 69% 49% 51% 56% No 36 53 23 41 38 34 DK/NA 10 12 8 10 11 10 20. Do you support or oppose - stricter gun control laws in Connecticut? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 66% 43% 86% 61% 55% 76% Oppose 29 55 12 32 41 19 DK/NA 4 3 2 6 4 5 TREND: Do you support or oppose stricter gun control laws in Connecticut? Mar 12 Mar 06 2013 2013 Support 66 66 Oppose 29 30 DK/NA 4 5 21. Do you support or oppose - expanding the statewide ban on the sale of assault weapons? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 71% 52% 89% 66% 57% 83% Oppose 26 44 9 31 40 14 DK/NA 3 4 2 3 3 3 TREND: Do you support or oppose expanding the statewide ban on the sale of assault weapons? Mar 12 Mar 06 2013 2013 Support 71 68 Oppose 26 28 DK/NA 3 5 22. Do you support or oppose - a statewide ban on the sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 bullets? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 70% 51% 84% 67% 60% 79% Oppose 27 45 14 29 38 18 DK/NA 3 3 2 3 2 3 TREND: Do you support or oppose a statewide ban on the sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 bullets? Mar 12 Mar 06 2013 2013 Support 70 68 Oppose 27 28 DK/NA 3 3 23. Do you think Governor Malloy is trying to change the state's gun laws too quickly, not quickly enough, or at about the right pace? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Too quickly 29% 58% 8% 34% 39% 21% Not quickly enough 18 10 26 15 15 21 About right 47 28 62 45 41 53 DK/NA 6 5 4 7 5 6 TREND: Do you think Governor Malloy is trying to change the state's gun laws too quickly, not quickly enough, or at about the right pace? Mar 12 Mar 06 2013 2013 Too quickly 29 33 Not quickly enough 18 17 About right 47 42 DK/NA 6 9 24. Do you think Republicans and Democrats in the state legislature will be able to work together to reduce gun violence in Connecticut or don't you think so? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes/Work together 41% 30% 54% 35% 35% 46% No/Don't think so 53 60 40 61 62 46 DK/NA 6 11 6 4 4 8 TREND: Do you think Republicans and Democrats in the state legislature will be able to work together to reduce gun violence in Connecticut or don't you think so? Mar 12 Mar 06 2013 2013 Yes/Work together 41 39 No/Don't think so 53 54 DK/NA 6 7 25. Who do you trust to do a better job handling gun policy, the Democrats or the Republicans in the state legislature? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Democrats 49% 12% 84% 37% 43% 54% Republicans 27 67 3 31 36 20 DK/NA 24 21 13 32 21 27 26. Do you think the governor and state legislature will be able to get something done this year to reduce gun violence in Connecticut or don't you think so? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Get something done 48% 27% 64% 45% 42% 54% Don't think so 47 65 33 52 55 41 DK/NA 4 8 2 4 3 5 27. Do you support or oppose eliminating the local car tax? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 44% 45% 42% 46% 42% 47% Oppose 45 46 46 45 50 41 DK/NA 11 9 12 9 8 13 28. Would you support or oppose eliminating the local car tax if it led to higher property taxes? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 18% 14% 17% 20% 19% 17% Oppose 77 84 76 75 77 77 DK/NA 5 2 7 5 5 6 29. Do you favor or oppose the death penalty for persons convicted of murder? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favor 59% 73% 42% 68% 65% 54% Oppose 35 21 51 28 33 37 DK/NA 6 6 6 4 2 9 TREND: Do you favor or oppose the death penalty for persons convicted of murder? (*Low also 59% Jan 2005) FAVOR........ High Low Mar 12 Apr 25 Mar 10 Oct 13 Nov 07 Mar 10 Mar 12 2013 2012 2011 2010 2007 2011 2013* Favor 59 62 67 65 63 67 59 Oppose 35 30 28 23 27 28 35 DK/NA 6 8 5 12 10 5 6 30. As you may know, last year Governor Malloy signed into law a bill that replaces the death penalty with life in prison without the possibility of parole. Do you approve or disapprove of this law that replaces the death penalty with life in prison without the possibility of parole? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 45% 26% 66% 37% 41% 50% Disapprove 51 71 31 59 58 44 DK/NA 4 3 3 4 1 6 31. Would you support or oppose raising the minimum wage in Connecticut, which is now $8.25 an hour? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 75% 58% 91% 72% 66% 83% Oppose 22 40 7 26 32 15 DK/NA 2 2 2 2 2 2 TREND: Would you support or oppose raising the minimum wage in Connecticut, which is now $8.25 an hour? Mar 12 Apr 25 2013 2012 Support 75 70 Oppose 22 28 DK/NA 2 2 32. Do you support or oppose putting tolls on state highways in Connecticut? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 39% 30% 39% 44% 39% 40% Oppose 58 68 58 55 59 57 DK/NA 3 2 3 1 2 3 TREND: Do you support or oppose putting tolls on state highways in Connecticut? Mar 12 Mar 18 Mar 10 2013 2010 2009 Support 39 40 35 Oppose 58 56 61 DK/NA 3 3 3 33. Would you support or oppose putting tolls on state highways in Connecticut if the money were used for repairs to the state's roads and bridges? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 57% 51% 60% 59% 55% 59% Oppose 40 49 39 38 43 38 DK/NA 2 1 2 3 2 3 34. Would you support or oppose putting tolls on state highways in Connecticut if the money were used to reduce the state's gas tax? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 53% 51% 51% 55% 51% 54% Oppose 44 47 45 43 47 42 DK/NA 3 2 4 2 2 4 35. Do you support or oppose allowing illegal immigrants to get drivers' licenses? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 31% 14% 51% 23% 28% 34% Oppose 65 82 44 73 70 60 DK/NA 4 3 5 4 2 6 Demographic Summary
