July 31, 2003 - Budget, Integrity Problems Sink Rowland Approval, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Bush-Lieberman Race Would Be Close In Connecticut Plagued by low ratings for his handling of Connecticut's budget problems and ethical questions, Gov. John Rowland's approval rating has sunk to 31 - 58 percent, the lowest rating ever measured for a governor in Quinnipiac University's 10 years of polling. For years Gov. Rowland routinely topped 60 percent, frequently with the highest approval among governors in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as measured by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. Connecticut voters also give the State Legislature a 29 - 57 percent approval rating, a 2 -1 negative, and 92 percent say the state's failure to enact a budget is a "somewhat serious" or "very serious" problem. Connecticut voters say 50 - 44 percent that their Governor has strong leadership qualities, but they say 58 - 36 percent that he does not care about their needs and problems. Rowland does not have high ethical standards, voters say 51 - 36 percent. "Has Gov. Rowland signed a long-term lease in the public opinion basement? He can take some comfort from the fact that the State Legislature is in the basement as well. The problem for all of them is the state budget - or lack of budget," said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D. "Rowland also is plagued by voter concern about his ethics." Rowland gets negative ratings for his handling of key issues: 24 - 71 percent for handling the state budget; 39 - 50 percent for handling education; 27 - 68 percent for handling the economy and jobs; 28 - 68 percent for handling taxes; 28 - 46 percent for handling appointments to high level positions. Presidential Race Among Democrats, Sen. Joseph Lieberman leads the presidential pack with 37 percent, but former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean has jumped to 17 percent, tying Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry. Missouri Congressman Richard Gephardt has 8 percent. No other Democratic contender breaks 4 percent, with 10 percent undecided. If New York Sen. Hillary Clinton changes her mind and throws her hat into the presidential ring, she leads among Democrats with 33 percent, bumping Lieberman to 23 percent. Kerry has 11 percent, followed by Dean with 10 percent and Gephardt with 6 percent. No other Democrat breaks 3 percent and undecided gets 8 percent. Bush edges Lieberman 47 - 44 percent. Against other Democrats, Bush leads: 53 - 38 percent over Clinton; 49 - 43 percent over Kerry; 53 - 39 percent over Gephardt; 53 - 38 percent over Dean. "Sen. Lieberman's job approval rating used to consistently hover around 70 percent. Now it is at an all time low of 51 percent. His drop has been especially dramatic among Democrats. Although Lieberman still leads the field in the Democratic primary, he has lost some ground, and Gov. Dean has moved up," Dr. Schwartz added. From July 23 - 29, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,384 Connecticut voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.6 percent. The survey includes 427 Democrats with a margin of error of 4.7 percent. The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and the nation as a public service and for research. For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu and quicklinks TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Rowland is handling his job as Governor of Connecticut? ((LV)Likely Voters) App Dis DK/NA Jul 31, 2003 31% 58% 11% Apr 30, 2003 33 54 13 Mar 13,2003 33 57 10 Oct 17, 2002 62 29 9 Oct 2, 2002 58 31 11 Jul 31, 2002 54 32 14 May 23, 2002 63 24 13 Feb 14, 2002 65 21 14 Dec 19, 2001 78 14 8 Apr 19, 2001 70 20 10 Feb 21, 2001 66 20 14 Sep 21, 2000(LV) 67 21 13 Jul 20, 2000 68 23 10 Jun 21, 2000 66 23 10 Apr 13, 2000 66 23 11 Feb 18, 2000 67 22 11 Oct 14, 1999 63 25 12 Jun 24, 1999 67 26 7 May 4, 1999 63 26 11 Nov 2, 1998(LV) 77 19 4 Oct 21, 1998 76 17 7 Oct 1, 1998 75 17 9 Jun 24, 1998 69 23 8 Apr 1, 1998 69 23 8 Feb 18, 1998 71 21 7 Nov 19, 1997 61 30 8 Oct 8, 1997 61 32 8 Jul 16, 1997 56 34 10 Feb 25, 1997 63 28 8 Nov 1, 1996 60 26 14 Oct 6, 1996 61 25 14 Jul 3, 1996 56 30 14 Mar 27, 1996 51 34 15 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling h is job as President? ((LV)Likely Voters) App Dis DK/NA Jul 31, 2003 54% 41% 5% May 1, 2003 64 29 7 March 14, 2003 49 45 6 October 17, 2002(LV) 64 29 7 October 2, 2002 61 32 7 August 1, 2002 59 34 7 July 31, 2002 59 34 7 May 23, 2002 70 24 6 February 14, 2002 79 16 6 December 19, 2001 87 10 2 April 19, 2001 55 33 12 February 21, 2001 49 30 21 TREND: Do you approve or diapprove of the way Christopher Dodd is handling his job as United States Senator? ((LV)Likely Voters) App Dis DK/NA Jul 31, 2003 58% 20% 22% May 1, 2003 52 16 31 March 14, 2003 57 22 21 October 2, 2002 58 21 21 August 1, 2002 61 20 19 July 31, 2002 61 20 19 May 23, 2002 61 18 21 February 14, 2002 52 17 31 December 19, 2001 63 20 18 April 19, 2001 71 16 13 February 21, 2001 68 15 16 September 21, 2000(LV) 66 20 14 July 20, 2000 64 24 12 June 21, 2000 64 21 14 April 13, 2000 63 22 15 February 18, 2000 64 21 16 October 14, 1999 70 22 8 June 24, 1999 65 25 10 May 5, 1999 61 25 14 November 2, 1998(LV) 62 31 7 October 22, 1998 62 27 11 October 2, 1998 60 27 12 June 25, 1998 61 27 11 April 2, 1998 60 27 13 February 19, 1998 59 30 11 November 19, 1997 57 31 12 October 9, 1997 56 34 10 July 15, 1997 62 27 12 February 25, 1997 54 30 16 July 3, 1996 56 26 18 March 27, 1996 58 30 13 April 20, 1995 60 26 15 August 22, 1994 56 27 17 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joseph Lieberman is handling his job as United States Senator? ((LV)Likely Voters) App Dis DK/NA Jul 31, 2003 51% 33% 17% May 1, 2003 53 25 22 March 14, 2003 60 28 12 October 2, 2002 58 29 13 August 1, 2002 64 26 10 July 31, 2002 64 26 10 May 23, 2002 65 23 12 February 14, 2002 64 21 15 December 19, 2001 71 19 10 April 19, 2001 71 22 7 February 21, 2001 71 20 9 September 21, 2000(LV) 80 14 6 July 20, 2000 74 15 11 June 21, 2000 72 14 14 April 13, 2000 71 14 14 February 18, 2000 73 14 13 October 14, 1999 73 16 11 June 24, 1999 71 19 10 May 5, 1999 67 19 14 October 22, 1998 70 16 14 October 2, 1998 71 17 12 June 25, 1998 68 16 16 April 2, 1998 69 16 15 February 19, 1998 69 16 15 November 19, 1997 69 17 13 October 9, 1997 71 18 11 July 15, 1997 72 14 15 February 25, 1997 66 18 16 July 3, 1996 68 18 14 March 27, 1996 66 17 17 April 20, 1995 63 19 18 August 22, 1994 55 23 22 July 19, 1994 58 16 26 TREND: Now I'am going to name nine Democrats who might run for president in 2004. After I read all nine names, tell me which one would you most like to see the Democrats nominate for president in 2004. Here are the choices... Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt, North Carolina Senator John Edwards, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, the Reverand Al Sharpton, Florida Senator Bob Graham, former Illinois Senator Carol Moseley-Braun, or Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich. Democrats.......... Jul May Mar 2003 2003 2003 Lieberman 37% 46% 41% Kerry 17 18 18 Gephardt 8 9 8 Edwards 3 3 6 Dean 17 6 5 Sharpton 3 5 2 Graham 2 1 2 Moseley-Braun 4 1 4 Kucinich - - 1 DK/NA 10 11 12 TREND: Suppose New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton decides to run for president in 2004. Who would you most like to see the Democrats nominate for president in 2004? -- New York senator Hillary Rodham Clinton,Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt, North Carolina Senator John Edwards, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, the Reverand Al Sharpton, Florida Senator Bob Graham, former Illinois Senator Carol Moseley-Braun, or Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich. Democrats.......... Jul May Mar 2003 2003 2003 Clinton 33% 31% 30% Lieberman 23 35 31 Kerry 11 11 13 Gephardt 6 6 5 Edwards 3 1 4 Dean 10 6 5 Sharpton 1 1 1 Graham 2 1 1 Moseley-Braun 2 1 2 Kucinich 2 - 1 DK/NA 8 8 8 1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Rowland is handling his job as Governor? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Approve 31% 55% 13% 30% 36% 26% 19% Disapprove 58 34 77 59 55 60 74 DK/NA 11 12 10 10 8 13 7 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Approve 54% 89% 25% 53% 60% 50% 53% Disapprove 41 10 70 41 37 45 44 DK/NA 5 1 6 6 4 6 4 3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joseph Lieberman is handling his job as United States Senator? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Approve 51% 41% 59% 53% 48% 54% 56% Disapprove 33 43 23 32 38 28 31 DK/NA 17 16 18 15 15 18 13 4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Dodd is handling his job as United States Senator? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Approve 58% 45% 75% 57% 56% 60% 65% Disapprove 20 30 10 20 24 16 18 DK/NA 22 25 14 23 20 24 18 5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Approve 29% 28% 32% 27% 25% 32% 28% Disapprove 57 60 56 58 64 51 61 DK/NA 14 12 12 15 11 16 11 6. Now I'm going to name nine Democrats who might run for president in 2004. After I read all nine names, tell me which one you would most like to see the Democrats nominate for president in 2004. Here are the choices -- Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt, North Carolina Senator John Edwards, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, the Reverend Al Sharpton, Florida Senator Bob Graham, former Illinois Senator Carol Moseley-Braun, or Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich. Dem Lieberman 37% Kerry 17 Gephardt 8 Edwards 3 Dean 17 Sharpton 3 Graham 2 Moseley-Braun 4 Kucinich - DK/NA 10 7. Suppose New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton decides to run for president in 2004. Who would you most like to see the Democrats nominate for president in 2004? -- New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt, North Carolina Senator John Edwards, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, the Reverend Al Sharpton, Florida Senator Bob Graham, former Illinois Senator Carol Moseley-Braun, or Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich. Dem Clinton 33% Lieberman 23 Kerry 11 Gephardt 6 Edwards 3 Dean 10 Sharpton 1 Graham 2 Moseley-Braun 2 Kucinich 2 DK/NA 8 8. Suppose the general election for president were being held today, and the candidates were Hillary Rodham Clinton the Democrat and George W. Bush the Republican for whom would you vote? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Clinton 38% 5% 74% 34% 29% 46% 49% Bush 53 92 17 56 62 45 43 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 - 3 3 3 2 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 1 4 4 3 4 3 DK/NA 3 1 3 3 3 3 3 9. Suppose the general election for president were being held today, and the candidates were Joe Lieberman the Democrat and George W. Bush the Republican for whom would you vote? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Lieberman 44% 7% 78% 44% 37% 50% 54% Bush 47 91 12 45 53 41 39 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 - 1 3 1 2 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 1 5 2 3 2 2 DK/NA 5 1 5 6 5 5 3 10. Suppose the general election for president were being held today, and the candidates were John Kerry the Democrat and George W. Bush the Republican for whom would you vote? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Kerry 43% 8% 78% 39% 40% 45% 53% Bush 49 89 15 50 55 45 43 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - 1 1 - 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 - 1 2 1 2 1 DK/NA 6 3 5 7 4 7 3 11. Suppose the general election for president were being held today, and the candidates were Dick Gephardt the Democrat and George W. Bush the Republican for whom would you vote? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Gephardt 39% 5% 75% 36% 34% 43% 47% Bush 53 93 16 55 58 49 45 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - 1 2 1 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 - 1 1 1 1 - DK/NA 6 2 6 6 6 5 7 12. Suppose the general election for president were being held today, and the candidates were Howard Dean the Democrat and George W. Bush the Republican for whom would you vote? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Dean 38% 6% 71% 35% 34% 41% 45% Bush 53 92 19 52 58 48 49 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - 1 1 1 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 - 2 2 1 2 1 DK/NA 7 2 7 9 6 8 4 13. 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? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Very satisfied 4% 6% 2% 4% 5% 2% 1% Smwht satisfied 34 49 25 32 34 33 26 Smwht dissatisfied 37 32 40 39 37 38 39 Very dissatisfied 24 13 32 25 21 27 33 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 14. Would you say that John Rowland has strong leadership qualities or not? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Yes 50% 66% 36% 52% 56% 46% 41% No 44 28 58 45 40 49 55 DK/NA 5 6 6 4 4 6 4 15. Would you say that John Rowland is honest and trustworthy or not? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Yes 37% 59% 21% 35% 41% 33% 24% No 51 29 66 52 48 53 67 DK/NA 13 12 13 12 11 14 9 16. Would you say that John Rowland cares about the needs and problems of people like you or not? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Yes 36% 62% 16% 34% 42% 30% 24% No 58 31 78 60 53 62 72 DK/NA 7 7 6 7 5 8 4 17. Would you say that John Rowland has high ethical standards or not? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Yes 36% 53% 22% 37% 41% 33% 23% No 51 33 66 51 48 54 69 DK/NA 13 14 12 12 12 14 9 18. Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Rowland is handling -- the state budget? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Approve 24% 48% 7% 21% 29% 19% 16% Disapprove 71 45 88 73 65 76 81 DK/NA 5 7 4 6 5 6 3 19. Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Rowland is handling -- education? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Approve 39% 58% 23% 40% 45% 33% 34% Disapprove 50 30 66 49 42 57 58 DK/NA 11 12 11 11 12 10 8 20. Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Rowland is handling the -- economy and jobs? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Approve 27% 47% 11% 26% 33% 21% 17% Disapprove 68 44 84 70 62 72 79 DK/NA 6 10 5 4 5 6 3 21. Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Rowland is handling -- taxes? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Approve 28% 49% 15% 26% 36% 21% 21% Disapprove 68 45 80 71 61 73 76 DK/NA 4 7 5 3 3 6 3 22. Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Rowland is handling -- appointments to high level positions? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Approve 28% 43% 18% 27% 33% 25% 22% Disapprove 46 30 60 46 43 49 60 DK/NA 25 26 22 27 24 26 18 23. Would you describe the state of Connecticut's economy these days as: Excellent, good, not so good, or poor? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Excellent 1% 2% - 1% 1% 1% - Good 28 46 18 24 33 24 22 Not so good 47 39 52 50 45 49 52 Poor 23 13 29 24 20 25 26 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 - 1 - 24. During the next 12 months, do you think the economic conditions in Connecticut will get better, get worse, or stay about the same? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Get better 29% 46% 19% 28% 35% 24% 18% Get worse 18 8 23 21 14 21 24 Stay the same 50 46 53 49 48 51 55 DK/NA 3 - 5 2 2 3 4 25. Would you say that you are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Better off 35% 45% 24% 36% 40% 30% 36% Worse off 42 29 54 42 36 48 42 SAME(VOL) 22 23 20 21 22 21 21 DK/NA 1 2 2 1 1 2 1 26.Connecticut has not had a budget since July first, the start of the fiscal year. Do you think that the state's failure to pass a budget is a very serious problem, somewhat serious, not very serious, or not serious at all? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Very serious problem 58% 50% 60% 60% 52% 63% 60% Smwht serious 34 37 34 32 37 30 36 Not very serious 5 9 5 4 7 4 3 Not serious at all 2 2 1 2 3 1 1 DK/NA 2 2 1 2 1 2 - 27. Who do you think is most responsible for the state's failure to pass a budget - Governor Rowland, the State Legislature, or are they both equally to blame? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Rowland 14% 5% 26% 12% 12% 16% 25% State Legislature 20 40 6 18 28 12 16 Equally to blame 63 51 64 69 58 68 58 DK/NA 3 3 4 1 2 3 1 29. (If "State Leg" or "Equally" on q28 ask) Is it mainly the Republicans in the State Legislature or the Democrats, who are mainly responsible for the failure to pass a budget? STATE LEG. OR EQUALLY TO BLAME Q28.................... Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Republicans 20% 4% 41% 18% 17% 23% 26% Democrats 30 60 9 24 38 22 21 BOTH(VOL) 27 20 25 31 28 27 29 DK/NA 23 16 24 27 18 28 23 30. To balance the state budget, if you had to choose, would you prefer raising taxes or cutting government programs and services? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Raising taxes 43% 28% 58% 41% 38% 46% 54% Cutting services 43 63 26 43 50 37 33 DK/NA 15 10 16 16 12 17 12
