February 21, 2001 - Dodd Or Blumenthal vs. Rowland Would Be Close, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Dodd Leads Blumenthal Among Connecticut Dems Incumbent Republican Gov. John Rowland faces a tough re-election battle if either Sen. Christopher Dodd or State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal challenges him next year, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll released today. Gov. Rowland gets 44 percent of Connecticut voters to Sen. Dodd's 42 percent. Facing Blumenthal, Rowland squeaks by 44 - 41 percent. Among Democratic primary voters, Dodd tops Blumenthal 45 - 37 percent, with 17 percent undecided. Connecticut voters approve 66 - 20 percent of the job Rowland is doing, continuing his 5-year string of plus 60 percent approval ratings measured by the independent Quinnipiac University poll From February 14 - 19, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,262 Connecticut registered voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percent. The survey includes 440 registered Democrats with a margin of error of +/- 4.7 percent. "Political observers doubt Sen. Dodd will give up his job on Capitol Hill to be Governor, but he has not ruled it out. If Dodd runs for Governor, it looks like it would be a very competitive race. Right now it's a tossup," said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz. "The good news for Rowland is that he continues to be a very popular governor. The bad news is that, despite his strong job approval rating, either Dodd or Blumenthal could match him vote for vote in a possible reelection bid," Schwartz added. Rowland's favorability is 51 - 14 percent among registered voters, with 29 percent mixed and 6 percent saying they haven't heard enough to form an opinion. Favorability ratings among other Connecticut leaders are: Favorable Unfavorable Mixed No Opinion Sen. Joseph Lieberman 59% 14% 19% 7% Dodd 51 10 23 16 Blumenthal 52 7 15 25 "It's a virtual love-fest between Connecticut voters and these statewide elected leaders. These officials are well-known and well-liked," Schwartz said. A total of 49 percent of voters say it is "very likely" or "somewhat likely" that Dodd will run for governor next year, 33 percent say it is "not very likely" or "not likely at all." By a 54 - 24 percent margin, Connecticut voters say Dodd would make a good governor, with 22 percent undecided. Voters also believe 52 - 35 percent that Lieberman would make a good president, but they are divided on whether he will run for the White House in 2004. A total of 47 percent say it is "very likely" or "somewhat likely," while 48 percent say it is "not too likely" or "not likely at all." "In September, Sen. Lieberman's approval rating reached a sky high 80 percent. His job approval is back down to earth -- 71 percent in today's poll, which is still higher than any major officeholder in the tri-state region," Schwartz said. The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as a public service and for research. For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu 1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Rowland is handling his job as Governor of Connecticut? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 66% 81% 49% 70% 70% 62% Disapprove 20 7 33 18 17 22 DK/NA 14 12 18 12 13 15 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 49% 88% 27% 45% 58% 42% Disapprove 30 4 51 29 22 37 DK/NA 21 8 22 26 20 21 3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joseph Lieberman is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 71% 51% 86% 71% 65% 75% Disapprove 20 39 8 20 28 14 DK/NA 9 10 7 9 7 11 4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Dodd is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 68% 58% 79% 68% 67% 69% Disapprove 15 24 9 15 19 12 DK/NA 16 18 12 17 13 19 6. Is your opinion of United States Senator Joseph Lieberman favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 59% 36% 78% 60% 54% 64% Unfavorable 14 31 3 13 20 9 Mixed 19 28 12 20 21 18 Hvn't hrd enough 7 5 7 6 5 9 REFUSED 1 1 1 - 1 1 7. Is your opinion of United States Senator Christopher Dodd favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 51% 39% 63% 51% 49% 53% Unfavorable 10 18 4 10 14 7 Mixed 23 31 17 23 24 21 Hvn't hrd enough 16 11 17 16 12 18 REFUSED 1 1 - 1 1 - 8. Is your opinion of State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 52% 45% 59% 53% 48% 55% Unfavorable 7 13 4 6 12 3 Mixed 15 18 16 15 17 14 Hvn't hrd enough 25 24 22 25 22 27 REFUSED 1 - - 1 1 - 9. Is your opinion of Governor John Rowland favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 51% 73% 34% 50% 56% 46% Unfavorable 14 4 22 15 13 16 Mixed 29 18 37 29 26 31 Hvn't hrd enough 6 5 6 5 4 7 REFUSED - - 1 1 - - 10. If the election for Governor were being held today and the candidates were Christopher Dodd the Democrat, and John Rowland the Republican, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Dodd 42% 7% 76% 37% 35% 48% Rowland 44 87 13 43 51 39 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 - 1 2 2 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 1 1 1 1 DK/NA 11 4 8 16 10 11 11. If the election for Governor were being held today and the candidates were Richard Blumenthal the Democrat, and John Rowland the Republican, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Blumenthal 41% 13% 70% 37% 34% 46% Rowland 44 80 20 41 51 37 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - - 1 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 1 1 2 1 DK/NA 14 6 10 20 12 15 12. (If registered Democrat) If the Democratic Primary for Governor were being held today and the candidates were Richard Blumenthal and Christopher Dodd for whom would you vote? Registered Democrats Blumenthal 37% Dodd 45 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 DK/NA 17 13. How likely do you think it is that Christopher Dodd will run for Governor in 2002? Very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely at all? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very likely 13% 10% 13% 13% 10% 15% Smwht likely 36 34 40 36 31 41 Not too likely 19 19 20 19 23 16 Not likely at all 14 19 12 13 20 9 DK/NA 18 18 14 19 17 20 14. Do you think Christopher Dodd would make a good Governor or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 54% 36% 72% 51% 51% 57% No 24 43 11 23 31 18 DK/NA 22 21 17 26 18 26 15. How likely do you think it is that Joseph Lieberman will run for President in 2004? Very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely at all? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very likely 13% 11% 13% 14% 10% 16% Smwht likely 34 34 35 33 26 40 Not too likely 28 25 30 28 31 26 Not likely at all 20 25 19 19 29 13 DK/NA 5 4 3 6 4 6 16. Do you think Joseph Lieberman would make a good President or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 52% 30% 71% 52% 45% 58% No 35 60 18 34 45 27 DK/NA 12 10 11 14 10 14 17. Did Joseph Lieberman running for both Vice President and Senate at the same time in 2000 make you think more favorably of him, less favorably of him, or didn't it affect your opinion of him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More favorably 10% 6% 14% 8% 8% 11% Less favorably 35 60 18 34 42 29 Didn't affect opinion 54 33 67 57 49 58 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1
