September 20, 2000 - Gore Has 19-Point Lead Over Bush In Connecticut, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Dem Candidate Overcomes `Leadership' Gap Vice President Al Gore leads Texas Gov. George W. Bush 52 - 33 percent among Connecticut likely voters, with 1 percent for Reform Party candidate Pat Buchanan and 7 percent for Green Party candidate Ralph Nader, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll released today. Among registered voters, Gore leads 50 - 33 percent, with 1 percent for Buchanan and 7 percent for Nader. In a July 19 poll of Connecticut registered voters by the independent Quinnipiac University, Gore had 38 percent to Bush's 37 percent, too close to call, with 11 percent for Nader and 3 percent for Buchanan. In that pre-convention poll, Gore was ahead of Bush on every measure, but trailed on the critical question of leadership: While 49 percent of Connecticut voters said Gore "has strong leadership qualities," 59 percent of voters, including 40 percent of Democrats, said Bush has these leadership qualities. In this latest poll, 62 percent of voters say Gore "has strong leadership qualities," while 56 percent say Bush is a strong leader. "Vice President Gore has broken out of a tie with Gov. Bush to open a commanding lead. For the first time in two years, Connecticut voters have a positive opinion of the Vice President," said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz. "Gore has solidified his support among Democrats and opened a big lead among independent voters. One reason for Gore's big jump is that voters now see him as a leader." Gore's favorability is 49 - 28 percent among registered voters, with 21 percent mixed and 1 percent saying they haven't heard enough to form an opinion. Gore had a negative 31 - 38 percent favorability in the July 19 Quinnipiac University poll. Bush's favorability is a negative 31 - 41 percent among Connecticut voters, compared with a negative 29 - 34 percent favorability rating July 19. Comparing Connecticut voters' rating of other Gore and Bush qualities show: 67 percent say Gore "cares about the needs and problems of people like you," while 47 percent say Bush cares; 69 percent say Gore has a likable personality, compared to 62 percent for Bush; 61 percent say Gore is "honest and trustworthy,' compared to 56 percent for Bush; 61 percent say Gore "shares their views" on key issues, while 43 percent say Bush shares their views; 76 percent say Gore understands complex issues, compared to 50 percent for Bush. "It appears that Gore got a big bounce out of the Democratic Convention and Bush's recent campaign stumbles have helped Gore to hold on to his gains," Schwartz said. "The Lieberman pick is an important factor in the Gore surge. His post-convention bounce nationwide is about 8 points, but in Connecticut, his bounce is twice as high. Two thirds of voters say the Lieberman choice makes them think more favorably of Gore." Gore's selection of Sen. Joseph Lieberman as his running mate scores points in Connecticut where 44 percent of voters say they are more likely to vote for Gore, while 6 percent say they are less likely and 50 percent say it doesn't affect their vote. From September 13 - 18, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,154 Connecticut registered voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percent, including 939 likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percent. The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as a public service and for research. 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Clinton is handling his job as President? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 55% 19% 85% 56% 54% 57% Disapprove 41 77 12 40 43 39 DK/NA 4 4 3 4 3 4 12. How much attention have you been paying to the election campaign for President -- a lot, some, only a little, or none at all? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom A lot 55% 62% 60% 49% 58% 53% Some 34 31 32 38 30 37 Only a little 9 6 7 11 10 8 None at all 2 1 1 2 2 1 DK/NA - - - - - - 13. Is your opinion of Al Gore favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 49% 12% 86% 45% 45% 52% Unfavorable 28 69 3 23 34 23 Mixed 21 18 10 28 19 23 Hvn't hrd enough 1 1 1 3 1 2 REFUSED - - - 1 - 1 14. Is your opinion of George W. Bush favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 31% 73% 6% 26% 35% 29% Unfavorable 41 5 75 38 38 44 Mixed 24 20 17 31 24 25 Hvn't hrd enough 3 2 1 4 4 2 REFUSED 1 - 1 - - 1 15. Is your opinion of Pat Buchanan favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 4% 8% 2% 4% 4% 4% Unfavorable 58 54 68 55 64 53 Mixed 16 23 7 18 16 16 Hvn't hrd enough 21 14 22 22 15 26 REFUSED 1 1 - 1 1 1 16. Is your opinion of Ralph Nader favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 25% 16% 30% 29% 25% 26% Unfavorable 28 40 25 24 36 21 Mixed 25 27 23 26 23 27 Hvn't hrd enough 20 15 21 20 14 25 REFUSED 1 1 1 2 2 1 17a. If the election for President were being held today and the candidates were Al Gore the Democrat and George W. Bush the Republican for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Gore 55% 11% 93% 56% 50% 59% Bush 34 81 5 29 40 29 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - 1 2 2 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 - 1 1 1 1 DK/NA 8 7 2 11 6 10 17b. If the election for President were being held today and the candidates were Al Gore the Democrat and George W. Bush the Republican for whom would you vote? ........ Likely Voters ........ Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Gore 57% 11% 94% 58% 51% 62% Bush 35 82 3 28 41 29 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - 1 2 2 1 DK/NA 8 6 2 11 6 8 18a. If the election for President were being held today and the candidates were Al Gore, the Democrat George W. Bush the Republican, Pat Buchanan the Reform arty candidate and Ralph Nader the Green Party candidate for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Gore 50% 11% 87% 48% 45% 55% Bush 33 80 5 26 39 28 Buchanan 1 1 1 1 1 1 Nader 7 3 4 12 9 6 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - - - - - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 - - 1 1 1 DK/NA 7 4 3 11 6 9 18b. If the election for President were being held today and the candidates were Al Gore, the Democrat George W. Bush the Republican, Pat Buchanan the Reform Party candidate and Ralph Nader the Green Party candidate for whom would you vote? ........ Likely Voters ........ Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Gore 52% 10% 89% 51% 46% 58% Bush 33 81 4 26 40 28 Buchanan 1 1 1 1 1 1 Nader 7 3 4 12 9 6 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - - - - - DK/NA 6 5 2 10 4 8 19. Is your mind made up, or do you think you might change your mind before the election? REGISTERED VOTERS Q18a Gore Bush Nader Vtrs Vtrs Vtrs Made up 75% 70% 44% Might change 25 29 55 REFUSED - 1 1 20. Would you describe your support for 'candidate' as strongly favoring him, or do you like 'candidate' but with reservations, or do you support 'candidate' because you dislike the other candidates? REGISTERED VOTERS Q18a Gore Bush Nader Vtrs Vtrs Vtrs Strongly favor 48% 43% 49% Like with reservations 37 41 27 Dislike other candidate 15 14 23 DK/NA 1 1 1 22. Regardless of how you intend to vote, do you expect Gore or Bush to win the Presidential election? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Gore 52% 22% 82% 50% 51% 53% Bush 25 54 6 22 30 20 DK/NA 23 24 12 28 19 27 23. Would you say that Al Gore -- cares about the needs and problems of people like you or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 67% 40% 92% 67% 62% 72% No 27 55 6 26 34 22 DK/NA 5 6 2 7 4 6 24. Would you say that Al Gore -- has a likable personality? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 69% 46% 86% 70% 67% 70% No 26 49 10 24 30 23 DK/NA 5 5 5 6 4 7 25. Would you say that Al Gore -- has strong leadership qualities? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 62% 34% 88% 61% 59% 65% No 31 58 8 31 37 26 DK/NA 7 8 4 8 5 9 26. Would you say that Al Gore -- understands complex issues? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 76% 58% 92% 77% 77% 76% No 18 33 5 18 19 17 DK/NA 6 9 3 5 4 7 27. Would you say that Al Gore -- is honest and trustworthy? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 61% 35% 84% 60% 56% 65% No 31 59 10 30 37 25 DK/NA 8 6 6 10 7 10 28. Would you say that Al Gore -- shares your views on issues that you care about? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 61% 23% 90% 64% 54% 67% No 33 72 7 29 41 26 DK/NA 6 5 3 7 5 7 29. Would you say that George W. Bush -- cares about the needs and problems of people like you or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 47% 85% 20% 46% 51% 44% No 46 11 74 46 43 48 DK/NA 7 4 5 8 5 8 30. Would you say that George W. Bush -- has a likable personality? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 62% 83% 46% 61% 67% 57% No 32 12 48 34 29 35 DK/NA 6 5 6 5 4 8 31. Would you say that George W. Bush -- has strong leadership qualities? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 56% 85% 35% 52% 55% 57% No 37 10 60 38 37 36 DK/NA 7 5 5 10 7 7 32. Would you say that George W. Bush -- understands complex issues? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 50% 79% 27% 48% 52% 48% No 41 15 65 40 40 42 DK/NA 10 6 8 12 8 11 33. Would you say that George W. Bush -- is honest and trustworthy? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 56% 89% 36% 52% 62% 51% No 34 9 58 33 30 38 DK/NA 10 2 6 15 8 12 34. Would you say that George W. Bush -- shares your views on issues that you care about? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 43% 86% 12% 41% 47% 40% No 49 10 83 48 47 51 DK/NA 8 4 4 11 6 9 35. Does Bush's handling of presidential debates make you think more favorably of Bush, less favorably, or doesn't it affect your opinion of Bush? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More favorably 14% 28% 3% 14% 15% 14% Less favorably 37 12 62 35 36 38 Dsn't affect opinion 39 47 30 39 41 37 DK/NA 10 13 4 11 8 11 36. Does Bush's pick of Cheney as his running mate make you think more favorably of Bush, less favorably, or doesn't it affect your opinion of Bush? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More favorably 31% 54% 14% 30% 36% 27% Less favorably 25 7 38 25 25 24 Dsn't affect opinion 41 36 45 42 36 46 DK/NA 3 3 3 3 2 4 37. Did Bush's convention speech make you think more favorably of Bush, less favorably, or doesn't it affect your opinion of Bush? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More favorably 28% 54% 11% 25% 31% 26% Less favorably 12 3 22 9 9 14 Dsn't affect opinion 46 33 51 50 47 45 DK/NA 15 10 16 15 13 16 38. Did Bush's use of a vulgarity to describe a New York Times reporter make you think more favorably of Bush, less favorably, or doesn't it affect your opinion of Bush? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More favorably 9% 18% 3% 8% 16% 4% Less favorably 39 19 58 37 29 47 Dsn't affect opinion 48 59 36 51 52 46 DK/NA 3 3 3 4 3 4 39. Does Gore's handling of presidential debates make you think more favorably of Gore, less favorably, or doesn't it affect your opinion of Gore? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More favorably 37% 13% 58% 36% 33% 40% Less favorably 10 19 4 10 12 9 Dsn't affect opinion 43 54 31 45 46 40 DK/NA 10 14 8 9 9 11 40. Does Gore's pick of Lieberman as his running mate make you think more favorably of Gore, less favorably, or doesn't it affect your opinion of Gore? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More favorably 65% 48% 77% 65% 63% 67% Less favorably 9 15 5 8 11 8 Dsn't affect opinion 25 34 17 26 26 24 DK/NA 1 2 - 1 1 1 41. Did Gore's convention speech make you think more favorably of Gore, less favorably, or doesn't it affect your opinion of Gore? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More favorably 36% 16% 59% 31% 31% 41% Less favorably 9 21 2 7 13 6 Dsn't affect opinion 43 49 28 50 45 42 DK/NA 12 14 10 11 12 11 42. Did Gore's kiss to his wife Tipper, prior to his convention speech make you think more favorably of Gore, less favorably, or doesn't it affect your opinion of Gore? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More favorably 21% 10% 30% 21% 18% 24% Less favorably 12 26 3 11 13 12 Dsn't affect opinion 63 61 65 64 67 60 DK/NA 3 3 3 4 2 4 43. Does Bush's selection of Cheney as his running mate make you more likely to vote for Bush, less likely to vote for Bush, or doesn't it affect your vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More likely 17% 34% 5% 17% 20% 15% Less likely 20 5 30 21 19 21 Dsn't affect vote 62 60 65 60 61 63 DK/NA 1 - 1 2 1 2 44. Does Gore's selection of Lieberman as his running mate make you more likely to vote for Gore, less likely to vote for Gore, or doesn't it affect your vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More likely 44% 23% 55% 48% 40% 47% Less likely 6 12 1 6 8 4 Dsn't affect vote 50 64 43 45 52 48 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 - 1
