October 13, 1999 - Bradley Blows Past Gore With Connecticut Democrats, Quinnipiac College Poll Finds; Bush Is Easy Primary Winner And Tops Gore By 16 Points Former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley has come from behind to top Vice President Al Gore 51 - 34 percent in a Connecticut Democratic Primary, according to a Quinnipiac College Poll released today. In a June 23 poll by the independent Quinnipiac College, Gore was ahead of Bradley among Democrats 47 - 37 percent. A September 27 Quinnipiac College Poll of New Jersey voters showed native son Bradley beating Gore 63 - 24 percent in a Democratic Primary, while Quinnipiac College's October 3 poll of New York State voters showed Bradley gets 44 percent to Gore's 41 percent, a tie, in a Democratic Primary. From October 5 - 11, Quinnipiac College surveyed 1,170 Connecticut voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percent. The survey includes 419 Democrats with a margin of error of +/- 4.8 percent, and 319 Republicans with a margin of error of +/- 5.5 percent. In a head-to-head Presidential matchup, Texas Gov. George W. Bush beats Gore 52 - 36 percent. If Pat Buchanan runs on the Reform Party ticket, Bush beats Gore 49 - 35 percent, with 4 percent for Buchanan. Bradley gets 44 percent to Bush's 42 percent, a tie in their Presidential race. If Buchanan runs, Bush gets 43 percent to Bradley's 42 percent, with 3 percent for Buchanan. "Gore's problems in Connecticut are getting worse - his negatives are up and voters don't see him as a strong leader," said Quinnipiac College Poll Director Douglas Schwartz. "The more voters get to know Bradley the more they like him. At this stage in the campaign Bradley is clearly the stronger Democratic candidate in Connecticut: He ties Bush, while Gore loses big to Bush," Schwartz added. "Being the Vice President hurts Gore in two ways. First, people see a Vice President as a number 2, not a number 1. Second, being the Vice President to this particular President is hurting Gore among voters looking for a change. Bush wins a Republican Primary with 54 percent, followed by Arizona Sen. John McCain with 14 percent and Elizabeth Dole with 13 percent. Buchanan gets 3 percent. By a 39 - 24 percent margin, Connecticut voters have a favorable opinion of Bush, with 24 percent mixed and 13 percent saying they haven't heard enough to form an opinion. Favorability ratings among other presidential contenders are: Favorable Unfavorable Mixed No Opinion Al Gore 22% 38% 30% 9% Bill Bradley 36 8 14 41 Pat Buchanan 7 61 15 16 Elizabeth Dole 36 20 23 21 John McCain 27 10 13 50 By a 54 - 32 percent margin, Connecticut voters say Bush "cares about the needs and problems of people like you." By a 61 - 23 percent margin, voters say Bush is honest and trustworthy and by a 70 - 18 percent margin, they say he has strong leadership qualities. Bradley "cares" about them, voters say 62 - 12 percent. He is honest and trustworthy, voters say 64 - 9 percent, while 55 - 17 percent, voters say Bradley has leadership qualities. Gore "cares," Connecticut voters say 65 - 30 percent. He is honest and trustworthy, voters say 61 - 30 percent. But he fails 32 - 57 percent with voters on leadership. The "Clinton Fatigue" factor is strong in Connecticut, where voters say 45 - 49 percent they want the next President to continue Clinton policies. Only 11 percent of voters want the next President to have Clinton's personal qualities, while 84 percent want different qualities. The Quinnipiac College 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 4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Clinton is handling his job as President? June 24 Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1999 Approve 52% 23% 78% 51% 52% 53% 53% Disapprove 44 74 20 45 45 43 45 DK/NA 4 4 2 5 3 4 2 6. How much attention have you been paying to the election campaign for President in the year 2000 -- a lot, some, only a little, or none at all? June 23 Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1999 A lot 28% 34% 28% 26% 30% 26% 24% Some 44 41 45 44 43 44 38 Only a little 23 21 22 23 21 25 28 None at all 6 4 4 7 5 6 10 DK/NA - - - - - - - 7. Is your opinion of Vice President Al Gore favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? June 23 Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1999 Favorable 22% 9% 36% 20% 20% 24% 22% Unfavorable 38 58 20 41 43 34 31 Mixed 30 26 33 30 28 31 29 Hvn't hrd enough 9 6 10 9 8 11 17 Refused - 1 - 1 1 - 1 8. Is your opinion of former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? June 23 Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1999 Favorable 36% 35% 45% 33% 44% 30% 27% Unfavorable 8 9 7 8 9 7 6 Mixed 14 15 9 18 14 14 14 Hvn't hrd enough 41 39 39 40 32 48 53 Refused 1 1 - 1 1 1 - 9. Is your opinion of Family Research Council Chairman Gary Bauer favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? June 23 Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1999 Favorable 4% 4% 3% 3% 4% 3% 3% Unfavorable 14 12 20 11 18 10 10 Mixed 6 8 5 6 5 6 5 Hvn't hrd enough 76 75 72 79 72 80 82 Refused 1 1 1 1 1 1 - 10. Is your opinion of Political Commentator Patrick Buchanan favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? June 23 Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1999 Favorable 7% 11% 4% 7% 9% 6% 11% Unfavorable 61 52 71 62 64 58 51 Mixed 15 22 8 16 14 15 19 Hvn't hrd enough 16 14 17 14 11 20 19 Refused 1 1 - 1 1 1 1 11. Is your opinion of Texas Governor George W. Bush favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? June 23 Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1999 Favorable 39% 67% 20% 36% 41% 37% 43% Unfavorable 24 6 43 22 24 24 16 Mixed 24 18 24 27 22 25 21 Hvn't hrd enough 13 8 13 14 12 13 20 Refused 1 1 - 1 1 1 - 12. Is your opinion of former Red Cross Director Elizabeth Dole favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about her? June 23 Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1999 Favorable 36% 47% 30% 33% 30% 41% 40% Unfavorable 20 12 28 19 24 17 19 Mixed 23 23 20 26 24 22 25 Hvn't hrd enough 21 16 22 21 22 19 16 Refused 1 1 1 1 1 1 - 13. Is your opinion of Businessman Steve Forbes favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? June 23 Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1999 Favorable 14% 20% 10% 13% 16% 12% 17% Unfavorable 35 26 43 36 38 33 30 Mixed 22 23 18 24 23 21 24 Hvn't hrd enough 28 29 29 25 22 34 28 Refused 1 1 - 2 1 1 - 14. Is your opinion of Utah Senator Orrin Hatch favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 9% 15% 5% 8% 11% 7% Unfavorable 28 18 37 28 29 27 Mixed 13 15 12 13 14 12 Hvn't hrd enough 50 50 46 50 45 53 Refused 1 1 - 1 1 1 15. Is your opinion of Arizona Senator John McCain favorable, unfavorable, mixed,or haven't you heard enough about him? June 23 Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1999 Favorable 27% 31% 23% 28% 36% 19% 23% Unfavorable 10 8 13 9 11 9 5 Mixed 13 12 13 14 16 10 14 Hvn't hrd enough 50 49 50 49 36 61 57 Refused - - - - - - - 16. Is your opinion of Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 16% 17% 14% 16% 22% 10% Unfavorable 50 53 54 48 48 53 Mixed 20 18 16 22 19 21 Hvn't hrd enough 14 12 16 14 11 17 Refused - 1 - 1 1 - 17. If the election for President in the year 2000 were being held today and the candidates were Vice President Al Gore the Democrat, and Texas Governor George W. Bush the Republican, for whom you would vote? June 23 Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1999 Gore 36% 5% 66% 34% 34% 37% 37% Bush 52 91 24 50 55 49 52 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 3 2 2 4 3 3 2 WON'T VOTE(VOL) 3 - 3 4 2 4 2 DK/NA 6 3 5 8 5 7 7 18. If the election for President in the year 2000 were being held today and the candidates were former United States Senator Bill Bradley the Democrat, and Texas Governor George W. Bush the Republican, for whom you would vote? June 23 Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 1999 Bradley 44% 15% 73% 42% 47% 41% 36% Bush 42 78 16 39 42 42 49 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 - 2 3 3 2 2 WON'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 2 2 1 3 2 DK/NA 10 5 7 13 7 13 12 19. If the election for President in the year 2000 were being held today and the candidates were Vice President Al Gore the Democrat, Texas Governor George W. Bush the Republican, and Political Commentator Patrick Buchanan the Reform party candidate for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Gore 35% 6% 66% 32% 34% 37% Bush 49 87 22 47 52 47 Buchanan 4 4 3 5 6 3 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 1 1 2 2 2 WON'T VOTE(VOL) 2 - 2 2 2 2 DK/NA 7 2 4 10 5 9 20. If the election for President in the year 2000 were being held today and the candidates were former United States Senator Bill Bradley the Democrat, Texas Governor George W. Bush the Republican, and Political Commentator Patrick Buchanan the Reform party candidate for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Bradley 42% 15% 71% 39% 44% 40% Bush 43 78 18 40 43 43 Buchanan 3 3 3 4 4 2 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 - 1 2 2 2 WON'T VOTE(VOL) 2 - 2 2 1 3 DK/NA 9 4 6 12 6 11 23. (If registered Democrat) If the Democratic Primary for President in the year 2000 were being held today and the candidates were Vice President Al Gore and former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley, for whom would you vote? Registered Democrats June23 Tot Men Wom 1999 Gore 34% 31% 37% 47% Bradley 51 58 45 37 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 2 1 1 WON'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 3 2 DK/NA 12 9 14 13 24. (If registered Republican) If the Republican Primary for President in the year 2000 were being held today and the candidates were Family Research Council Chairman Gary Bauer, Political Commentator Patrick Buchanan, Texas Governor George W. Bush, Former Red Cross Director Elizabeth Dole, Businessman Steve Forbes, Utah Senator Orrin Hatch and Arizona Senator John McCain, for whom would you vote? Registered Republicans June 23 Tot Men Wom 1999 Bauer 5% 3% 6% - Buchanan 3 5 2 2 Bush 54 58 51 53 Dole 13 4 20 14 Forbes 3 5 2 5 Hatch - - 1 McCain 14 20 10 8 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - - 1 WON'T VOTE(VOL) 1 - 1 1 DK/NA 7 6 7 7 25. Is your opinion of the Democratic party favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about it? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 31% 6% 62% 24% 30% 32% Unfavorable 19 47 3 16 23 17 Mixed 44 41 29 55 43 45 Hvn't hrd enough 5 5 6 4 4 6 REFUSED 1 - 1 1 1 - 26. Is your opinion of the Republican party favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about it? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 18% 46% 5% 13% 18% 18% Unfavorable 24 4 46 20 27 21 Mixed 52 47 40 62 50 53 Hvn't hrd enough 6 3 9 5 5 7 REFUSED 1 - - 1 1 - 27. Is your opinion of the Reform party favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about it? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 5% 2% 5% 6% 7% 2% Unfavorable 33 38 37 29 36 31 Mixed 23 25 19 25 27 20 Hvn't hrd enough 39 34 39 40 29 47 REFUSED - - - 1 - - 28. I'm going to read off some personal characteristics and qualities. As I read each one, tell me if you think it applies to Texas Governor George W. Bush or not? Would you say that Texas Governor George W. Bush -- cares about the needs and problems of people like you or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 54% 83% 37% 52% 53% 56% No 32 9 50 33 35 29 DK/NA 14 8 12 15 12 15 29. Would you say that Texas Governor George W. Bush -- is honest and trustworthy or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 61% 85% 45% 61% 62% 60% No 23 6 36 24 25 22 DK/NA 16 9 20 15 13 18 30. Would you say that Texas Governor George W. Bush - has strong leadership qualities or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 70% 91% 54% 70% 68% 71% No 18 4 28 18 20 15 DK/NA 13 6 18 12 12 14 31. I'm going to read off some personal characteristics and qualities. As I read each one, tell me if you think it applies to Vice President Al Gore or not? Would you say that Vice President Al Gore -- cares about the needs and problems of people like you or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 65% 55% 79% 61% 59% 70% No 30 39 16 34 36 24 DK/NA 6 6 5 5 5 6 32. Would you say that Vice President Al Gore -- is honest and trustworthy or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 61% 46% 76% 61% 59% 63% No 30 44 16 32 34 27 DK/NA 9 10 8 7 7 10 33. Would you say that Vice President Al Gore -- has strong leadership qualities or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 32% 23% 46% 29% 30% 34% No 57 70 41 59 61 53 DK/NA 11 7 12 12 9 13 34. I'm going to read off some personal characteristics and qualities. As I read each one, tell me if you think it applies to former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley or not? Would you say that former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley -- Cares about the needs and problems of people like you or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 62% 64% 66% 62% 68% 57% No 12 11 10 13 14 10 DK/NA 26 26 24 25 18 34 35. Would you say that former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley - is honest and trustworthy or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 64% 65% 69% 65% 71% 59% No 9 7 10 9 11 8 DK/NA 27 28 21 26 18 34 36. Would you say that former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley - has strong leadership qualities or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 55% 56% 61% 54% 63% 49% No 17 18 17 16 16 18 DK/NA 28 26 22 30 21 34 37. Thinking about the 2000 Presidential election, would you like to see a president who offers policies and programs similar to those of the Clinton administration, or would you like to see a president who offers different policies and programs? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Similar policies 45% 20% 75% 39% 41% 48% Different policies 49 76 21 54 55 44 DK/NA 6 5 4 7 4 8 38. Now thinking about both the strengths and weaknesses of Bill Clinton as a person, would like to see the next president have personal qualities similar to Bill Clinton, or would you like to see a president who has different personal qualities? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Similar qualities 11% 6% 18% 9% 10% 12% Different qualities 84 93 74 87 86 83 DK/NA 5 1 7 4 3 6 39. As you may know, prior to serving in the Senate Bill Bradley was a professional basketball player. Do you happen to know which team he played for? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom New York Knicks 35% 41% 34% 34% 50% 22% Don't know 65 59 65 66 50 78 REFUSED - - 1 - - - 40. Would you like to see Patrick Buchanan stay in the Republican party, or leave the Republican party? Registered Republicans Stay Republican 32% Leave Rep party 38 DK/NA 30
