Connecticut (CT) Poll * September 16, 2009 * Connecticut Voters Say Gov. Re - Quinnipiac University

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September 16, 2009 - Connecticut Voters Say Gov. Rell Copped Out On Budget, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Governor's Approval Drops To All-Time Low

Word format Connecticut voters say 56 - 34 percent that Gov. Jodi Rell "copped out" by her refusal to either sign or veto the recently enacted state budget, and disapprove 52 - 42 percent of her handling of the state budget, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
Gov. Rell gets a 59 - 34 percent overall approval rating, down from 65 - 30 percent in a July 22 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. But she still does better than governors in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ohio, states where Quinnipiac University has conducted surveys in recent months.
And Connecticut's Governor has a much higher approval rating that the State Legislature, which has a negative 35 - 55 percent score, its worst score since July 2003. Voters disapprove 61 - 28 percent of the way Democrats in the legislature are handling the state budget.
Voters split 45 - 44 percent in their approval of the way Rell is handling the job situation in Connecticut and disapprove 49 - 44 percent of the way she is handling taxes.
"By a hefty 22-point margin, voters think that by allowing the budget to become law without her signature or veto, Gov. Jodi Rell copped out," said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, PhD.
"Gov. Rell's approval is down six points to 59 percent. She has hit an all-time low, although neighboring governors would love to have those numbers.
"Democrats can't take comfort in these numbers, since their score on the budget is much lower than the Governor's."
"But Democrats might hope that the Rell juggernaut finally has hit a pothole, which could set the stage for a competitive race for Governor next year."
"There was some thought that with Sen. Christopher Dodd's reelection campaign dominating the headlines that nobody would pay much attention to the Democratic candidates for Governor, ensuring another landslide victory for Rell," Dr. Schwartz added.
"If her job approval continues to decline, that could change."
Connecticut voters disapprove 45 - 26 percent of the new state budget. On other budget-related questions the Quinnipiac University poll finds:
Voters who disapprove of Rell's failure to act on the budget say 54 - 34 percent that she should have vetoed it; Voters split 46 - 44 percent on whether more budget cuts should have been made or whether additional cuts would have jeopardized vital services; Voters feel 48 - 45 percent that state leaders should have kept working on the budget, no matter how long it took; 81 percent of voters are "very concerned" or "somewhat concerned" that the budget relies too much on borrowing.
Key elements of the budget receive wide voter support, including:
74 - 24 percent in favor of higher taxes for upper income individuals and families; 65 - 32 percent support cutting the sales tax from 6 percent to 5.5 percent; 68 - 30 percent in favor of raising cigarette taxes from $2 to $3 per pack.
But voters disapprove 66 -28 percent of cutting estate taxes for the wealthy. Even Republicans disapprove 52 - 36 percent.
"Among those who disapprove of Gov. Rell's decision to not sign the budget bill, most think she should have vetoed it," Schwartz said. "Nearly half of voters think spending could have been cut more; two-thirds disapprove of cutting estate taxes for the wealthy and over 80 percent are concerned about the level of borrowing."
From September 10 - 14, Quinnipiac University surveyed 921 Connecticut registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data and RSS feed - http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.
13. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jodi Rell is handling her job as governor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 59% 75% 44% 63% 56% 61% Disapprove 34 20 44 33 38 31 DK/NA 7 4 12 4 6 8 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Approve 73% 59% 44% 55% 48% Disapprove 18 35 44 38 49 DK/NA 9 6 12 6 3
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jodi Rell is handling her job as governor?
APPROVE....... High Low Sep 16 Jul 22 May 27 Apr 2 Mar 10 Jan 13 Sep 16 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2005 2009 Approve 59 65 73 72 75 83 59 Disapprove 34 30 20 22 19 3 34 DK/NA 7 5 7 6 6 14 7
14. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 35% 26% 46% 31% 26% 41% Disapprove 55 67 41 58 65 46 DK/NA 11 7 13 10 9 12 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Approve 36% 31% 26% 39% 32% Disapprove 54 59 62 46 61 DK/NA 10 10 12 15 7
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?
APPROVE....... High Low Sep 16 Jul 22 May 9 Feb 15 Jun 3 Jun 3 Jul 31 2009 2009 2007 2007 2004 2004 2003 Approve 35 39 45 47 48 48 29 Disapprove 55 45 38 34 33 33 57 DK/NA 11 16 17 18 19 19 14
17. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Richard Blumenthal is handling his job as State Attorney General?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 78% 69% 85% 77% 74% 82% Disapprove 14 23 7 14 18 10 DK/NA 8 8 7 9 8 8 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Approve 78% 76% 82% 80% 78% Disapprove 12 13 12 16 14 DK/NA 10 11 6 5 7
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Richard Blumenthal is handling his job as State Attorney General?
APPROVE....... High Low Sep 16 Jul 22 May 27 Mar 10 Feb 10 Mar 10 Nov 23 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2004 Approve 78 79 78 81 79 81 71 Disapprove 14 13 9 10 12 10 15 DK/NA 8 8 13 9 9 9 13
19. 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 3% - 6% 2% 4% 2% Smwht satisfied 38 34 47 35 29 46 Smwht dissatisfied 35 37 31 37 39 31 Very dissatisfied 23 27 15 25 27 20 DK/NA 1 2 1 1 1 1 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Very satisfied 4% - - 6% 2% Smwht satisfied 44 41 26 36 33 Smwht dissatisfied 34 34 46 31 39 Very dissatisfied 17 24 28 24 25 DK/NA 1 1 - 2 2
TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Connecticut today? Very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
VERY+SMWHT SAT High Low Sep 16 Jul 22 May 27 Mar 10 Feb 10 Oct 21 Mar 13 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 1998 2003 Very Satisfied 3 3 3 3 4 21 4 Smwht Satisfied 38 45 53 39 37 62 32 Smwht Dissatisfied 35 35 29 36 38 14 34 Very Dissatisfied 23 17 13 21 21 3 29 DK/NA 1 1 2 1 1 - 1
20. How likely are you to vote to re-elect Jodi Rell for governor in 2010 - do you think you will definitely vote for her, probably vote for her, probably not vote for her, or definitely not vote for her?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Definitely 14% 23% 7% 16% 13% 15% Probably 43 52 36 43 43 43 Probably not 21 10 28 23 21 21 Definitely not 16 5 25 13 18 15 DK/NA 6 9 4 6 6 6 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Definitely 23% 11% 5% 15% 4% Probably 48 45 38 40 37 Probably not 17 16 25 23 32 Definitely not 7 20 23 18 20 DK/NA 5 8 9 4 7
TREND: How likely are you to vote to re-elect Jodi Rell for governor in 2010, do you think you will definitely vote for her, probably vote for her, probably not vote for her, or definitely not vote for her?
Sep 16 Jul 22 Dec 17 Jul 1 2009 2009 2008 2008 Definitely 14 15 14 13 Probably 43 43 40 40 Probably not 21 19 18 20 Definitely not 16 16 13 13 DK/NA 6 8 14 13
21. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jodi Rell is handling - taxes?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 44% 56% 36% 45% 40% 47% Disapprove 49 38 58 46 53 45 DK/NA 8 6 6 9 7 8 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Approve 57% 45% 34% 40% 31% Disapprove 34 48 60 54 61 DK/NA 10 7 6 7 8
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jodi Rell is handling - taxes?
Sep 16 Jul 22 Apr 6 2009 2009 2005 Approve 44 47 40 Disapprove 49 43 37 DK/NA 8 10 23
22. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jodi Rell is handling - the job situation in Connecticut?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 45% 55% 36% 50% 42% 47% Disapprove 44 31 56 40 50 40 DK/NA 11 15 8 10 8 13 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Approve 56% 47% 33% 38% 40% Disapprove 29 45 60 49 54 DK/NA 14 8 7 13 7
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jodi Rell is handling - the job situation in Connecticut?
Sep 16 Jul 22 2009 2009 Approve 45 42 Disapprove 44 43 DK/NA 11 15
23. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jodi Rell is handling - the state budget?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 42% 57% 28% 47% 42% 42% Disapprove 52 38 67 48 53 52 DK/NA 5 5 6 5 4 6 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Approve 56% 38% 35% 40% 32% Disapprove 40 55 60 54 65 DK/NA 4 7 5 6 3
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jodi Rell is handling - the state budget? (*Governor Rell)
Sep 16 Jul 22 Feb 10 Apr 6 Feb 18 2009 2009 2009 2005 2005* Approve 42 50 66 54 51 Disapprove 52 42 22 20 29 DK/NA 5 8 13 26 20
24. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in the state legislature are handling the state budget?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 28% 5% 54% 20% 22% 33% Disapprove 61 85 36 68 73 51 DK/NA 11 10 10 12 5 16 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Approve 23% 34% 23% 31% 25% Disapprove 61 60 65 59 64 DK/NA 16 6 12 11 11
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in the state legislature are handling the state budget?
Sep 16 Jul 22 2009 2009 Approve 28 29 Disapprove 61 56 DK/NA 11 14
29. How much have you heard or read about the new state budget that was just enacted by Connecticut - a lot, some, not much or nothing at all?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom A lot 19% 17% 17% 21% 23% 15% Some 51 60 48 50 48 54 Not much 22 19 26 21 20 24 Nothing at all 7 4 8 8 8 6 DK/NA - - - - - - MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon A lot 18% 21% 19% 19% 16% Some 51 53 54 44 61 Not much 19 18 26 31 18 Nothing at all 12 7 - 5 5 DK/NA - 1 - - -
30. Do you approve or disapprove of this new state budget?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 26% 15% 32% 28% 25% 28% Disapprove 45 54 37 47 53 39 DK/NA 28 31 31 26 22 34 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Approve 28% 26% 20% 28% 24% Disapprove 39 51 51 40 52 DK/NA 33 23 29 32 24
31. Governor Rell said the state should have cut more in spending but she allowed the budget to become law without signing it to end the budget stalemate. Do you approve or disapprove of her action?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 43% 36% 41% 47% 40% 46% Disapprove 51 55 54 47 55 47 DK/NA 7 9 6 6 6 7 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Approve 46% 45% 37% 46% 31% Disapprove 45 50 59 46 65 DK/NA 9 5 4 8 4
32. (If disapprove q31) Do you think she should have signed or vetoed the budget bill?
DISAPPROVE Q31........................ Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Signed 34% 18% 49% 31% 31% 37% Vetoed 54 78 38 55 61 48 DK/NA 12 5 13 14 8 15
33. Do you believe Governor Rell showed courage in the budget battle or do you think she copped out by neither signing or vetoing the budget bill?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Showed courage 34% 35% 27% 38% 29% 37% Copped out 56 51 64 52 62 51 DK/NA 11 14 8 10 9 12 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Showed courage 34% 39% 31% 32% 28% Copped out 49 56 59 55 65 DK/NA 17 4 9 13 7
34. Which comes closer to your point of view - the state budget should have cut more spending or any additional cuts in spending would have jeopardized vital state services?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Cut more spending 46% 69% 25% 52% 58% 37% Jeopardized services 44 22 62 41 37 50 DK/NA 9 9 12 7 4 13 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Cut more spending 48% 51% 51% 39% 47% Jeopardized services 38 41 45 53 44 DK/NA 14 7 5 7 9
35. Which comes closer to your point of view - this isn't a perfect budget, but I'm relieved the state finally has one, or this budget has big problems and the state should have kept working on it no matter how long it took?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Relieved 45% 28% 55% 45% 41% 48% Shd hv kept working 48 61 39 49 55 42 DK/NA 7 11 7 6 4 9 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Relieved 45% 50% 34% 45% 40% Shd hv kept working 42 45 64 48 55 DK/NA 13 5 2 6 5
36. Do you think that Governor Rell's fight for more spending cuts and fewer tax increases made the Democrats pass a better budget than they would have, or do you think it just slowed down the budget process unnecessarily?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Made better budget 38% 46% 28% 41% 42% 35% Slowed down process 47 36 59 45 46 48 DK/NA 15 18 13 14 12 17 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Made better budget 46% 36% 41% 35% 35% Slowed down process 38 50 50 48 53 DK/NA 16 14 9 17 13
37. How concerned are you that the state relied too much on borrowing to solve the budget deficit - very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned, or not concerned at all?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very concerned 39% 50% 23% 47% 48% 32% Smwht concerned 42 42 49 37 38 46 Not too concerned 13 7 20 12 9 17 Not concerned at all 4 1 6 3 4 3 DK/NA 1 1 2 - 1 1 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Very concerned 38% 40% 48% 40% 38% Smwht concerned 43 42 40 41 45 Not too concerned 10 16 13 13 15 Not concerned at all 7 2 - 4 2 DK/NA 2 1 - 1 1
38. (INTRO to Q38-41, order rotated) Please tell me whether you approve or disapprove of the following items in the state budget. Do you approve or disapprove of - raising the income tax on individuals who earn more than 500,000 dollars annually and couples who earn more than one million dollars annually?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 74% 52% 91% 73% 70% 77% Disapprove 24 46 7 24 28 20 DK/NA 2 2 2 2 1 3 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Approve 63% 74% 76% 79% 82% Disapprove 34 24 24 18 15 DK/NA 3 2 - 2 3
39. (See INTRO at Q38) Do you approve or disapprove of - cutting the sales tax from 6 percent to 5.5 percent?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 65% 66% 66% 65% 64% 65% Disapprove 32 27 32 33 34 30 DK/NA 4 7 2 3 2 5 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Approve 65% 63% 59% 69% 60% Disapprove 27 35 40 28 38 DK/NA 8 2 1 2 2
40. (See INTRO at Q38) Do you approve or disapprove of - raising the cigarette tax to 3 dollars a pack from 2 dollars?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 68% 68% 71% 65% 63% 72% Disapprove 30 30 27 33 35 26 DK/NA 2 2 2 2 2 2 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Approve 72% 69% 62% 66% 65% Disapprove 26 26 36 32 34 DK/NA 2 4 1 2 1
41. (See INTRO at Q38) Do you approve or disapprove of - cutting estate taxes for the wealthy?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 28% 36% 25% 28% 28% 28% Disapprove 66 52 72 68 67 66 DK/NA 6 12 3 4 5 6 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Approve 35% 30% 30% 24% 20% Disapprove 56 65 65 72 76 DK/NA 9 5 5 4 3