Connecticut (CT) Poll * September 17, 2009 * Dodd Inching Back Up In Connec - Quinnipiac University

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September 17, 2009 - Dodd Inching Back Up In Connecticut, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Obama Slide Continues

Word format Connecticut voters disapprove 49 - 43 percent of the job Sen. Christopher Dodd is doing, his best score in six months and better than his 52 - 42 percent disapproval July 23, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
Sen. Dodd now trails former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons, a possible Republican challenger in the 2010 Senate race, 44 - 39 percent, also an improvement from his 48 - 39 percent deficit in a July 23 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.
In today's results, Simmons leads 82 - 4 percent among Republicans and 49 - 31 percent among independent voters, while Dodd leads 71 - 14 percent among Democrats. Dodd's biggest gain is among independent voters who backed Simmons 56 - 27 percent July 23.
In a Republican primary, Simmons gets 43 percent, while no other challenger tops 5 percent. Dodd leads businessman Merrick Alpert 56 - 13 percent in a Democratic primary.
Connecticut voters say 51 - 40 percent that Dodd is not honest and trustworthy and 59 percent say their opinion of Dodd is not changed after a Senate committee cleared Dodd of violating Senate rules in the V.I.P. mortgage deal.
"Sen. Christopher Dodd's approval keeps edging up, and he is bringing down his high negatives. For the first time in six months, his disapproval is under 50 percent, just barely," said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Doug Schwartz, PhD. "But the incumbent has made only slight progress against Republican front-runner Rob Simmons. About 40 percent of voters will vote for anybody but Dodd, as evidenced by their willingness to vote for Republican candidates they haven't heard of.
"Simmons, the only challenger with any name recognition, gets 44 percent of the vote."
"Dodd's decision to be a leader on health care reform should work in his favor as a plurality of Connecticut voters like President Obama's health care plan and by a wide margin trust Obama more than the Republicans to handle the issue," Dr. Schwartz added.
By a 48 - 40 percent margin, Connecticut voters have an unfavorable opinion of Dodd, also his best score in six months.
Simmons gets a 41 - 11 percent favorability, with 46 percent who don't know enough about him to form an opinion. For other possible Republican challengers, 81 - 92 percent of voters don't know enough about them.
Despite the fact that these challengers are unknown, they trail Dodd in possible matchups by only two to six percentage points.
President Obama's Approval
Connecticut voters approve 57 - 36 percent of the job President Obama is doing, down from 63 - 32 percent July 23 and his lowest approval in the state since his inauguration.
The President gets an 89 - 7 percent approval from Democrats and a 56 - 37 percent score from independent voters, while Republicans turn thumbs down 84 - 12 percent.
Voters support Obama's health care plan 47 - 42 percent and split 47 - 45 percent in their approval of the way he is handling health care.
Connecticut voters support 64 - 30 percent giving people the option to buy health insurance from a government plan. But by a 68 - 26 percent margin they don't believe Obama's promise that the health care plan will not add to the deficit.
"Good news for Obama is that Connecticut voters trust him more than congressional Republicans 54 - 30 percent to handle health care," Schwartz said. "And voters believe 57 - 33 percent that these Republicans want Obama to fail and are not playing a constructive role in health care reform."
From September 10 - 14, Quinnipiac University surveyed 921 Connecticut registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percentage points. The survey includes 248 Republicans with a margin of error of +/- 6.2 percentage points and 342 Democrats with a margin of error of +/- 5.3 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.
1. (If registered Democrat) If the 2010 Democratic primary for United States Senator were being held today and the candidates were Chris Dodd and Merrick Alpert, for whom would you vote?
REGISTERED DEMS Dodd 56% Alpert 13 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 4 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 DK/NA 25
TREND: (If registered Democrat) If the 2010 Democratic primary for United States Senator were being held today and the candidates were Chris Dodd and Merrick Alpert, for whom would you vote?
REGISTERED DEMS....... Sep 17 Jul 22 May 27 2009 2009 2009 Dodd 56 52 44 Alpert 13 18 24 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 4 2 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 2 DK/NA 25 27 30
2. (If registered Republican) If the 2010 Republican primary for United States Senator were being held today and the candidates were Rob Simmons, Tom Foley, Peter Schiff and Sam Caligiuri, for whom would you vote?
REGISTERED REPS Simmons 43% Foley 5 Schiff 2 Caligiuri 4 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 DK/NA 43
TREND: (If registered Republican) If the 2010 Republican primary for United States Senator were being held today and the candidates were Rob Simmons, Tom Foley, Peter Schiff and Sam Caligiuri, for whom would you vote?
REGISTERED REPS....... Sep 17 Jul 23 May 27 2009 2009 2009 Simmons 43 42 48 Foley 5 5 na Schiff 2 - na Caligiuri 4 5 10 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 2 DK/NA 43 45 39
3. If the 2010 election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Chris Dodd the Democrat and Rob Simmons the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Dodd 39% 4% 71% 31% 31% 45% Simmons 44 82 14 49 52 37 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - 1 1 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 1 2 2 1 DK/NA 15 13 12 16 14 16 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Dodd 37% 44% 36% 40% 31% Simmons 36 43 47 45 53 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 4 1 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 - 1 4 DK/NA 25 11 13 13 10
TREND: If the 2010 election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Chris Dodd the Democrat and Rob Simmons the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Sep 17 Jul 23 May 27 Apr 2 Mar 10 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 Dodd 39 39 39 34 42 Simmons 44 48 45 50 43 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - 2 2 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 2 1 2 1 DK/NA 15 10 13 12 12
4. If the 2010 election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Chris Dodd the Democrat and Sam Caligiuri the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Dodd 40% 9% 73% 31% 35% 45% Caligiuri 36 72 7 41 43 30 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 - 2 2 2 3 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 1 3 3 1 DK/NA 20 17 18 22 18 22 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Dodd 37% 45% 35% 43% 34% Caligiuri 30 37 46 38 35 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 3 2 2 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 2 1 1 5 DK/NA 30 13 15 15 23
TREND: If the 2010 election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Chris Dodd the Democrat and Sam Caligiuri the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Sep 17 Jul 23 May 27 Apr 2 Mar 10 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 Dodd 40 42 41 37 47 Caligiuri 36 40 39 41 34 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 1 1 3 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 2 2 2 DK/NA 20 15 17 17 16
5. If the 2010 election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Chris Dodd the Democrat and Tom Foley the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Dodd 40% 4% 74% 30% 35% 43% Foley 38 77 8 44 45 33 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 - 1 3 2 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 1 3 2 2 DK/NA 18 17 16 21 16 20 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Dodd 38% 45% 32% 43% 28% Foley 36 38 50 40 37 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 5 2 4 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 2 1 1 4 DK/NA 24 13 12 14 27
TREND: If the 2010 election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Chris Dodd the Democrat and Tom Foley the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Sep 17 Jul 23 Apr 2 2009 2009 2009 Dodd 40 42 35 Foley 38 42 43 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 1 3 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 2 DK/NA 18 14 16
6. If the 2010 election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Chris Dodd the Democrat and Peter Schiff the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Dodd 42% 6% 77% 32% 36% 47% Schiff 36 73 9 40 43 30 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 - 1 2 2 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 1 3 3 1 DK/NA 19 19 12 22 17 20 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Dodd 37% 45% 36% 46% 38% Schiff 33 38 46 36 34 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 2 3 2 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 2 1 1 5 DK/NA 27 14 14 16 21
TREND: If the 2010 election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Chris Dodd the Democrat and Peter Schiff the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Sep 17 Jul 23 2009 2009 Dodd 42 43 Schiff 36 38 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 2 DK/NA 19 16
7. Is your opinion of - Chris Dodd favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 40% 14% 64% 33% 32% 45% Unfavorable 48 71 19 57 58 40 Hvn't hrd enough 10 13 14 8 9 12 REFUSED 2 2 3 2 1 3 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Favorable 34% 40% 38% 46% 35% Unfavorable 48 49 58 45 48 Hvn't hrd enough 15 9 2 7 14 REFUSED 3 1 2 2 3
TREND: Is your opinion of Chris Dodd favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
Sep 17 Jul 23 May 27 Apr 2 Mar 10 May 10 Feb 19 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2007 2007 Favorable 40 40 37 30 46 45 49 Unfavorable 48 50 51 58 45 31 30 Hvn't hrd enough 10 7 9 8 7 22 18 REFUSED 2 3 3 3 3 2 3
8. Is your opinion of - Rob Simmons favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 41% 59% 29% 43% 47% 37% Unfavorable 11 2 16 10 11 10 Hvn't hrd enough 46 38 54 44 39 51 REFUSED 2 - - 4 3 2 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Favorable 23% 48% 39% 40% 65% Unfavorable 8 10 15 12 14 Hvn't hrd enough 68 39 45 47 20 REFUSED 1 3 1 2 1
TREND: Is your opinion of - Rob Simmons favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
Sep 17 Jul 22 May 27 Apr 2 Mar 10 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 Favorable 41 39 34 39 36 Unfavorable 11 12 12 12 10 Hvn't hrd enough 46 48 53 47 53 REFUSED 2 1 1 2 1
9. Is your opinion of - Sam Caligiuri favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 11% 13% 6% 14% 15% 8% Unfavorable 5 4 6 3 6 4 Hvn't hrd enough 83 83 86 82 78 87 REFUSED 1 - 1 1 1 1 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Favorable 5% 13% 15% 16% 10% Unfavorable 4 7 8 5 1 Hvn't hrd enough 90 79 76 79 89 REFUSED 1 2 1 1 1
TREND: Is your opinion of - Sam Caligiuri favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
Sep 17 Jul 23 May 27 Apr 2 Mar 10 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 Favorable 11 12 9 8 9 Unfavorable 5 4 3 3 3 Hvn't hrd enough 83 84 87 88 88 REFUSED 1 1 1 1 1
10. Is your opinion of - Tom Foley favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 12% 20% 5% 13% 13% 11% Unfavorable 6 1 7 6 6 5 Hvn't hrd enough 81 79 88 78 79 83 REFUSED 1 - - 3 1 1 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Favorable 13% 14% 8% 11% 9% Unfavorable 5 5 11 8 2 Hvn't hrd enough 80 80 81 79 88 REFUSED 2 1 1 2 -
TREND: Is your opinion of - Tom Foley favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
Sep 17 Jul 23 Apr 2 2009 2009 2009 Favorable 12 17 12 Unfavorable 6 5 6 Hvn't hrd enough 81 77 80 REFUSED 1 1 1
11. Is your opinion of - Peter Schiff favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 6% 6% 6% 6% 7% 5% Unfavorable 2 - 3 2 3 1 Hvn't hrd enough 92 94 90 92 90 94 REFUSED - - - - - - MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Favorable 6% 9% 5% 4% 5% Unfavorable 2 1 1 3 1 Hvn't hrd enough 91 90 94 93 94 REFUSED 1 - - - -
TREND: Is your opinion of - Peter Schiff favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about him?
Sep 17 Jul 23 2009 2009 Favorable 6 7 Unfavorable 2 3 Hvn't hrd enough 92 89 REFUSED - 1
12. Is your opinion of - Merrick Alpert favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 2% 1% 3% 1% 3% 1% Unfavorable 2 6 2 - 2 2 Hvn't hrd enough 96 92 95 98 94 97 REFUSED - 1 - 1 - - MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Favorable - 1% - 4% 2% Unfavorable - 1 4 3 5 Hvn't hrd enough 99 98 95 93 94 REFUSED 1 - 1 - -
TREND:Is your opinion of - Merrick Alpert favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
Sep 17 Jul 23 May 27 2009 2009 2009 Favorable 2 3 4 Unfavorable 2 1 2 Hvn't hrd enough 96 95 93 REFUSED - 1 1
15. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Lieberman is handling his job as United States Senator?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 48% 64% 34% 51% 49% 47% Disapprove 45 26 60 42 47 43 DK/NA 7 10 5 7 4 9 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Approve 53% 48% 36% 46% 47% Disapprove 39 46 51 47 47 DK/NA 8 6 13 7 6
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joseph Lieberman is handling his job as United States Senator?
APPROVE....... High Low Sep 17 Jul 23 May 27 Apr 2 Mar 10 Sep 21 Dec 17 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2000 2008 Approve 48 46 46 46 46 80 38 Disapprove 45 46 44 47 46 14 54 DK/NA 7 8 10 7 8 6 8
16. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Chris Dodd is handling his job as United States Senator?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 43% 18% 70% 36% 33% 52% Disapprove 49 71 23 56 59 40 DK/NA 8 11 7 7 8 8 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Approve 40% 44% 40% 48% 40% Disapprove 51 49 58 43 50 DK/NA 9 6 2 9 10
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Chris Dodd is handling his job as United States Senator?
APPROVE....... High Low Sep 17 Jul 23 May 27 Apr 2 Mar 10 Apr 19 Apr 2 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2001 2009 Approve 43 42 38 33 49 71 33 Disapprove 49 52 53 58 44 16 58 DK/NA 8 6 10 9 7 13 9
18. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 57% 12% 89% 56% 49% 64% Disapprove 36 84 7 37 43 30 DK/NA 6 4 4 7 8 6 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Approve 54% 59% 47% 60% 59% Disapprove 43 33 47 31 36 DK/NA 4 8 6 9 5
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president?
Sep 17 Jul 23 May 27 Apr 2 Mar 10 Feb 11 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 Approve 57 63 71 71 67 69 Disapprove 36 32 22 22 23 18 DK/NA 6 5 7 7 10 13
25. Would you say that Chris Dodd is honest and trustworthy or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 40% 18% 65% 32% 35% 44% No 51 67 27 61 57 46 DK/NA 9 15 8 7 7 10 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Yes 37% 42% 37% 45% 33% No 48 55 60 45 59 DK/NA 14 3 4 10 8
TREND: Would you say that Chris Dodd is honest and trustworthy or not?
Sep 17 Jul 23 May 27 Apr 2 Feb 10 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 Yes 40 35 35 32 41 No 51 55 49 54 42 DK/NA 9 10 15 13 17
26. Would you say that Chris Dodd has strong leadership qualities or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 59% 36% 80% 55% 56% 61% No 35 54 16 39 38 32 DK/NA 6 10 4 7 5 7 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Yes 55% 56% 55% 65% 61% No 35 36 43 29 38 DK/NA 10 8 2 6 1
TREND: Would you say that Chris Dodd has strong leadership qualities or not?
Sep 17 Jul 23 May 27 Apr 2 2009 2009 2009 2009 Yes 59 62 56 50 No 35 32 35 43 DK/NA 6 5 9 7
27. Would you say that Chris Dodd shares your views on issues that you care about or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 42% 10% 72% 34% 38% 45% No 48 81 20 54 56 41 DK/NA 10 9 8 12 6 14 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Yes 37% 48% 33% 44% 38% No 50 46 59 41 57 DK/NA 13 6 8 15 4
TREND: Would you say that Chris Dodd shares your views on issues that you care about or not?
Sep 17 Jul 23 May 27 2009 2009 2009 Yes 42 45 37 No 48 49 48 DK/NA 10 7 15
28. As you may know, a Senate Committee that investigated a V.I.P. mortgage deal for Chris Dodd has cleared him of breaking Senate rules. Does this make you think more favorably of Senator Dodd, less favorably, or doesn't it make a difference?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More favorably 14% 3% 27% 11% 11% 17% Less favorably 26 42 15 27 26 25 Doesn't make diff 59 53 58 60 62 56 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon More favorably 11% 15% 3% 18% 17% Less favorably 34 27 30 21 18 Doesn't make diff 54 57 65 61 63 DK/NA 1 1 2 - 2
42. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling health care?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 47% 8% 77% 43% 41% 52% Disapprove 45 85 14 49 53 38 DK/NA 8 7 9 9 6 10
43. Do you support or oppose President Obama's health care reform plan?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 47% 6% 77% 44% 40% 52% Oppose 42 86 13 42 49 36 DK/NA 11 8 10 13 11 12
44. Who do you trust to do a better job handling health care - President Obama or the Republicans in Congress?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom President Obama 54% 5% 88% 52% 45% 61% Reps in Cong 30 75 6 28 32 28 DK/NA 16 19 5 20 22 12
45. Do you support or oppose giving people the option of being covered by a government health insurance plan that would compete with private plans?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 64% 28% 88% 61% 61% 67% Oppose 30 59 9 33 34 26 DK/NA 6 13 3 5 5 7
46. President Obama has pledged that health insurance reform will not add to our federal budget deficit over the next decade. Do you think that President Obama will be able to keep his promise or do you think any health care plan that Congress passes and President Obama signs will add to the federal budget deficit?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Will keep promise 26% 1% 49% 20% 18% 32% Will add to deficit 68 96 43 74 77 61 DK/NA 6 3 8 6 4 7
47. Did President Obama's speech to Congress on health care make you more likely to support his plan, less likely to support his plan, did it make no difference in your support, or haven't you heard anything about his speech?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More likely 28% 5% 49% 23% 22% 32% Less likely 18 41 3 20 19 17 Made no difference 38 42 32 40 45 33 Haven't heard 14 10 16 16 13 15 DK/NA 2 2 1 1 1 3
48. Do you think Republicans in Congress are playing a constructive role in improving a health care reform bill or do you think they just want President Obama to fail?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Playing const role 33% 70% 13% 32% 35% 31% Want Obama to fail 57 17 81 56 57 56 DK/NA 11 13 6 12 8 13