Connecticut (CT) Poll * March 17, 2010 * McMahon Wrestles To The Top In - Quinnipiac University

Home> Institutes and Centers> Quinnipiac University Polling Institute> Connecticut (CT)> Release Detail

March 17, 2010 - McMahon Wrestles To The Top In GOP Senate Race, Quinnipiac University Connecticut Poll Finds; Blumenthal Hammers Her 2-1

Word format Former wrestling executive Linda McMahon, surging from a 10-point deficit two months ago, now leads former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons 44 - 34 percent in the Republican primary for the Connecticut U.S. Senate contest, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
This reverses a 37 - 27 percent Simmons lead in a January 14 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. In this latest poll, businessman Peter Schiff has 9 percent, with 12 percent undecided.
Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal tops Merrick Alpert 81 - 6 percent in a Democratic Senate primary and stomps his Republican opponents:
61 - 28 percent over McMahon, compared to 64 - 23 percent January 14; 62 - 26 percent over Simmons, compared to 62 - 27 percent; 64 - 21 percent over Schiff, compared to 66 - 19 percent.
Blumenthal gets a 79 - 13 percent approval rating, continuing a 10-month string of approval ratings of 78 points or higher, and a 70 - 18 percent favorability rating.
"What explains Linda McMahon's rise in the polls? Money. She is the only Senate candidate on TV right now. She quickly has become as well-known and well-liked among Republicans as the former frontrunner for the Republican nomination, three-term Congressman Rob Simmons," said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, PhD.
"In the general election, however, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has a commanding lead over all three potential Republican opponents. Blumenthal's approval rating continues near 80 percent. While money could make the difference in the Republican primary, it will have less of an effect in the general election. It is very hard to change the public's opinion of an elected official they have known and liked for 20 years."
Favorability ratings for other Connecticut U.S. Senate candidates are:
Alpert: 93 percent don't know enough about him to form an opinion; McMahon: 36 - 26 percent with 36 percent who don't know enough about her; Simmons: 38 - 21 percent with 40 percent who don't know enough about him; Schiff: 85 percent don't know enough about him.
Connecticut voters say 46 - 36 percent they prefer a candidate who relies on campaign donations, rather than a wealthy candidate who relies on his/her own funds. Results are similar among Democrats, Republicans and independent voters.
The next Connecticut U.S. Senator should generally support President Barack Obama's policies, voters say 56 - 36 percent.
Connecticut voters approve 54 - 42 percent of the job President Obama is doing, compared to 55 - 41 percent January 14 and Obama's lowest score in the state since he was inaugurated. Voters disapprove 52 - 42 percent of the way the President is handling health care and disapprove 50 - 46 percent of the way he is handling the economy, but approve 54 - 39 percent of the way he is handling foreign policy.
Voters mostly disapprove 48 - 40 percent of the proposed health care reform pending in Congress. Democrats approve 68 - 22 percent, while disapproval is 87 - 7 percent among Republicans and 50 - 34 percent among independent voters. The proposed health care legislation is too complicated, 59 percent say, while 32 percent say changes must be complex to be effective.
Only 16 percent of Connecticut voters trust the government in Washington to do the right thing almost all of the time or most of the time, while 53 percent say the federal government does right some of the time and 30 percent say "hardly ever."
But only 23 percent of Connecticut voters say they are Tea Party supporters. That group includes 50 percent of Republicans, 4 percent of Democrats and 25 percent of independent voters.
"While very few voters trust the government in Washington to do what is right most of the time, President Barack Obama still gets a 54 percent job approval," Dr. Schwartz said.
From March 9 - 15, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,451 Connecticut registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.6 percentage points. The survey includes 549 Democrats with a margin of error of +/- 4.2 percentage points and 387 Republicans with a margin of error of +/- 5 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 or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter.
7. (If registered Democrat) If the 2010 Democratic primary for United States Senator were being held today and the candidates were Richard Blumenthal and Merrick Alpert, for whom would you vote?
REGISTERED DEMS.. Tot Men Wom Blumenthal 81% 79% 82% Alpert 6 9 4 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - 1 - DK/NA 13 11 14
TREND: (If registered Democrat) If the 2010 Democratic primary for United States Senator were being held today and the candidates were Richard Blumenthal and Merrick Alpert, for whom would you vote?
REGISTERED DEMS Mar 17 Jan 14 2010 2010 Blumenthal 81 82 Alpert 6 4 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - 2 DK/NA 13 12
21a. (If registered Republican) If the 2010 Republican primary for United States Senator were being held today and the candidates were Rob Simmons, Linda McMahon and Peter Schiff, for whom would you vote?
REGISTERED REPUBLICANS............................ Lib/ TeaPrty Prefer Tot Men Wom Mod Con SuppQ47 OutQ50 Simmons 34% 38% 28% 39% 29% 29% 29% McMahon 44 40 50 37 50 47 51 Schiff 9 12 5 6 9 11 11 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 2 3 - - 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 - 1 - - - DK/NA 12 9 15 14 11 13 8
TREND: (If registered Republican) If the 2010 Republican primary for United States Senator were being held today and the candidates were Rob Simmons, Linda McMahon and Peter Schiff, for whom would you vote?
REGISTERED REPS............................... Mar 17 Jan 14 Nov 12 Sep 17 Jul 23 May 27 2010 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009 Simmons 34 37 28 43 42 48 McMahon 44 27 17 na na na Schiff 9 4 5 2 - na Foley na na 9 5 5 na Caligiuri na na 4 4 5 10 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 2 - 2 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 2 2 2 1 2 DK/NA 12 28 36 43 45 39
25. If the 2010 election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Richard Blumenthal the Democrat and Rob Simmons the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Blumenthal 62% 30% 91% 56% 56% 68% Simmons 26 62 4 28 35 18 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - - 2 - 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 - 1 1 1 DK/NA 10 7 5 13 8 12
TREND: If the 2010 election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Richard Blumenthal the Democrat and Rob Simmons the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Mar 17 Jan 14 2010 2010 Blumenthal 62 62 Simmons 26 27 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 DK/NA 10 10
26. If the 2010 election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Richard Blumenthal the Democrat and Linda McMahon the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Blumenthal 61% 31% 90% 54% 56% 65% McMahon 28 63 4 32 33 24 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - - 1 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 - - 1 1 - DK/NA 10 5 5 13 9 11
TREND: If the 2010 election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Richard Blumenthal the Democrat and Linda McMahon the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Mar 17 Jan 14 2010 2010 Blumenthal 61 64 McMahon 28 23 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 DK/NA 10 11
27. If the 2010 election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Richard Blumenthal the Democrat and Peter Schiff the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Blumenthal 64% 36% 92% 58% 59% 69% Schiff 21 53 2 23 28 15 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - 1 - - 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 - 2 1 2 DK/NA 13 10 6 17 12 14
TREND: If the 2010 election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Richard Blumenthal the Democrat and Peter Schiff the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Mar 17 Jan 14 2010 2010 Blumenthal 64 66 Schiff 21 19 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 DK/NA 13 14
28. Is your opinion of - Richard Blumenthal favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 70% 52% 85% 68% 64% 75% Unfavorable 18 41 3 19 25 12 Hvn't hrd enough 10 6 12 9 9 11 REFUSED 2 1 - 3 2 2
TREND: Is your opinion of Richard Blumenthal favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
Mar 17 Jan 14 Feb 10 2010 2010 2009 Favorable 70 74 71 Unfavorable 18 13 13 Hvn't hrd enough 10 12 15 REFUSED 2 1 2
29. Is your opinion of - Merrick Alpert favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 4% 3% 5% 3% 4% 3% Unfavorable 3 2 3 3 4 2 Hvn't hrd enough 93 94 91 94 92 94 REFUSED - - - - 1 -
TREND:Is your opinion of Merrick Alpert favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
Mar 17 Jan 14 Nov 12 Sep 17 Jul 23 May 27 2010 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009 Favorable 4 3 1 2 3 4 Unfavorable 3 3 3 2 1 2 Hvn't hrd enough 93 93 96 96 95 93 REFUSED - 1 - - 1 1
30. Is your opinion of - Rob Simmons favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 38% 63% 31% 34% 47% 30% Unfavorable 21 14 24 21 23 20 Hvn't hrd enough 40 22 44 43 29 49 REFUSED 1 - 1 2 2 1
TREND: Is your opinion of Rob Simmons favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
Favorable..... High Low Mar 17 Jan 14 Nov 12 Sep 17 Jul 23 Sep 17 May 27 2010 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 Favorable 38 36 40 41 39 41 34 Unfavorable 21 18 10 11 12 11 12 Hvn't hrd enough 40 45 49 46 48 46 53 REFUSED 1 2 1 2 1 2 1
31. Is your opinion of - Linda McMahon favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about her?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 36% 63% 20% 40% 39% 34% Unfavorable 26 16 37 21 26 26 Hvn't hrd enough 36 19 42 36 34 38 REFUSED 2 1 1 3 1 2
TREND: Is your opinion of Linda McMahon favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about her?
Mar 17 Jan 14 Nov 12 2010 2010 2009 Favorable 36 24 20 Unfavorable 26 21 13 Hvn't hrd enough 36 54 66 REFUSED 2 1 1
32. Is your opinion of - Peter Schiff favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 10% 19% 3% 12% 13% 7% Unfavorable 6 2 7 6 8 3 Hvn't hrd enough 85 78 90 83 79 90 REFUSED - 1 - - - -
TREND: Is your opinion of Peter Schiff favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about him?
Mar 17 Jan 14 Nov 12 Sep 17 Jul 23 2010 2010 2009 2009 2009 Favorable 10 8 7 6 7 Unfavorable 6 5 4 2 3 Hvn't hrd enough 85 86 88 92 89 REFUSED - 1 1 - 1
35. 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 39% 54% 27% 44% 40% 38% Disapprove 54 41 67 49 55 52 DK/NA 7 5 6 7 5 10
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joseph Lieberman is handling his job as United States Senator?
APPROVE....... High Low Mar 17 Jan 14 Nov 12 Sep 17 Jul 23 Sep 21 Dec 17 2010 2010 2009 2009 2009 2000 2008 Approve 39 39 49 48 46 80 38 Disapprove 54 54 44 45 46 14 54 DK/NA 7 6 8 7 8 6 8
36. 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 35% 14% 60% 27% 28% 41% Disapprove 58 84 32 65 67 49 DK/NA 7 2 8 8 5 10
TREND: Do you approve or dispprove of the way Chris Dodd is handling his job as United States Senator?
APPROVE....... High Low Mar 17 Jan 14 Nov 12 Sep 17 Jul 23 Apr 19 Apr 2 2010 2010 2009 2009 2009 2001 2009 Approve 35 36 40 43 42 71 33 Disapprove 58 58 54 49 52 16 58 DK/NA 7 6 6 8 6 13 9
37. 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 79% 64% 90% 79% 73% 84% Disapprove 13 31 2 14 19 8 DK/NA 8 6 8 7 8 8
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Richard Blumenthal is handling his job as State Attorney General?
APPROVE....... High Low Mar 18 Jan 14 Nov 10 Sep 16 Jul 22 Jan 14 Nov 23 2010 2010 2009 2009 2009 2010 2004 Approve 79 84 78 78 79 84 71 Disapprove 13 11 13 14 13 11 15 DK/NA 8 5 9 8 8 5 13
38. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 54% 12% 86% 48% 47% 60% Disapprove 42 84 12 48 49 35 DK/NA 4 4 2 4 4 5
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? (*High also 71% Apr 2009)
APPROVE....... High Low Mar 17 Jan 14 Nov 12 Sep 17 Jul 23 May 27 Mar 17 2010 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009* 2010 Approve 54 55 58 57 63 71 54 Disapprove 42 41 35 36 32 22 42 DK/NA 4 4 7 6 5 7 4
39. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - the economy?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 46% 10% 77% 39% 39% 51% Disapprove 50 88 21 58 57 45 DK/NA 4 3 2 3 4 4
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy?
Mar 17 Nov 12 Jul 23 Mar 10 Feb 11 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009 Approve 46 52 57 62 63 Disapprove 50 43 38 27 21 DK/NA 4 4 5 11 16
40. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - foreign policy?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 54% 21% 79% 50% 50% 56% Disapprove 39 75 16 42 44 35 DK/NA 7 4 6 8 5 9
41. Do you think Barack Obama has been a better President than George W. Bush, worse, or about the same as President Bush?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Better 51% 12% 82% 43% 44% 57% Worse 23 56 2 24 25 21 About the same 24 28 14 30 29 19 DK/NA 3 3 2 2 2 3
43. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in the nation today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very satisfied - - 1% - 1% - Smwht satisfied 28 7 41 27 20 34 Smwht dissatisfied 37 38 41 35 39 36 Very dissatisfied 34 56 16 37 40 28 DK/NA 1 - 1 - - 1
TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in the nation today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
Mar 17 Jul 2 Sep 28 Sep 30 Aug 19 2010 2008 2006 2004 2004 Very satisfied - 1 3 6 6 Smwht satisfied 28 13 27 35 36 Smwht dissatisfied 37 37 34 33 31 Very dissatisfied 34 49 36 25 26 DK/NA 1 - - 1 1
44. Which comes closer to your view: government should do more to solve problems or government is doing too many things better left to businesses and individuals?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Gov shld do more 44% 15% 70% 37% 40% 48% Doing too much 49 84 23 56 55 45 DK/NA 7 1 8 7 6 8
45. How much of the time do you think you can trust the government in Washington to do what is right - almost all of the time, most of the time, only some of the time, or hardly ever?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Almost all the time 1% - 1% 2% 1% 1% Most of the time 15 8 23 13 11 18 Some of the time 53 51 62 48 49 57 Hardly ever 30 39 14 36 38 22 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1
47. Do you consider yourself to be a supporter of the Tea Party movement, or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 23% 50% 4% 25% 26% 20% No 63 41 81 59 62 64 DK/NA 14 9 15 16 12 16
48. How worried are you about the direction of the nation's economy in the next year? Would you say you are very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried, or not worried at all?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very worried 44% 63% 26% 49% 46% 43% Smwht worried 44 32 56 41 43 45 Not too worried 9 4 14 8 8 11 Not worried at all 2 1 4 1 2 2 DK/NA - - - - - -
49. Which type of Senate candidate would you prefer: a candidate who funds their campaign mostly with private donations or a wealthy candidate who funds their campaign mostly with their own funds?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Donations 46% 48% 50% 44% 46% 46% Own funds 36 35 33 38 34 38 DK/NA 18 16 17 18 20 15
50. Which type of candidate would you prefer to see as a United States Senator, someone with years of political experience or a political outsider?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Experience 45% 31% 62% 39% 36% 54% Outsider 45 63 28 51 56 36 DK/NA 9 6 10 9 9 10
51. Does Richard Blumenthal's experience as State Attorney General make you more likely to vote for him for United States Senator, less likely or doesn't it make a difference?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More likely 60% 37% 79% 57% 53% 66% Less likely 13 34 2 13 19 8 Doesn't make diff 25 27 18 29 27 24 DK/NA 1 1 1 2 1 2
52. Does Rob Simmons' experience as a Congressman make you more likely to vote for him for United States Senator, less likely or doesn't it make a difference?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More likely 21% 34% 18% 20% 27% 17% Less likely 21 23 20 20 24 18 Doesn't make diff 52 38 59 53 46 58 DK/NA 6 5 4 7 4 7
53. Does Linda McMahon's experience as CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment make you more likely to vote for her for United States Senator, less likely or doesn't it make a difference?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More likely 15% 26% 8% 18% 19% 13% Less likely 33 23 43 28 34 32 Doesn't make diff 49 49 47 51 46 51 DK/NA 3 2 2 4 2 4
54. Is your opinion of professional wrestling favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about it?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 17% 18% 18% 17% 19% 16% Unfavorable 54 50 59 52 52 56 Hvn't hrd enough 22 24 19 23 20 24 REFUSED 7 8 4 8 9 5
55. Would you like to see the next United States Senator elected from Connecticut generally support Barack Obama's policies or oppose Barack Obama's policies?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 56% 14% 88% 50% 49% 62% Oppose 36 80 8 39 45 29 DK/NA 8 7 4 11 7 9
56. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - health care?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 42% 7% 70% 37% 37% 47% Disapprove 52 92 26 55 58 46 DK/NA 6 1 4 8 4 8
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling health care?
Mar 17 Nov 12 Sep 17 2010 2009 2009 Approve 42 45 47 Disapprove 52 48 45 DK/NA 6 8 8
57. 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 51% 7% 86% 44% 46% 55% Reps in Cong 31 79 7 31 37 27 DK/NA 18 14 7 25 18 18
TREND: Who do you trust to do a better job handling health care - President Obama or the Republicans in Congress?
Mar 17 Nov 12 Sep 17 2010 2009 2009 President Obama 51 49 54 Reps in Cong 31 33 30 DK/NA 18 18 16
58. From what you've heard or read, do you mostly approve or mostly disapprove of the proposed changes to the health care system under consideration in Congress?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Mostly approve 40% 7% 68% 34% 38% 43% Mostly disapprove 48 87 22 50 53 43 DK/NA 12 5 10 16 9 14
59. Generally speaking, do you think the proposed changes to the health care system under consideration in Congress go too far, not far enough, or are they about right?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Too far 41% 76% 19% 43% 46% 36% Not far enough 28 7 45 25 28 29 About right 20 7 28 20 18 22 DK/NA 11 10 8 13 8 14
60. Do you think the proposed changes to the health care system are too complicated, or do you think the changes have to be this complex to accomplish what they're trying to do?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Too complicated 59% 86% 41% 63% 61% 58% Have to be complex 32 11 51 27 32 33 DK/NA 8 3 8 9 7 10
61. Do you think the proposed changes to the health care system are too expensive, or do you think the cost is about right for what they're trying to do?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Too expensive 52% 82% 30% 55% 59% 46% About right 35 7 57 32 32 38 DK/NA 13 10 13 12 9 17
62. Do you think the government should or should not require businesses to offer private health insurance for their full-time employees?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Require 70% 55% 86% 66% 62% 77% Should not require 25 41 10 29 31 19 DK/NA 5 4 4 5 7 4
63. Do you think the government should or should not require all Americans to have health insurance, either from their employer or from another source, with tax credits or other aid to help low-income people pay for it?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Require 60% 29% 82% 58% 56% 64% Should not require 35 66 15 37 40 31 DK/NA 5 4 3 5 5 5
64. Do you think the government should or should not require insurance companies to sell coverage to people regardless of pre-existing conditions?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Require 83% 72% 91% 84% 77% 89% Should not require 13 24 5 13 19 7 DK/NA 4 4 3 4 4 4
65. Do you think lawmakers in Washington should keep trying to pass a health care reform plan, or should they give up on health care reform?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Keep trying 70% 41% 88% 70% 67% 73% Give up 26 56 11 25 30 23 DK/NA 3 3 1 5 3 4