Connecticut (CT) Poll * November 23, 2004 * Connecticut Gov Gets Highest A - Quinnipiac University

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November 23, 2004 - Connecticut Gov Gets Highest Approval Ever, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Gov. Rell Edges Sen. Dodd In First Look At Gov Race

Connecticut voters give Gov. Jodi Rell an overwhelming 80 - 4 percent approval rating, the highest ever measured for a governor in any state surveyed by the Quinnipiac University poll, except for 81 percent for New York Gov. George Pataki a few weeks after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
Even Democrats approve 75 - 5 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh- pe-ack) University poll finds.
In an early look at the 2006 governor's race, Gov. Rell gets 45 percent with 43 percent for Democratic Sen. Christopher Dodd. Rell tops other Democratic contenders:
46 - 40 percent over Attorney General Richard Blumenthal; 59 - 22 percent over Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz; 60 - 23 percent over Lt. Gov. Kevin Sullivan; 59 - 22 percent over New Haven Mayor John DeStefano; 61 - 18 percent over Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy.
"Gov. Rell is on an extended honeymoon with Connecticut voters. Overwhelmingly, they approve of the job she is doing. The real question is can that honeymoon last until November 2006," said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D.
"There are two categories of potential Democratic candidates for Governor: The ones who are well known and the ones who aren't. Sen. Dodd and Attorney General Blumenthal are well known and would pose a strong challenge to Rell," Dr. Schwartz added.
"The candidates who have recognition problems - Malloy, Sullivan, DeStefano, and Bysiewicz - have plenty of time to get known, but at this stage of the game, they get blown away by Rell."
In a hypothetical Democratic primary for governor, Dodd gets 39 percent with 28 percent for Blumenthal. No other candidate tops 7 percent.
Connecticut voters give Rell a 70 - 3 percent favorability rating, with 9 percent mixed and 18 percent who don't know enough about her to form an opinion.
Dodd gets a 59 - 14 percent favorability rating, with 17 percent mixed and 10 percent with no opinion. Blumenthal gets a 60 - 10 percent favorability, with 14 percent mixed and 16 percent with no opinion.
The other Democratic contenders all have a recognition problem with at least 50 percent of voters who don't know enough to form an opinion of each candidate.
From November 15 - 21 Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,774 Connecticut registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.3 percentage points. The survey includes 593 registered Democrats with a margin of error of +/- 4 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida and the nation as a public service and for research.
For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu and quicklinks
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jodi Rell is handling her job as Governor?
App Dis DK/NA Nov 23, 2004 80 4 16 Sep 30, 2004 77 4 20 Aug 19, 2004 73 4 24
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President?
App Dis DK/NA Nov 23, 2004 44 51 5 Sep 30, 2004 42 53 4 Aug 19, 2004 42 52 6 Jun 30, 2004 37 58 5 Jun 4, 2004 39 55 5 Nov 20, 2003 45 50 5 Oct 10, 2003 43 53 4 Jul 31, 2003 54 41 5 May 1, 2003 64 29 7 Mar 14, 2003 49 45 6 Oct 2, 2002 61 32 7 Jul 31, 2002 59 34 7 May 23, 2002 70 24 6 Feb 14, 2002 79 16 6 Dec 19, 2001 87 10 2 Apr 19, 2001 55 33 12 Feb 21, 2001 49 30 21
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joseph Lieberman is handling his job as United States Senator?
App Dis DK/NA Nov 23, 2004 71 17 12 Sep 30, 2004 66 22 12 Aug 19, 2004 65 21 13 Jun 30, 2004 66 22 12 Jun 4, 2004 63 24 14 Nov 20, 2003 52 36 12 Oct 10, 2003 54 34 12 Jul 31, 2003 51 33 17 May 1, 2003 53 25 22 Mar 14, 2003 60 28 12 Oct 2, 2002 58 29 13 Aug 1, 2002 64 26 10 Jul 31, 2002 64 26 10 May 23, 2002 65 23 12 Feb 14, 2002 64 21 15 Dec 19, 2001 71 19 10 Apr 19, 2001 71 22 7 Feb 21, 2001 71 20 9 Sep 21, 2000 80 14 6 Jul 20, 2000 74 15 11 Jun 21, 2000 72 14 14 Apr 13, 2000 71 14 14 Feb 18, 2000 73 14 13 Oct 14, 1999 73 16 11 Jun 24, 1999 71 19 10 May 5, 1999 67 19 14 Oct 22, 1998 70 16 14 Oct 2, 1998 71 17 12 Jun 25, 1998 68 16 16 Apr 2, 1998 69 16 15 Feb 19, 1998 69 16 15 Nov 19, 1997 69 17 13 Oct 9, 1997 71 18 11 Jul 15, 1997 72 14 15 Feb 25, 1997 66 18 16 Jul 3, 1996 68 18 14 Mar 27, 1996 66 17 17 Apr 20, 1995 63 19 18 Aug 22, 1994 55 23 22 Jul 19, 1994 58 16 26
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Dodd is handling his job as United States Senator?
App Dis DK/NA Nov 23, 2004 69 20 11 Sep 30, 2004 64 21 14 Aug 19, 2004 60 22 18 Jun 30, 2004 66 17 18 Jun 4, 2004 59 22 19 Nov 20, 2003 60 22 17 Oct 10, 2003 62 20 18 Jul 31, 2003 58 20 22 May 1, 2003 52 16 31 Mar 14, 2003 57 22 21 Oct 2, 2002 58 21 21 Aug 1, 2002 61 20 19 Jul 31, 2002 61 20 19 May 23, 2002 61 18 21 Feb 14, 2002 52 17 31 Dec 19, 2001 63 20 18 Apr 19, 2001 71 16 13 Feb 21, 2001 68 15 16 Sep 21, 2000 66 20 14 Jul 20, 2000 64 24 12 Jun 21, 2000 64 21 14 Apr 13, 2000 63 22 15 Feb 18, 2000 64 21 16 Oct 14, 1999 70 22 8 Jun 24, 1999 65 25 10 May 5, 1999 61 25 14 Nov 2, 1998 (LV) 62 31 7 Oct 22, 1998 62 27 11 Oct 2, 1998 60 27 12 Jun 25, 1998 61 27 11 Apr 2, 1998 60 27 13 Feb 19, 1998 59 30 11 Nov 19, 1997 57 31 12 Oct 9, 1997 56 34 10 Jul 15, 1997 62 27 12 Feb 25, 1997 54 30 16 Jul 3, 1996 56 26 18 Mar 27, 1996 58 30 13 Apr 20, 1995 60 26 15 Aug 22, 1994 56 27 17
TREND: Is your opinion of Jodi Rell favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about her? (* Lieutenant Governor Jodi Rell will be taking over as Governor. Is your opinion...?) (** Is your opinion of Lieutenant Governor Jodi Rell ...?)
Hvn't Fav UnFav Mixed heard REFUSED Nov 23, 2004 70 3 9 18 - Sep 30, 2004 62 2 13 22 1 Aug 19, 2004 60 2 12 25 1 Jun 30, 2004 * 34 1 6 59 1 Jan 7, 2004 20 2 7 70 1 Apr 19, 2001 31 3 12 53 1
1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jodi Rell is handling her job as Governor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 80% 85% 75% 81% 76% 83% Disapprove 4 3 5 3 7 2 DK/NA 16 12 19 16 17 15 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Fairfld Hrtford Ltchfld NewHvn NewLon Approve 74% 84% 80% 81% 78% Disapprove 3 6 8 4 3 DK/NA 23 9 12 15 19
2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 44% 85% 19% 41% 49% 40% Disapprove 51 11 79 52 48 54 DK/NA 5 4 2 6 3 6
3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joseph Lieberman is handling his job as United States Senator?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 71% 77% 72% 69% 71% 71% Disapprove 17 15 17 17 19 14 DK/NA 12 8 11 14 10 14
4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Dodd is handling his job as United States Senator?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 69% 56% 76% 72% 66% 71% Disapprove 20 32 12 18 23 17 DK/NA 11 12 12 10 11 12
5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Kevin Sullivan is handling his job as Lieutenant Governor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 41% 41% 47% 36% 41% 40% Disapprove 12 12 9 15 15 10 DK/NA 47 47 43 49 44 50
6. 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 71% 67% 72% 75% 68% 74% Disapprove 15 18 14 14 19 12 DK/NA 13 15 14 11 13 14
7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Susan Bysiewicz is handling her job as Secretary of the State?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 53% 51% 59% 52% 51% 56% Disapprove 7 9 4 7 8 6 DK/NA 40 40 37 41 41 39
8. If the election for governor were being held today, and the candidates were Christopher Dodd the Democrat, and Jodi Rell the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Dodd 43% 15% 71% 40% 43% 44% Rell 45 78 19 46 45 45 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - - 1 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - - - - - 1 DK/NA 11 7 10 13 11 10
9. If the election for governor were being held today, and the candidates were Richard Blumenthal the Democrat, and Jodi Rell the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Blumenthal 40% 16% 63% 36% 38% 41% Rell 46 76 23 46 47 44 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - - 1 - - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 - - 1 1 - DK/NA 14 8 13 16 14 14
10. If the election for governor were being held today, and the candidates were Susan Bysiewicz the Democrat, and Jodi Rell the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Bysiewicz 22% 4% 45% 16% 20% 25% Rell 59 87 34 61 61 56 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - - 1 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 - 1 1 1 1 DK/NA 18 9 20 22 17 18
11. If the election for governor were being held today, and the candidates were Kevin Sullivan the Democrat, and Jodi Rell the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Sullivan 23% 4% 47% 15% 23% 22% Rell 60 89 33 64 61 59 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - - 1 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 - 1 1 1 1 DK/NA 16 6 19 19 15 18
12. If the election for governor were being held today, and the candidates were John DeStefano the Democrat, and Jodi Rell the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom DeStefano 22% 6% 44% 15% 22% 22% Rell 59 88 34 63 60 59 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - - 1 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 - 1 1 1 1 DK/NA 17 6 21 20 17 18
13. If the election for governor were being held today, and the candidates were Dan Malloy the Democrat, and Jodi Rell the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Malloy 18% 2% 36% 13% 18% 17% Rell 61 88 38 64 62 60 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - - 1 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - - - - - 1 DK/NA 20 10 24 22 19 21
14. (If registered Democrat)If the Democratic primary for governor were being held today and the candidates were Christopher Dodd, Richard Blumenthal, Susan Bysiewicz, Kevin Sullivan, John DeStefano and Dan Malloy for whom would you vote?
Dem Dodd 39% Blumenthal 28 Bysiewicz 7 Sullivan 4 DeStefano 6 Malloy 1 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 DK/NA 14
15. Is your opinion of United States Senator Christopher Dodd favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 59% 41% 71% 62% 55% 63% Unfavorable 14 24 7 12 18 10 Mixed 17 23 12 16 17 16 Hvn't hrd enough 10 11 10 9 10 10 REFUSED - 1 - - - -
16. Is your opinion of State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 60% 54% 62% 63% 57% 62% Unfavorable 10 14 5 10 13 7 Mixed 14 17 14 13 13 15 Hvn't hrd enough 16 15 18 13 15 16 REFUSED 1 - 1 1 1 -
17. Is your opinion of Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about her?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 30% 27% 35% 30% 30% 31% Unfavorable 6 7 2 7 7 5 Mixed 12 12 13 11 12 12 Hvn't hrd enough 51 52 50 51 50 52 REFUSED 1 2 - 1 2 -
18. Is your opinion of Lieutenant Governor Kevin Sullivan favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 20% 14% 28% 18% 22% 18% Unfavorable 10 11 6 12 11 9 Mixed 12 13 11 12 12 11 Hvn't hrd enough 58 61 55 58 54 61 REFUSED 1 1 1 1 1 1
19. Is your opinion of New Haven Mayor John DeStefano favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 22% 20% 25% 22% 22% 22% Unfavorable 9 9 9 8 9 8 Mixed 14 10 14 15 13 15 Hvn't hrd enough 53 59 50 53 53 53 REFUSED 2 2 1 2 2 2
20. Is your opinion of Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 8% 7% 10% 7% 11% 6% Unfavorable 7 7 9 6 8 7 Mixed 8 5 10 9 8 8 Hvn't hrd enough 75 79 70 76 71 78 REFUSED 2 2 2 2 2 2
21. Is your opinion of Governor Jodi Rell favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about her?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 70% 84% 59% 73% 69% 72% Unfavorable 3 2 4 2 3 2 Mixed 9 4 13 9 9 9 Hvn't hrd enough 18 10 24 16 18 17 REFUSED - - 1 - 1 -