Connecticut (CT) Poll * July 27, 2005 * Connecticut Gov. Rell's Jugger - Quinnipiac University

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July 27, 2005 - Connecticut Gov. Rell's Juggernaut Gains Speed, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; She Widens Lead Over Top Dem As Approval Soars

Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell continues to rack up sky-high approval ratings and has widened her lead over her strongest potential Democratic challenger for reelection, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
Gov. Rell, who has topped the 70 percent mark in every poll since August, 2004, gets a 79 - 9 percent approval rating today, virtually unchanged from an 80 - 10 percent rating in an April 6 poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.
In other measures of Rell's popularity, Connecticut voters say:
82 - 11 percent that she has strong leadership qualities; 87 - 5 percent that she is honest and trustworthy; 75 - 14 percent that she cares about their needs and problems; 86 - 4 percent that she has a likable personality; 64 - 21 percent that she shares their views on issues they care about; 79 - 6 percent that she works well with other leaders.
"Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell's job-performance numbers are stratospheric, and she scores sky high on a series of personal traits - leadership, honesty, likability, you name it," said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D.
A total of 66 percent of Connecticut voters are "very satisfied" or "somewhat satisfied" with the way things are going in the state, with 33 percent who are "somewhat dissatisfied" or "very dissatisfied."
Jodi Rell is a "moderate" 57 percent of voters say and 75 percent say her politics are "about right."
In an early look at the 2006 Governor's race, Rell beats State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal 49 - 37 percent, compared to 46 - 43 percent April 6. Her margins over other possible Democratic challengers are much greater:
63 - 20 percent over Lt. Gov. Kevin Sullivan; 61 - 22 percent over Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz; 61 - 22 percent over New Haven Mayor John DeStefano; 63 - 18 percent over Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy.
Blumenthal is the clear choice among Democratic primary voters, with 49 percent, followed by 12 percent for Bysiewicz and 9 percent for DeStefano.
"After a year in office, Gov. Rell is in a strong position to win election to a full term next year. She now holds a double-digit lead over the strongest potential Democratic candidate, Richard Blumenthal. She is winning the vote of independents and a surprising 27 percent of Democrats as well," Dr. Schwartz said.
"Attempts to link her to the Rowland scandal are failing as 78 percent of voters say her service as Lt. Gov. to John Rowland doesn't make a difference in how they will vote."
President Bush Approval
Connecticut voters disapprove 59 - 36 percent of the job President George W. Bush is doing, his lowest score ever in the state. Sen. Joseph Lieberman gets a 67 - 23 percent approval, and Sen. Christopher Dodd gets 64 - 22 percent.
While he does not score well against Rell, Blumenthal gets a 73 - 14 percent approval for the job he is doing as Attorney General.
From July 19 - 25, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,067 Connecticut registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points. The survey includes 375 Democrats with a margin of error of +/- 5.1 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
1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jodi Rell is handling her job as Governor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 79% 84% 77% 79% 76% 82% Disapprove 9 10 9 9 13 6 DK/NA 11 6 14 12 11 11 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Fairfld Hrtford Ltchfld NewHvn NewLon NewLon Approve 76% 81% 80% 79% 83% 84% Disapprove 7 12 9 9 8 11 DK/NA 16 7 11 13 9 5
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jodi Rell is handling her job as Governor?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jul 27 Apr 6 Feb 18 Jan 13 Jan 13 Aug 19 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2004 Approve 79 80 74 83 83 73 Disapprove 9 10 14 3 3 4 DK/NA 11 10 11 14 14 24
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 36% 72% 11% 32% 38% 33% Disapprove 59 21 84 63 58 60 DK/NA 5 7 5 5 4 7
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jul 27 Apr 6 Feb 18 Jan 13 Dec 19 Jul 27 2005 2005 2005 2005 2001 2005 Approve 36 39 40 43 87 36 Disapprove 59 57 55 52 10 59 DK/NA 5 4 6 5 2 5
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 67% 62% 70% 66% 66% 68% Disapprove 23 27 20 23 28 17 DK/NA 11 11 10 11 6 15
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joseph Lieberman is handling his job as United States Senator?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jul 27 Apr 6 Feb 18 Jan 13 Sep 21 Jul 31 2005 2005 2005 2005 2000 2003 Approve 67 67 69 73 80 51 Disapprove 23 22 20 15 14 33 DK/NA 11 11 12 12 6 17
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 64% 50% 78% 62% 60% 67% Disapprove 22 38 10 23 29 17 DK/NA 14 13 12 15 12 16
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Dodd is handling his job as United States Senator? (* = Also hit 52% on 2/14/2002)
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jul 27 Apr 6 Feb 18 Jan 13 Apr 19 May 1 2005 2005 2005 2005 2001 2003 * Approve 64 65 67 64 71 52 Disapprove 22 20 20 19 16 16 DK/NA 14 14 13 17 13 31
5. 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 73% 71% 77% 70% 69% 76% Disapprove 14 18 10 17 19 10 DK/NA 13 11 13 13 11 14
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Richard Blumenthal is handling his job as State Attorney General?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jul 27 Apr 6 Nov 23 Apr 19 Apr 6 Nov 23 2005 2005 2004 2001 2005 2004 Approve 73 76 71 72 76 71 Disapprove 14 15 15 11 15 15 DK/NA 13 9 13 17 9 13
6. 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 37% 20% 61% 30% 41% 33% Rell 49 70 27 52 43 53 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - - 1 - - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 - 2 1 2 - DK/NA 13 10 10 15 13 13
TREND: 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?
Jul 27 Apr 6 Nov 23 2005 2005 2004 Blumenthal 37 43 40 Rell 49 46 46 SMONE ELSE - 1 - WLDN'T VOTE 1 1 1 DK/NA 13 8 14
7. 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% 10% 44% 15% 26% 19% Rell 61 85 38 64 59 63 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - - 1 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 2 1 2 1 DK/NA 14 4 17 18 12 16
TREND: 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?
Jul 27 Apr 6 Nov 23 2005 2005 2004 Bysiewicz 22 21 22 Rell 61 64 59 SMONE ELSE 1 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE 1 2 1 DK/NA 14 12 18
8. 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 20% 7% 39% 15% 23% 17% Rell 63 86 43 64 60 65 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - - 2 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 3 2 3 1 DK/NA 15 6 15 17 13 16
TREND: 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?
Jul 27 Apr 6 Nov 23 2005 2005 2004 Sullivan 20 22 23 Rell 63 64 60 SMONE ELSE 1 1 - WLDN'T VOTE 2 2 1 DK/NA 15 11 16
9. 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% 8% 41% 18% 26% 18% Rell 61 83 42 62 55 65 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - - 1 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 2 1 2 1 DK/NA 15 8 16 17 15 15
TREND: 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?
Jul 27 Apr 6 Nov 23 2005 2005 2004 DeStefano 22 19 22 Rell 61 66 59 SMONE ELSE 1 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE 1 2 1 DK/NA 15 13 17
10. 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% 6% 33% 14% 23% 13% Rell 63 84 44 65 59 67 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - - 1 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 2 2 2 3 - DK/NA 17 8 21 18 15 19
TREND: 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?
Jul 27 Apr 6 Nov 23 2005 2005 2004 Malloy 18 17 18 Rell 63 66 61 SMONE ELSE 1 - 1 WLDN'T VOTE 2 2 - DK/NA 17 14 20
11. (If registered democrat)If the Democratic primary for governor were being held today and the candidates were Richard Blumenthal, Susan Bysiewicz, Kevin Sullivan, John DeStefano and Dan Malloy for whom would you vote?
REGISTERED DEMOCRAT Tot Men Wom Blumenthal 49% 45% 52% Bysiewicz 12 13 11 Sullivan 7 6 8 DeStefano 9 14 6 Malloy 3 4 2 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 4 1 DK/NA 17 14 20
12. 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 6% 8% 7% 4% 6% 6% Smwht satisfied 60 63 61 57 57 62 Smwht dissatisfied 25 20 27 26 25 26 Very dissatisfied 8 8 4 12 12 5 DK/NA 1 1 - 1 1 1
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?
Jul 27 Apr 7 Feb 18 Jan 13 Nov 24 Aug 19 Jun 30 2005 2005 2005 2005 2004 2004 2004 Very Satisfied 6 6 5 10 8 7 3 Smwht Satisfied 60 54 53 57 58 50 48 Smwht Dissatisfied 25 29 29 24 23 29 31 Very Dissatisfied 8 11 12 8 10 12 16 DK/NA 1 1 1 2 1 3 2
13. Would you say Jodi Rell is doing a better job as governor than you expected, a worse job, or about what you expected?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Better 47% 43% 50% 47% 44% 50% Worse 3 6 2 2 4 2 As expected 45 47 45 46 48 43 DK/NA 5 4 4 5 4 6
14. Would you say that Jodi Rell has strong leadership qualities or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 82% 83% 80% 83% 75% 89% No 11 11 13 11 18 6 DK/NA 7 6 7 6 8 6
15. Would you say that Jodi Rell is honest and trustworthy or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 87% 88% 86% 89% 86% 88% No 5 8 8 3 8 4 DK/NA 8 4 7 8 7 8
16. Would you say that Jodi Rell cares about the needs and problems of people like you or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 75% 80% 74% 74% 70% 79% No 14 14 15 14 19 10 DK/NA 11 6 11 12 11 11
17. Would you say that Jodi Rell - has a likable personality or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 86% 88% 87% 85% 83% 88% No 4 5 5 3 5 3 DK/NA 10 7 9 11 11 8
18. Would you say that Jodi Rell - shares your views on issues that you care about or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 64% 70% 60% 64% 59% 68% No 21 18 24 21 28 15 DK/NA 15 11 16 15 13 17
19. Would you say that Jodi Rell - works well with other political leaders or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 79% 78% 79% 80% 73% 83% No 6 6 6 5 8 3 DK/NA 16 17 15 15 18 14
20. Do you think of Jodi Rell more as a liberal, moderate, or conservative?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Liberal 11% 12% 10% 10% 11% 12% Moderate 57 55 58 61 57 58 Conservative 23 22 25 23 28 18 DK/NA 8 12 7 6 4 12
21. Do you think Jodi Rell is too liberal, too conservative, or about right?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Too liberal 7% 15% 2% 4% 10% 4% Too conservative 11 5 16 11 14 8 About right 75 75 74 78 71 79 DK/NA 7 5 8 7 6 9
22. Jodi Rell was Governor Rowland's Lieutenant Governor for about 10 years. Does Jodi Rell's association with John Rowland make you more likely to vote for her for governor, less likely to vote for her for governor, or doesn't it make a difference?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More likely 6% 8% 5% 4% 4% 6% Less likely 16 8 26 15 20 12 No difference 78 83 68 80 75 80 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 - 1