Connecticut (CT) Poll * January 11, 2006 * Lieberman Has Big Lead, Especi - Quinnipiac University

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

January 11, 2006 - Lieberman Has Big Lead, Especially With Republicans, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Connecticut Voters Give Bush, Iraq War Low Marks

Despite strong opposition to the war in Iraq and low approval ratings for President George W. Bush, Connecticut voters approve of U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman 62 - 24 percent and say 64 - 24 percent that he should be reelected, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
Republicans say give Democrat Lieberman another term 75 - 18 percent, while Democrats favor his reelection 59 - 29 percent and independent voters back him 61 - 24 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.
Only 27 percent of voters, including 30 percent of Democrats, 24 percent of Republicans and 27 percent of independents, want former Gov. Lowell Weicker to run as an independent candidate against Lieberman.
Lieberman would beat Weicker 65 - 21 percent, getting 67 percent of the Democratic vote, 72 percent of the Republican vote and 60 percent of the independent vote.
"Sen. Joseph Lieberman's overall approval rating has dropped 11 points in the last year, but a 62 percent approval is a good place for an incumbent to be as he starts his reelection year," said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D.
"And he compares well to Sen. Christopher Dodd's 59 - 21 percent approval." Quinnipiac University Poll/January 11, 2006 - page 2
"While Sen. Lieberman has lost support among some Democrats, probably because of his strong support for the war in Iraq, he helps make up for it with support from Republicans," Dr. Schwartz added.
By a 53 - 14 percent margin, voters have a favorable opinion of Lieberman, with 25 percent mixed.
Weicker gets a negative 19 - 32 percent favorability, with 24 percent mixed and 24 percent who don't know enough about him to form an opinion.
"Lowell Weicker, despite his powerful political name and reputation, no longer appears to be a political force," Dr. Schwartz said.
While only 41 percent of Connecticut voters agree with Lieberman's support for the war in Iraq, and 51 percent disagree, only 24 percent of voters disagree strongly enough to vote against the incumbent on just that issue.
Going to war in Iraq was the wrong thing to do, voters say 60 - 35 percent, the lowest Connecticut support for the war in Iraq measured by Quinnipiac University.
Connecticut voters disapprove 61 - 35 percent of the job President Bush is doing, his lowest approval in the state, and disapprove 64 - 32 percent of the way the President is handling the war in Iraq.
From January 4 - 9, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,369 Connecticut registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 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
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 35% 73% 9% 33% 38% 31% Disapprove 61 25 88 61 59 64 DK/NA 4 2 3 6 3 5
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jan 11 Jul 27 Apr 6 Feb 18 Jan 13 Dec 19 Jan 11 2006 2005 2005 2005 2005 2001 2006 Approve 35 36 39 40 43 87 35 Disapprove 61 59 57 55 52 10 61 DK/NA 4 5 4 6 5 2 4
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 62% 68% 55% 65% 63% 62% Disapprove 24 20 29 23 27 22 DK/NA 13 12 16 12 10 16 Lib Mod Cons Approve 51% 65% 70% Disapprove 34 22 18 DK/NA 15 13 12
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joseph Lieberman is handling his job as United States Senator?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jan 11 Jul 27 Apr 6 Feb 18 Jan 13 Sep 21 Jul 31 2006 2005 2005 2005 2005 2000 2003 Approve 62 67 67 69 73 80 51 Disapprove 24 23 22 20 15 14 33 DK/NA 13 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 59% 43% 69% 60% 60% 57% Disapprove 21 36 13 21 25 18 DK/NA 20 21 18 19 14 24
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 Jan 11 Jul 27 Apr 6 Feb 18 Jan 13 Apr 19 May 1 2006 2005 2005 2005 2005 2001 2003 * Approve 59 64 65 67 64 71 52 Disapprove 21 22 20 20 19 16 16 DK/NA 20 14 14 13 17 13 31
14. Looking ahead to the 2006 election for United States Senator, do you feel that Joseph Lieberman deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes/Deserves reelection 64% 75% 59% 61% 65% 62% No/Does not 24 18 29 24 25 22 DK/NA 13 7 12 15 10 15 Lib Mod Cons Yes/Deserves reelection 53% 67% 71% No/Does not 33 21 21 DK/NA 14 12 9
TREND: Looking ahead to the 2006 election for United States Senator, do you feel that Joseph Lieberman deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected?
Jan 11 Apr 6 2006 2005 Yes/Deserves reelection 64 66 No/Does not 24 25 DK/NA 13 9
15. Would you like to see the Democrats nominate Joseph Lieberman for United States Senator or would you rather see the Democrats nominate someone else?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes/Lieberman 57% 67% 52% 57% 61% 55% No/Someone else 33 24 39 33 32 33 DK/NA 10 8 9 10 7 13 Lib Mod Cons Yes/Lieberman 47% 62% 61% No/Someone else 47 27 30 DK/NA 6 10 9
16. Would you like to see former Governor Lowell Weicker run as an independent candidate against Joseph Lieberman in the general election for United States Senator in November?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 27% 24% 30% 27% 29% 26% No 59 62 58 60 63 55 DK/NA 14 14 12 13 8 19
17. Is your opinion of former Governor Lowell Weicker favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 19% 13% 23% 21% 21% 18% Unfavorable 32 40 26 34 37 27 Mixed 24 23 26 24 21 26 Hvn't hrd enough 24 24 24 20 20 28 REFUSED 1 - 1 - - 1
18. Is your opinion of United States Senator Joseph Lieberman favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 53% 59% 50% 52% 56% 50% Unfavorable 14 13 15 14 16 13 Mixed 25 23 28 26 23 27 Hvn't hrd enough 8 5 7 8 5 10 REFUSED - - 1 - 1 - Lib Mod Cons Favorable 42% 57% 58% Unfavorable 21 12 11 Mixed 31 25 24 Hvn't hrd enough 6 7 7 REFUSED 1 - -
TREND: Is your opinion of United States Senator Joseph Lieberman favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
Jan 11 Dec 19 Apr 19 Feb 21 Sep 21 Jul 20 Jun 21 2006 2001 2001 2001 2000 2000 2000 Favorable 53 58 58 59 68 56 55 Unfavorable 14 13 14 14 9 8 9 Mixed 25 21 21 19 16 18 18 Haven't heard enough 8 9 6 7 7 17 17 DK/NA - - 1 1 1 1 -
19. If the 2006 election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Joseph Lieberman the Democrat and Lowell Weicker running as an independent candidate, for whom would you vote?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Lieberman 65% 72% 67% 60% 67% 63% Weicker 21 14 23 24 23 20 REP CAND(VOL) - 1 - - - - SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 4 1 2 3 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 2 2 3 2 2 DK/NA 10 7 7 11 5 13 Lib Mod Cons Lieberman 56% 68% 72% Weicker 32 18 15 REP CAND(VOL) - - 1 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 2 3 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 3 2 DK/NA 10 9 7
20. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling the situation with Iraq?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 32% 65% 10% 32% 37% 28% Disapprove 64 30 88 64 60 68 DK/NA 4 5 3 4 3 5
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling the situation with Iraq?
Jan 11 Jun 4 Oct 10 2006 2004 2003 Approve 32 37 41 Disapprove 64 57 55 DK/NA 4 6 4
21. Do you think going to war with Iraq was the right thing for the United States to do or the wrong thing?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Right thing 35% 69% 14% 34% 37% 33% Wrong thing 60 26 82 60 58 61 DK/NA 5 5 4 7 5 6
TREND: Do you think going to war with Iraq was the right thing for the United States to do or the wrong thing?
Jan 11 Sep 30 Aug 19 Jun 4 2006 2004 2004 2004 Right thing 35 39 43 42 Wrong thing 60 56 49 52 DK/NA 5 5 8 6
22. As you may know, Senator Lieberman is a strong supporter of the war in Iraq. Do you agree or disagree with Senator Lieberman's position on the war in Iraq?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Agree 41% 75% 19% 40% 49% 34% Disagree 51 19 74 52 45 56 DK/NA 8 6 8 8 5 10 Lib Mod Cons Agree 20% 40% 65% Disagree 75 52 28 DK/NA 6 8 7
22. As you may know, Senator Lieberman is a strong supporter of the war in Iraq. Do you agree or disagree with Senator Lieberman's position on the war in Iraq? 23. (If "disagree" Q22) Do you disagree with Senator Lieberman's support of the war in Iraq strongly enough to vote against Lieberman just on that issue? COMBINED TABLE QUES 22 & 23
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Agree JL position 41% 75% 19% 40% 49% 34% Disagree JL position/ won't vote against 24 11 33 26 24 25 Disagree JL position/ will vote against 24 7 35 24 21 26 DK/NA 11 7 13 10 6 14 Lib Mod Cons Agree JL position 20% 40% 65% Disagree JL position/ won't vote against 31 27 14 Disagree JL position/ will vote against 40 22 13 DK/NA 10 10 9