Connecticut (CT) Poll * January 12, 2006 * Connecticut Gov. Rell Crushes - Quinnipiac University

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January 12, 2006 - Connecticut Gov. Rell Crushes Likely Dem Opponents, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Her Approval, 'Honesty' Ratings Still Sky High

Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell's overall approval rating, and her rating for honesty and integrity are at sky-high levels and she defeats either of two likely Democratic challengers by 3 - 1 or 4 - 1, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
In possible general election matchups, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll shows:
Gov. Rell defeating New Haven Mayor John DeStefano 64 - 21 percent; Rell beating Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy 68 - 17 percent.
Connecticut voters give Rell a 78 - 10 percent approval rating, virtually unchanged from a 79 - 9 percent approval July 27, 2005.
By an 83 - 7 percent margin, voters say Rell is honest and trustworthy and 60 percent of voters say ethics in state government got better on her watch, while 2 percent say ethics got worse and 32 percent say the situation didn't change.
"The fundraising controversy involving Chief of Staff Lisa Moody hasn't put a dent in Gov. Jodi Rell's remarkable approval rating, or in her reputation with the voters for honesty," said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D. "The Republican incumbent starts her reelection year with commanding leads over either of her likely Democratic challengers - and even leads among Democrats."
Among Democrats, DeStefano tops Malloy 36 - 18 percent in an early look at a possible primary, with 42 percent undecided.
Connecticut voters give Rell a 67 - 5 percent favorability rating, with 17 percent mixed and 10 percent who haven't heard enough to form an opinion.
For DeStefano, 59 percent of voters haven't heard enough to form an opinion, with 83 percent who haven't heard enough about Malloy.
"Mayors DeStefano and Malloy each must overcome a statewide identity crisis, and then give Connecticut voters a good reason to elect a new Governor, two very formidable challenges," Dr. Schwartz said.
A total of 66 percent of Connecticut voters are "very satisfied" or "somewhat satisfied" with the way things are going in the state today, while 33 percent are "somewhat dissatisfied" or "very dissatisfied."
Economic issues constitute the biggest problem facing the state today, 26 percent of voters say, while 19 percent point to taxes.
From January 4 - 9, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,369 Connecticut registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points. The survey includes 433 Democrats with a margin of error of +/- 4.7 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
1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jodi Rell is handling her job as Governor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 78% 81% 75% 82% 79% 78% Disapprove 10 8 12 9 12 8 DK/NA 12 11 13 9 9 15 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Fairfld Hrtford Ltchfld NewHvn NewLon Approve 80% 78% 83% 78% 74% Disapprove 3 12 8 11 15 DK/NA 17 11 8 11 11
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jodi Rell is handling her job as Governor?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jan 12 Jul 27 Apr 6 Feb 18 Jan 13 Jan 13 Aug 19 2006 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2004 Approve 78 79 80 74 83 83 73 Disapprove 10 9 10 14 3 3 4 DK/NA 12 11 10 11 14 14 24
5. 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 67% 72% 63% 70% 66% 68% Unfavorable 5 4 6 4 8 2 Mixed 17 11 21 18 15 19 Hvn't hrd enough 10 12 11 8 10 10 REFUSED 1 1 - 1 - 1 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Fairfld Hrtford Ltchfld NewHvn NewLon Favorable 68% 65% 72% 68% 67% Unfavorable 3 5 8 4 8 Mixed 12 23 13 16 19 Hvn't hrd enough 17 7 6 11 5 REFUSED - - - 1 1
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 ...?)
Jan 12 Apr 6 Nov 23 Sep 30 Aug 19 Jun 30 Jan 7 2006 2005 2004 2004 2004 2004 * 2004 ** Favorable 67 74 70 62 60 34 20 Unfavorable 5 7 3 2 2 1 2 Mixed 17 12 9 13 12 6 7 Haven't heard enough 10 6 18 22 25 59 70 DK/NA 1 1 - 1 1 1 1
6. 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 16% 12% 19% 16% 18% 15% Unfavorable 9 10 6 10 9 8 Mixed 15 12 16 16 16 14 Hvn't hrd enough 59 63 56 57 55 62 REFUSED 2 2 3 - 2 1 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Fairfld Hrtford Ltchfld NewHvn NewLon Favorable 9% 13% 14% 27% 12% Unfavorable 6 11 3 12 5 Mixed 8 17 10 21 12 Hvn't hrd enough 73 58 73 40 70 REFUSED 3 1 1 1 1
TREND: Is your opinion of New Haven Mayor John DeStefano favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
Jan 12 Apr 6 Nov 23 2006 2005 2004 Favorable 16 25 22 Unfavorable 9 11 9 Mixed 15 14 14 Hvn't heard enough 59 49 53 REFUSED 2 2 2
7. 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% 9% 10% 5% 9% 6% Unfavorable 4 7 3 3 6 3 Mixed 4 4 5 4 6 4 Hvn't hrd enough 83 78 81 87 78 86 REFUSED 1 2 1 1 2 1 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Fairfld Hrtford Ltchfld NewHvn NewLon Favorable 16% 7% 5% 4% 4% Unfavorable 8 3 2 3 1 Mixed 7 4 4 4 2 Hvn't hrd enough 67 85 88 88 92 REFUSED 2 1 1 1 1
TREND: Is your opinion of Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
Jan 12 Apr 6 Nov 23 2006 2005 2004 Favorable 8 9 8 Unfavorable 4 6 7 Mixed 4 5 8 Hvn't heard enough 83 78 75 REFUSED 1 1 2
8. If the 2006 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 21% 9% 36% 16% 24% 19% Rell 64 81 52 67 64 65 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 - 1 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 - 1 - 1 DK/NA 13 8 12 14 11 14 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Fairfld Hrtford Ltchfld NewHvn NewLon DeStefano 15% 21% 19% 26% 21% Rell 70 66 70 57 66 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 2 1 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 - - 1 - DK/NA 14 12 10 15 11
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?
Jan 12 Jul 27 Apr 6 Nov 23 2006 2005 2005 2004 DeStefano 21 22 19 22 Rell 64 61 66 59 SMONE ELSE 1 1 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE 1 1 2 1 DK/NA 13 15 13 17
9. If the 2006 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 17% 6% 33% 10% 18% 15% Rell 68 83 54 74 69 68 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 1 - 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 - 1 1 - DK/NA 13 9 12 14 10 16 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Fairfld Hrtford Ltchfld NewHvn NewLon Malloy 19% 18% 16% 14% 18% Rell 68 69 75 68 67 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - 1 3 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 - 1 2 DK/NA 12 12 6 17 12
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?
Jan 12 Jul 27 Apr 6 Nov 23 2006 2005 2005 2004 Malloy 17 18 17 18 Rell 68 63 66 61 SMONE ELSE 1 1 - 1 WLDN'T VOTE 1 2 2 - DK/NA 13 17 14 20
10. 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 7% 13% 5% 5% 7% 7% Smwht satisfied 59 60 58 58 57 60 Smwht dissatisfied 23 19 27 25 25 22 Very dissatisfied 10 7 9 12 9 11 DK/NA 1 1 2 - 2 - MdlSex Toll,Wndm Fairfld Hrtford Ltchfld NewHvn NewLon Very satisfied 9% 7% 8% 6% 5% Smwht satisfied 61 59 54 59 58 Smwht dissatisfied 20 22 26 23 28 Very dissatisfied 7 12 12 11 8 DK/NA 2 - - 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?
Jan 12 Jul 27 Apr 7 Feb 18 Jan 13 Nov 24 Aug 19 2006 2005 2005 2005 2005 2004 2004 Very Satisfied 7 6 6 5 10 8 7 Smwht Satisfied 59 60 54 53 57 58 50 Smwht Dissatisfied 23 25 29 29 24 23 29 Very Dissatisfied 10 8 11 12 8 10 12 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 2 1 3
11. What do you think is the most important problem facing Connecticut today?
Tot Economy Total: 26% Economy general 4 Unemployment/jobs 14 Cost of living 5 Businesses leaving/ Outsourcing 3 Taxes Total: 19% Taxes general 14 Property tax 3 Gas tax 1 Income Tax 1 Education Total: 10% Education general 7 Funding education 3 Crime Total: 4% Crime/Violence general 3 Drugs 1 Energy Total: 4% Energy costs general 2 Gas prices 1 Electricity prices 1 Transportation Total: 4% Highway traffic/ congestion 2 Poor condition of roads/highways 1 Transportation other 1 Politicians Total: 3% Politicians/ Campaigns general 1 Political corruption 2 Healthcare/Costs/ Insurance/HMO's 3% Budget Total: 2% Budget general 1 Budget priorities 1 Poverty/Homeless 1 Housing Costs/ Availability 1 Class inequality 1 Senior issues 1 Lack of ethics/ Morality 1 Environment/ Pollution 1 Other 4 DK/NA 9
12. Would you say that Jodi Rell is honest and trustworthy or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 83% 85% 82% 84% 84% 81% No 7 5 7 7 8 6 DK/NA 11 10 11 9 8 13 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Fairfld Hrtford Ltchfld NewHvn NewLon Yes 83% 84% 84% 79% 84% No 4 10 8 6 6 DK/NA 12 6 9 15 10
TREND: Would you say that Jodi Rell is honest and trustworthy or not?
Jan 12 Jul 27 Jan 13 2006 2005 2005 Yes 83 87 82 No 7 5 3 DK/NA 11 8 14
13. Since Jodi Rell became governor do you think ethics in state government have gotten better, worse, or stayed about the same?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Better 60% 62% 59% 60% 57% 62% Worse 2 2 1 2 3 1 The same 32 31 34 32 34 31 DK/NA 6 6 6 6 6 6 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Fairfld Hrtford Ltchfld NewHvn NewLon Better 64% 58% 47% 58% 63% Worse 1 2 3 1 3 The same 29 36 40 34 26 DK/NA 5 4 10 7 8
24. (If registered Democrat)If the 2006 Democratic primary for governor were being held today and the candidates were John DeStefano and Dan Malloy, for whom would you vote?
REGISTERED DEMOCRATS DeStefano 36% Malloy 18 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 DK/NA 42