U.S. Senate candidate Ned Lamont gained on U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman 55 to 40 percent among likely Democratic primary voters, a Quinnipiac Poll released Thursday found. Since the last Quinnipiac Poll on May 2, Lamont more than doubled his chances of ousting the incumbent Lieberman. The last poll found Lieberman in the lead 65 to 19 percent.
All Connecticut voters approve 56 to 32 percent of the job Lieberman is doing. But Democrats approve 49 to 38 percent, down from 60 to 31 percent in the last poll. “Ned Lamont’s surprisingly strong showing at the state Democratic convention gained him a lot of headlines and probably has helped increase his poll numbers. The biggest change is among women and liberals,” said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D. “But has Lamont’s anti-war campaign peaked or can he mount an even stronger attack on Sen. Lieberman, the popular and respected incumbent?” In the race for governor, Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell still kicks her Democratic opponents butts with a 75 to 12 percent approval rating and better than two to one leads over either of the Democratic challengers—New Haven Mayor John DeStefano and Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy.For DeStefano, 59 percent don’t know enough to form an opinion; 79 percent for Malloy. Among likely Democratic primary voters including leaners, DeStefano leads Malloy 46 to 35 percent, even though Malloy captured the endorsement by a slim four vote margin at the Democratic state convention on May 20. “Mayor DeStefano is inching up on Gov. Rell, but there are many more inches to go,” Dr. Schwartz said. Taxes and unemployment still top the list of problems for Connecticut residents. According to the poll of the more than 2,000 residents surveyed 21 percent feel taxes are the most important issue followed by 19 percent who feel it’s the economy, which includes 11 percent who feel it’s unemployment. Click here to read the poll online.
