The latest Quinnipiac University Poll released Thursday showed Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s job approval beginning to slip as her two Democratic opponents receive a bulk of the attention as the August 8 primary approaches. The focus on the Democratic candidates for governor New Haven Mayor John DeStefano and Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy has increased over the past month. Rell’s campaign spokesman Rich Harris said Friday that the campaign expected the numbers to narrow as the general election in November approaches.
While 74 percent approve rather than disapprove of the job Rell is doing, people’s opinions of how she handles her job as governor have slipped from 74 percent, her all-time high in April 2005, to 59 percent in the poll released July 20. It appears many more people are having “mixed feelings” about Rell too. The percentage of people with mixed feelings increased from 19 percent in the June 8 poll to 22 percent in the most recent poll. That number increases one percentage point to 23 percent when just the number of unaffiliated voters were asked the question. 1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jodi Rell is handling her job as Governor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men WomApprove 74% 82% 70% 74% 73% 74%Disapprove 13 9 18 12 16 11DK/NA 13 9 12 14 11 15 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jodi Rell is handling her job as Governor? Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jul 20 Jun 8 May 2 Feb 16 Jan 12 Jan 13 Aug 19 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2005 2004Approve 74 75 77 81 78 83 73Disapprove 13 12 11 9 10 3 4DK/NA 13 13 12 10 12 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 WomFavorable 59% 73% 50% 60% 59% 59%Unfavorable 7 6 10 7 9 6Mixed 22 13 28 23 22 22Hvn’t hrd enough 11 9 12 10 10 13REFUSED – – – – – – TREND: Is your opinion of Jodi Rell favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven’t you heard enough about her? Jul 20 Jun 8 May 2 Feb 16 Jan 12 Apr 6 Nov 23 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2005 2004Favorable 59 65 64 70 67 74 70Unfavorable 7 6 6 5 5 7 3Mixed 22 19 19 16 17 12 9Haven’t heard enough 11 10 10 9 10 6 18DK/NA – 1 1 – 1 1 –Click here to read the full poll. According to the poll DeStefano pulled ahead of Malloy by about 20 percentage points, but Rell still shares a sizable lead against the both of them. “The governor tries very hard to do the right things for the right reasons,” Harris said Friday. For DeStefano 51 percent don’t know enough to form an opinion and 75 percent don’t know enough about Malloy, who probably has the biggest uphill battle in this race. Malloy’s campaign claimed victory in the televised debate earlier this week, but at least part of what he said during the debate caused Malloy’s campaign some angst. In a letter to the public Wednesday Malloy apologized for some of his comments durig the debate. “At the time, I believe we were discussing eminent domain and its use in economic development. What I meant to say in my comments was that when eminent domain is used for the purpose of development that it must lead to long term jobs with full benefits that will help grow the community, not low paying or part-time jobs with no benefits that do not provide long term economic growth for the community. In addition, the current practice of some hotels and other businesses of not allowing employees to work enough hours to qualify for benefits must stop.“DeStefano jumped on the opportunity to meet with Unite Here! hotel workers at the Hartford Hilton the following day. 
Mayor John DeStefano speaks to hotel workers in HartfordNadine Mullings-Gentles, one of the guest service workers at the Hilton, said Thursday that she was insulted by Malloy’s comments. She said everybody at the hotel works hard, sends their kids to school, and pays taxes. What makes Malloy so special that “he thinks he gets to determine what jobs are important,” she said. “Who is going to service all the people who come to the conventions?” she asked. Click here to read Malloy’s full apology to the hotel workers. Can’t get enough of the stats, Click here to read the 89 comments at Connecticut Local Politics.