As the economy worsens so do the ratings of Connecticut’s top politicians, a Quinnipiac University poll found.
The poll released Tuesday found Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s approval rating has dipped from 76 percent in March to 65 percent in June. Joining her on the decline is U.S. Senator Chris Dodd, whose disapproval rating has increased up from 28 percent in March to 34 percent in June. His approval rating still remains at 51 percent, but his colleague U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman’s approval ratings have plummeted from 52 percent in March to 45 percent in June.
Quinnipiac University Poll Director Doug Schwartz said Tuesday morning that this is the first time in 14 years that Lieberman’s approval rating has dropped below 50 percent. Schwartz said when a politician drops below 51 percent it means they are vulnerable.
“But his election is further off in 2012,” Schwartz said. Dodd’s re-election is slated for 2010.
Referring to Dodd’s approval rating, Schwartz said, “This probably is a combination of his unsuccessful presidential bid and the mortgage scandal.”
Schwartz said 59 percent of voters believe there should be further investigation into Dodd’s mortgage situation.
As for the economy, 60 percent of voters said gas prices have caused hardship for someone in their household. As for who is to blame for the ever increasing price of gas 32 percent felt oil companies were to blame, 28 percent felt it was the federal government, 19 percent blamed oil-producing nations, while 9 percent blamed American consumers. State gas taxes were not one of the options for this question.