Democrat Dan Malloy is pulling ahead of Republican Tom Foley in the latest Quinnipiac University poll on the governor’s race. Friday’s poll put Malloy ahead of Foley 49 to 42 percent, an increase of four points for Malloy.
Foley’s support has remained unchanged from the Sept. 29 poll, but he still leads amongst Independent voters by a margin of 46 to 42 percent. Both leads amongst voters in their respective parties.
Chester First Selectman Tom Marsh, who is running as an Independent, was not included in the poll.
“Tom Foley’s 42 percent share of the vote for Connecticut governor has not moved in two weeks. With less than three weeks to go, the Republican better start moving soon,” said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Doug Schwartz.
Seven percent of voters are undecided and 20 percent that named a candidate may change their mind before Election Day, the poll found.
“Democrat Dan Malloy has moved ahead slightly and given himself some breathing room, but there are a lot of undecided voters and voters who could change their mind – and there are almost three weeks for them to decide,” Schwartz said.
Despite being painted as “angry“ by Foley after their first televised debate, “Malloy is better liked,“ Schwartz said. “Both candidates have been on the attack, yet interestingly neither candidate’s overall image has been damaged.”
But, as in the U.S. Senate race, women voters may make all the difference.
By a margin of 55 to 35 percent women like Malloy over Foley, while men prefer Foley 49 to 44 percent. And after countless commercials and at least one televised debates have improved Malloy’s favorability rating from 39 percent to 47 percent. Those who disapprove of the candidate increased two points. Foley’s favorability also improved from 34 to 41 percent, but those voters that disapprove increased eight points over the past two weeks.
The poll surveyed 1,119 likely voters between Oct. 7-11 and has a 2.9 percent margin of error.
Check back at 11 a.m. for a live stream of the press conference with Schwartz.
