Raleigh, N.C. – Gov. Dan Malloy’s already negative job approval spread has only doubled since PPP last polled Connecticut six months ago. Then, shortly into his term, 39% approved and 47% disapproved. That has fallen to 36-52, making Malloy the third least popular governor on which PPP has polled this year, bested only by controversial Republicans John Kasich of Ohio and Rick Scott of Florida. He has actually gotten slightly more popular with independents, from 29-53 to 36-55. But his own Democrats have really soured on him, moving from an already weak 57-29 to only 49-37, accounting for essentially his entire decline. Republicans disapprove by an almost identical spread as in the previous poll, 16-72.
Malloy only narrowly won his office in the first place, beating Tom Foley by not much more than half a point. If voters got the chance to do it all over again, Foley would trounce Malloy, 52-41. Republicans stick with Foley by roughly the same amount as they voted for him, with only 13% of them going for his opponent. But 28% of Malloy’s party says they would cross the aisle, versus the 13% who actually did, according to exit polls. Independents go for Foley by slightly more as well, by 25 points versus 21.
About the only thing Malloy can hang his hat on is that 68% of voters approve of his handling of the recent Hurricane Irene, with 19% disapproving.
Though he is still one of the least popular senators, Joe Lieberman is no longer the least popular. Knowing he will soon be out of their hair, voters have apparently given him a reprieve. Now 39% approve and 48% disapprove of his job performance, up 20 points on the margin from 29-58 in March. Democrats (from 21-67 to 28-58) and independents (32-57 to 34-53) are coming around on him a little, but it is mostly his continued bucking of Democratic orthodoxy that is boosting his numbers—most of his improvement comes from a 32-point shift with Republicans, from 39-44 to 57-30. Lieberman’s new junior colleague, Richard Blumenthal, is far more popular, at 52-34.
PPP surveyed 592 Connecticut voters from September 22nd to 25th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-4.0%. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews. PPP is a Democratic polling company, but polling expert Nate Silver of the New York Times found that its surveys in 2010 actually exhibited a slight bias toward Republican candidates.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of Governor
Daniel Malloy’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 36%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 52%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 12%
Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Governor
Malloy’s handling of Hurricane Irene?
Approve …………………………………………………. 68%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 19%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%
Q3 If you could do last year’s election for Governor
over again, would you vote for Democrat
Daniel Malloy or Republican Tom Foley?
Daniel Malloy ………………………………………….. 41%
Tom Foley ………………………………………………. 52%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 7%
Q4 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator
Richard Blumenthal’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 52%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 34%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 14%
Q5 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Joe
Lieberman’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 39%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 48%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 14%
Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of John Larson?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 22%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 21%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 58%
Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Jim Himes?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 18%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 17%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 66%
Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Joe Courtney?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 26%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 27%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 47%
Q9 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Rosa DeLauro?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 38%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 34%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 28%
Q10 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 10%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 26%
Moderate………………………………………………… 29%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 24%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 11%
Q11 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 52%
Man……………………………………………………….. 48%
Q12 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Republican,
press 2. If you are an independent or identify
with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 45%
Republican……………………………………………… 31%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 24%
Q13 If you are white, press 1. If other, press 2.
White …………………………………………………….. 80%
Other……………………………………………………… 20%
Q14 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to
45, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If you are
older than 65, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 12%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 24%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 44%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%
