Raleigh, N.C. – Connecticut voters are certain of who they want to see win the Presidential election on November 6.  With 40 days until election day, President Barack Obama leads in the state by 13 points at 54%, with Mitt Romney only taking 41% of the vote.  This comes with President Obama’s approval rating at 52%, while Romney’s favorability hardly compares at 41%.

When polled, Connecticut residents back Obama on all issues.  51% of residents trust Obama on issues with the economy, while only 43% trust Romney.  When it comes to foreign policy, 54% trust President Obama’s decisions, while Romney compares with only 40%.

“Connecticut looked earlier in the year like it had the potential to be a sleeper swing state,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “But Barack Obama has solidified his position over the last couple months. He won’t win it by as much as he did in 2008 but a loss now appears out of the question.”

When it comes to Mitt Romney releasing his tax returns over the past 12 years, 49% agreed that he should release this information.  However, 38% think he should not release his personal information, while 13% are unsure.

On the state level, citizens of Connecticut are a little less ‘true blue.’  Governor Dan Malloy does not have high ratings- only 32% approve compared to 51% disapprove of his job performance.  However, if there was an election today, 38% would vote Malloy back into office, while 42% would support the Republican opponent and 19% unsure.

For Senate, Richard Blumenthal is heavily supported, with 53% approving of his work and only 31% disapproving.  However, Joe Lieberman is tied with 40% approval/disapproval of his job performance. 

PPP surveyed 801 Connecticut voters from September 24 to 26. The margin of error for the survey is +/-3.5%.  This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews.

Topline results are below.  Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.

Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of President
Barack Obama’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 52%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 44%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 3%

Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Mitt Romney?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 41%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 53%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 6%

Q3 The candidates for President are Democrat
Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney. If
the election was today, who would you vote
for?
Barack Obama………………………………………… 54%
Mitt Romney……………………………………………. 41%
Undecided………………………………………………. 5%

Q4 Do you trust Barack Obama or Mitt Romney
more on the issue of the economy?
Barack Obama………………………………………… 51%
Mitt Romney……………………………………………. 43%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 6%

Q5 Do you trust Barack Obama or Mitt Romney
more on the issue of foreign policy?
Barack Obama………………………………………… 54%
Mitt Romney……………………………………………. 40%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 6%

Q6 Do you approve or disapprove of Governor
Dan Malloy’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .32%
Disapprove…………. .51%
Not sure …………….. .17%

Q7 Generally speaking, if there was an election
today, would you vote for Democrat Dan Malloy
or his Republican opponent?
Dan Malloy…………. .38%
Republican
opponent……………..42%
Not sure …………….. .19%

Q8 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Joe
Lieberman’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .40%
Disapprove…………. .40%
Not sure …………….. .21%

Q9 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator
Richard Blumenthal’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .53%
Disapprove…………. .31%
Not sure …………….. .16%

Q10 Are you familiar with comments Mitt Romney
has made about the ‘47%’, or not?
Familiar ………………………………………………….. 87%
Not familiar……………………………………………… 13%

Q11 Mitt Romney recently said, “There are 47
percent of the people who will vote for the
president no matter what. All right? There are
47 percent who are with him, who are
dependent upon government, who believe that
they are victims, who believe the government
has a responsibility to care for them, who
believe that they are entitled to health care, to
food, to housing, to you-name-it, that that’s an
entitlement. And the government should give it
to them. And they will vote for this president no
matter what…. These are people who pay no
income tax.” Do you think Romney’s comments
were appropriate or inappropriate?
Appropriate …………………………………………….. 38%
Inappropriate…………………………………………… 56%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 6%

Q12 Do these comments make you more or less
likely to vote for Mitt Romney, or do they not
make a difference?
More likely………………………………………………. 23%
Less likely ………………………………………………. 39%
No difference ………………………………………….. 36%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 2%

Q13 Do you think Mitt Romney should release his
tax returns for the last 12 years, or not?
He should……………………………………………….. 49%
He should not………………………………………….. 38%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%

Q14 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 11%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 23%
Moderate………………………………………………… 37%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 21%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 9%

Q15 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 51%
Man……………………………………………………….. 49%

Q16 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 ……………………………………………….. 43%
Republican……………………………………………… 26%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 32%

Q17 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If African-American, press 3. If other, press 4.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 13%
White …………………………………………………….. 75%
African-American …………………………………….. 7%
Other……………………………………………………… 5%

Q18 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………………………………………………….. 16%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 24%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 40%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%