Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd is gaining on former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons, a possible Republican challenger, and now trails 45 – 39 percent in the 2010 Senate race, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
This compares to a 50 – 34 percent Simmons lead in an April 2 poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.
In this latest survey, Simmons leads 86 – 5 percent among Republicans and 53 – 30 percent among independent voters, while Dodd takes Democrats 67 – 16 percent, up from 58 – 27 percent April 2.
Connecticut voters disapprove 53 – 38 percent of the job the Democratic incumbent is doing, compared to 58 – 33 percent April 2, his lowest approval rating ever.
Facing another possible Republican challenger, State Sen. Sam Caligiuri, Sen. Dodd gets 41 percent to Caligiuri’s 39 percent, compared to a 41 – 37 percent Republican lead April 2.
Dodd leads Connecticut businessman Merrick Alpert 44 – 24 percent in a Democratic primary while Simmons tops Caligiuri 48 – 10 percent among Republicans.
Voters say 56 – 35 percent that he has strong leadership qualities and 50 – 41 percent that he pays attention to the needs of Connecticut.
Obama, Rell, Lieberman Approval Ratings
Connecticut voters give President Barack Obama a 71 – 22 percent approval rating, unchanged from April 2.
Gov. Jodi Rell gets a 73 – 20 percent approval rating, including 68 – 23 percent among Democrats.
Sen. Joseph Lieberman gets a 46 – 44 percent split approval rating, little changed from April 2.
