Republican candidate for governor Tom Foley, once substantially behind in the governor’s race, now has 42 percent to Democrat Dan Malloy’s 45 percent, making the race too close to call, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday.
This compares to a 50-41 percent Malloy lead in a Sept. 15 likely voter survey by the independent poll, conducted by live interviewers.
The poll results were the latest that show Republicans making huge inroads among voters in normally reliably-Democratic Connecticut. Republican Linda McMahon has pulled to within 3 points of Democrat Richard Blumenthal in the U.S. Senate race.
In the latest survey on the governor’s race, 12 percent of likely voters are undecided and 22 percent of voters who name a candidate say they could change their mind by Election Day. Malloy leads 86-8 percent among Democrats. Foley leads 82-9 percent among Republicans. Independent voters shift from a 42-44 percent split September 15 to 44-38 percent for Foley today. Women back the Democrat 52-34 percent while men back the Republican 49-38 percent.
Voters who say they are “angry” with state government support Foley 60 – 29 percent.
“Ever since the popular Republican Governor Jodi Rell decided not to seek reelection, Democrats have been very excited about their prospects of winning this open seat in blue Connecticut. Yet despite a bruising primary victory, Republican businessman Tom Foley has made this a very tight race with Democrat Dan Malloy,” said Quinnipiac University poll director Douglas Schwartz.