Latest Quinnipiac Poll Shows McMahon Gaining On Blumenthal

HAMDEN — Former wrestling executive Linda McMahon is inching up on Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and now trails the Democrat 55–35 percent in the US Senate race, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday, June 10.

This compares to a 56–31 percent Mr Blumenthal lead over Ms McMahon in a May 27 survey by the independent Quinnipiac University.

Mr Blumenthal tops former US Representative Rob Simmons, who has suspended his bid for the GOP nomination but who remains on the ballot, by a similar 54–33 percent margin, and beats businessman Peter Schiff 56–29 percent.

Ms McMahon leads the Republican primary for US Senate with 45 percent, followed by Mr Simmons with 29 percent and Mr Schiff with 13 percent, with 12 percent undecided.

By a narrow 38–35 percent margin, Connecticut voters have a favorable opinion of Ms McMahon, compared to a negative 32–39 percent favorability May 27.

“Three weeks after the Vietnam flap, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has lost a little more ground to Linda McMahon, but he still has a comfortable lead,” said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, PhD. “Prior to the Vietnam controversy, Blumenthal led by 33 points. A week after the controversy, his lead was 25 points. Now it’s down to 20 points.

“In primaries across the country this week, Republican women soared. Can McMahon do the same in Connecticut?” Dr Schwartz asked hypothetically during a press conference announcing the poll results. “Like those who won on Tuesday night, she is a successful business woman running as an outsider. One difference, however, is that Connecticut voters have a negative view of the WWE and say that her experience as the World Wrestling Entertainment CEO makes them less likely to vote for her by about two-to-one margins. But McMahon must feel good that she has reversed her negative favorability rating.”

Dr Schwartz added that Mr Blumenthal, meanwhile, still has a 73–22 percent job approval, the best score in Connecticut.

Connecticut voters say 52–34 percent that Ms McMahon does not have the right kind of experience to be a US Senator. Voters have a negative 22–43 percent opinion of professional wrestling and say 36–16 percent that Ms McMahon’s role as CEO of WWE makes them less likely to vote for her, while 44 percent say this will not affect their vote.

Because of his statements concerning his military service in the Vietnam era, voters say 33–3 percent that they are less likely to vote for Mr Blumenthal, but 61 percent say this does not make a difference, identical to the May 27 survey findings.

“The Gulf oil spill washed the Vietnam flap out of the headlines, at least for now, possibly limiting the political damage for Blumenthal,” Dr Schwartz said.

Governor’s Primaries

In the Republican primary for governor, former ambassador Tom Foley has 39 percent, followed by Lieutenant Governor Mike Fedele with 12 percent and businessman Oz Griebel with 2 percent. Another 44 percent of Republicans are undecided and the percentage of voters who don’t know enough about the candidates to form an opinion ranges from 52 percent to 89 percent.

Former Senate candidate Ned Lamont leads in the Democratic primary for governor with 39 percent, with 22 percent for former Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy and 36 percent undecided. Mr Lamont gets a 43–9 percent favorability among Democrats, with 46 percent who have not heard enough to form an opinion. For Mayor Malloy, 68 percent have not heard enough.

“Little or no movement in either primary for governor, as the best known candidates, Tom Foley and Ned Lamont, continue to enjoy double digit leads. But with two months until the primaries, and the large undecided, there is still plenty of room for movement,” Dr Schwartz said.

From June 2 to 8, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,350 Connecticut registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points. The survey includes 500 Democrats with a margin of error of +/- 4.4 percentage points and 343 Republicans with a margin of error of +/- 5.3 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research.