Blumenthal Gains Five Points In Q-Poll,

‘McMahon Fatigue’ Cited

HAMDEN — Reversing a months-long decline in his lead in the Connecticut US Senate race, Democratic State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has opened up a 54-43 percent likely voter lead over Republican former wrestling executive Linda McMahon, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday.

This compares to a 49-46 percent Blumenthal lead in a September 28 likely voter survey by the independent Quinnipiac University poll.

In this week’s survey, three percent are undecided and seven percent of voters who name a candidate say they could change their mind by Election Day. Mr Blumenthal leads 95-4 percent among Democrats while Ms McMahon leads 87-12 percent among Republicans.

Independent voters shift from 49-44 percent for Ms McMahon September 28 to 49-44 percent for Mr Blumenthal October 13. Women back Mr Blumenthal 63-32 percent while men back Ms McMahon 52-46 percent.

“After Linda McMahon had climbed to within three points of Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, he has stopped her momentum and increased his lead by eight points in two weeks. While September wasn’t very good for Blumenthal, perhaps like Reggie Jackson, he could be called ‘Mr October,’” said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, PhD.

“Fueled by a surge in support from women, Democrats and independents, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has his best poll numbers since the start of the fall campaign,” he said. “Linda McMahon may have peaked too soon and her advertising saturation could be causing ‘McMahon fatigue.’”

“Blumenthal is running stronger among Democrats than McMahon is running among Republicans. He is winning women by an overwhelming 31-point margin, while McMahon has struggled with women throughout the campaign. They have a negative image of her, but like him by more than 2-1,” Dr Schwartz added.

“With only three weeks left in the campaign, McMahon is down by 11 points with only three percent undecided. Even if she won all the undecided, she still would fall short. This has been a very unusual election year, however, so anything is possible.”

Likely voters approve 69-26 percent of the job Mr Blumenthal is doing as attorney general and say 57-38 percent they have a favorable opinion of him.

Ms McMahon gets a split 46-46 percent favorability.

First Lady Michelle Obama gets a 56-28 percent favorability rating, but only five percent of Connecticut likely voters say her campaigning for Mr Blumenthal makes them more likely to vote for him. Another 19 percent say they are less likely and 76 percent say Michelle Obama’s involvement will not affect their vote.

Connecticut likely voters give President Barack Obama a split 47-47 percent job approval rating.