(CNN) - The new Democratic Senate candidate in Connecticut has large leads over his Republican opponents in the battle to replace retiring Sen. Chris Dodd, according to a new poll.
A Quinnipiac University survey of registered voters in Connecticut indicates that state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal leads former Rep. Rob Simmons 62 to 27 percent, former professional wrestling executive Linda McMahon 64 to 23 percent and businessman Peter Schiff 66 to 19 percent in hypothetical general election matchups.
Blumenthal, Connecticut's attorney general for the past two decades, announced his candidacy on January 6, a couple of hours after fellow Democrat Dodd, a five term senator, announced he would not run for re-election this November. Dodd had been considered one of the most vulnerable Democrats seeking-re-election in 2010. The Quinnipiac poll was conducted January 8-12.
In the general election match-ups, the survey indicates Blumenthal is grabbing the support 9 out of 10 Democratic voters, around 6 out of 10 independents and around a third of Republican voters.
Thirty-seven percent of Republicans questioned in the poll say they back Simmons in a GOP primary, with 27 percent supporting McMahon and 4 percent backing Schiff. Blumenthal leads Merrick Alpert 82 to 4 percent in a Democratic primary matchup.
According to the survey, 84 percent of Connecticut voters approve of the job Blumenthal's doing in office.
"Attorney General Richard Blumenthal's job approval is unbelievably high, higher than any other politician we've ever measured, other than former President George W. Bush after 9/11," says Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz.
It's a different story for Sen. Joe Lieberman. Fifty-four percent of people questioned disapprove of the job the Independent senator's doing in office, up 10 points from November. Thirty-nine percent approve, down 10 points from November.
The survey indicates that 58 percent disapprove of the job Dodd's doing in office, with 36 percent giving him a thumbs up. President Barack Obama's approval rating stands at 55 percent, his lowest level in Quinnipiac polling in Connecticut.
The Quinnipiac University survey was conducted by telephone, with 1,430 people questioned. The poll's overall sampling error is plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.
From CNN Politics
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Whoever Blumenthal is running up against might as well give it up now. This is a no contest.
Yeah the con takeover of Congress looks to be over hyped and more of just wishful thinking on the part of the cons.
follow the money; AIPAC loves these guys..but the media will not do a special report showing the public whos' buying our poiticians..why, the same people own the media..simple..
Unbelievable. Connecticut will again prove to be pets of the government. They should get educated. Glad I don't live there.
Good news!
We will not let Republicans take over again and ruin this country. Democrats are just getting started in fixing the multitude of problems created by Republicans and Bush. By 2012, we will have accomplished so much that the Republicans will use Sarah Palin as their sacrificial lamb. Good luck finding a man who will be willing to stand in her shadow, though!
so much for getting this seat reps, haha
Go, Bluemnthal !
Go, go, DEMS! I am always impressed the way you play your cards right!
Blumenthal has a long history of fighting for the "little guy". Consumer advocate type stuff.
As such he would be a throwback to what a Senator is really suppose to be ... someone that advances the will of the people. ... the common citizen. Connecticut could do a whole lot worse than to have him as it's Senator provided he holds on to that tradition.
I'm sure the coporate interests will be quaking in their boots at the prospect of him joining the club of 100 in the US Senate.
Now all they need to do is pop that guy Lieberman and get him out of there. He has been far too disrespectful to the Democratic caucus.
LOL...I guess that GOPer talking point about Dodd's situation showing that even Dems were "jumping ship" was as accurate as trickle-down economics, eh? Or how about the claim that all elections from 2009-2012 will reflect how much "everyone" hates Obama and the Dems? Here's some advice "my friends": Rush Limbaugh is a bloviating moron. Stick a microphone in front of a sick pig's anus and you'll get better political analysis.
These blue states are to stupid to wake up and smell the roses.
Connecticut, where I lived briefly and often go to work, is highly sophisticated, fosters a strong work ethic, and is "progressive" in the good sense of that word, not in the new-DC sense of "progressive," which to the President, Ms. Pelosi, et al, appears to mean "spread the wealth around EQUALLY THINLY."
An old-fashioned Democrat, by which I mean resembling FDR, Harry Truman, or JFK, might be an excellent choice for Connecticut.
If he can represent his state well, then he should be voted into office. What record can the other candidates show that would make them good people to have in the Senate?
Maybe......but then it is, after all, a Dem state.
Too bad Lieberman isn't up for reelection. I'm confident the people of Connecticut have had it up to their ears with that sleaze ball.
Now that is what I am talking about! New strong Democrats replacing old washed up ones. The party is only going to get stronger. And the GOP thought they were going to steal this seat when Dodd announced retirement.
In your dreams, we are only going to get stronger!! Go Dems!!
If 36% of Connecticut voters approve of Dodd's incompetence, then the chances are that they will vote in another liberal clown. Dodd (and MA's Barney Frank) were two officials directly responsible for the housing crash that has destroyed our economy. Had Dodd and Frank done their jobs, the economy wouldn't have been hit nearly has hard (and they were warned 17 times going back as far as 2003).
Blumenthal is just another lifetime politician/lawyer that no real private sector experience. If we want to get back on economic solid ground, we should be looking for reps that know about 'main street'. Vote for Peter Schiff or Simmons, somebody that can help the economy.
Luckily, the election is still miles away.
Get ready for the high pitched wails from the right, droning that CNN and the "librul" media is "in the tank" for Blumenthal. Good times, good times.
Wow, a democrat is actually winning an election!