HAMDEN – In the stretch run to Election Day on Nov. 3, more than half (55%) of likely voters support incumbent Democrat Gov. Ned Lamont, 38% support Republican challenger Sen. Ryan Fazio, 5 percent are undecided, and 2 percent refuse to respond, according to a Quinnipiac University Connecticut poll of likely voters released today.
By a 93%-6% mark, Democrats support Lamont, while Republicans support Fazio 86%-10%. Among independents, 48% support Lamont and 42% support Fazio.
However, there is a wide gender gap with women backing Lamont, 64%-30%. Men are divided, with 44% supporting Lamont and 47% supporting Fazio.
Fifty percent of likely voters have a favorable opinion of Lamont, while 36% have an unfavorable opinion of him, and 11% haven’t heard enough about him.
Twenty-eight percent of likely voters have a favorable opinion of Fazio, while 25% have an unfavorable opinion of him, and 45% haven’t heard enough about him.
“Ned Lamont seems favored to win a third term as governor, as his opponent Ryan Fazio fights a name recognition handicap in a predominantly Democratic state,” said Doug Schwartz, associate vice president and director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.
Most important issue
When likely voters were given a list of nine issues and asked which is the most important one in deciding who to vote for in the election for governor, the cost of living (27%) and the economy (23%) top the list, followed by taxes (11%), immigration (10%), and health care (8%). No other issue reached 6%.
Job approval ratings
Fifty percent of likely voters approve of the way Lamont is handling his job as governor, while 42% disapprove.
Fifty-one percent of likely voters approve of the way Chris Murphy is handling his job as U.S. senator, while 38% disapprove.
Fifty percent of likely voters approve of the way Richard Blumenthal is handling his job as U.S. Senator, while 40% disapprove.
Twenty-eight percent of likely voters approve of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as President, while 67% disapprove.
The poll is based on the opinions of 1,288 Connecticut likely voters who were surveyed from Sept. 8-14 with a margin of error of +/- 3.8 percentage points, including the design effect.
