PPP: Malloy (D) leads by 8-points in race for Gov of CT

[WI_DEM]

Public Policy Polling's first Connecticut poll of 2014 finds Dan Malloy with an 8 point lead for reelection over Republican foe Tom Foley, 43/35. Independent Joe Visconti is polling at 9%. Visconti is largely drawing voters away from Foley- his supporters say their second choice would be Foley by a 46/27 spread. In a head to head, Malloy's advantage over Foley is 6 points at 45/39.

Malloy's had low approval numbers throughout most of his term and that hasn't changed- only 40% of voters approve of the job he's doing to 50% who disapprove. But Foley's numbers are even worse with just 34% of voters holding a favorable opinion of him to 49% with an unfavorable one. The dislike of both candidates helps to explain why Visconti is getting such a high level of support. Malloy is actually winning more Republicans (17%) than Foley is Democrats (12%) which makes it very hard for a Republican to be successful in a state where Democrats have a substantial registration advantage.

Democrats are headed for a sweep up and down the ballot in Connecticut this fall. George Jepsen leads 45/30 for Attorney General, Denise Merrill is up 42/33 for Secretary of State, Denise Nappier is up 45/37 for Treasurer, and Kevin Lembo leads 38/33 for Comptroller.

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2014/10/malloy-leads-by-8-in-connecticut-governors-race.html

[NutmegYankee]

1. That's some seriously good news.

It was reversed just a few weeks ago.

[CTyankee]

2. I'm wondering if Malloy's bet on having ads that talk about class differences is the

reason Malloy has pulled ahead. I thought the ads were devastating but it's hard for me to gauge what the average voter here is thinking.

The republicans want us to believe that "class warfare" doesn't work. Maybe Malloy's victory will shut them up.

[NutmegYankee]

3. I had a plumber fixing a leak behind a wall and we were discussing the ads.

He stated that the ads had convinced most of his family to not back Foley. Given that CT is one of the worst locations for income inequality, i think it's on a lot of peoples minds.

[CTyankee]

4. Hah, just as I thought. The repubs have known all along that this type of political ad

will resonate with the public, which is why they always say it doesn't...they want us to believe it.

Well, it may have been true once but now folks have caught on. Foley will do NOTHING for them and they know it.

[NutmegYankee]

5. Oh yeah. Foley is Another Mitt Romney.

And he's such a lackluster candidate that the only people he could possibly get (other than typical R base) are people angry over the Sandy Hook gun laws, and even on that he been so on the fence that the total nuts jobs I know are voting for Visconti. The moderate gun club folks are going with Malloy by a wide margin.

[CTyankee]

6. I thought Malloy's ad appealing to women on contraceptives and abortion issues was

chancy but CT women are pretty savvy and the state is very largely pro-choice. We have Griswold v. Connecticut to be very proud of!

[NutmegYankee]

7. This state is thankfully very pro-choice.

I volunteered as a clinic escort in Virginia and the rabid fanatics there make Conn. look like paradise in comparison.