From the Q poll:
Men and women likely voters are miles apart, leaving the Connecticut governor’s race between Democratic incumbent Gov. Dannel Malloy and Republican challenger Tom Foley tied 43 – 43 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Independent candidate Joe Visconti has 7 percent, with 6 percent undecided.
This compares to results of an October 22 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN- uh-pe-ack) University, showing Gov. Malloy with 43 percent of likely voters to Foley’s 42 percent.
Today, with Visconti out of the race, Foley gets 46 percent to Malloy’s 45 percent.
In the three-way matchup, independent voters go to Foley over Malloy 48 – 33 percent, with 14 percent for Visconti.
Republicans back Foley 87 – 7 percent, with 4 percent for Visconti. Democrats go to Malloy 82 – 9 percent, with 3 percent for Visconti.
The gender gap remains wide, as Malloy leads Foley 52 – 35 percent among women, with 5 percent for Visconti, while Foley leads Malloy 51 – 34 percent among men, with 10 percent for Visconti.
“The Connecticut governor’s race is a fight to the finish between Gov. Dannel Malloy and challenger Tom Foley – and between men and women,” said Douglas Schwartz, PhD, director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.
“Independent candidate Joe Visconti’s numbers have edged slightly downward. Not a surprise given that many of his supporters told us they could change their mind. Perhaps we are beginning to see some of those more conservative minded Visconti voters shift to Foley as the election draws near,” Dr. Schwartz added.
Just 6 days before the election, 86 percent of Connecticut likely voters who name a candidate say their mind is made up, while 13 percent say they might change their mind. Their minds are made up, say 89 percent of Malloy voters and 90 percent of Foley backers, while 56 percent of Visconti supporters say they might change their mind.
Connecticut likely voters give Foley a split 43 – 43 percent favorability rating, while Malloy gets a negative 41 – 52 percent score. Visconti remains unknown as 75 percent of voters still don’t know enough about him to form an opinion, “Foley’s favorability rating has improved. Voters now have a mixed opinion of him after viewing him negatively. Voters’ views of Malloy are stable and negative,” Schwartz said.
“Will Connecticut visits by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in the final week of the campaign motivate the Democratic base to turn out in an election where they otherwise might stay home? And will that be enough to put Malloy ahead?
“Or will New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie’s appearance on behalf of Foley get Republicans fired up more?”
More here.
