Yankee Institutes for Public Policy Reports: President Barack Obama leads Mitt Romney, 50-37%, among Connecticut voters, and would defeat Newt Gingrich by an even larger margin, 56-35%, according to a new Yankee Institute poll. Gingrich is weighed down by an unfavorable image. More than twice as many voters think unfavorably of Gingrich (63%) as view him favorably (28%).
In the U.S. Senate race, Democratic Congressman Chris Murphy holds a 49-40% lead over Linda McMahon and a smaller 45-39% advantage over Chris Shays. Susan Bysiewicz edges McMahon, 43-40%, but Shays holds a slight lead over Bysiewicz, 42-41%, should they both become their party’s nominees in the general election.
Governor Malloy’s approval and re-elect numbers have improved somewhat since the end of the last legislative session, though he continues to be the least popular elected Democrat in Connecticut. Governor Malloy’s approval rating is 51 % and his net approval rating is positive by five points (51/46), a net improvement of 19 points compared to June of last year, when it was 42/56 percent. Gov. Malloy’s re-elect number is 47%, up 8 points but still below the 50% mark incumbents like to see. Gov. Malloy’s job approval rating trailed those of other Democrats:
• Senator Richard Blumenthal: 62% approve, 31% disapprove (net +31)
• Senator Joe Lieberman: 53% approve, 43% disapprove (net +10)
• President Barack Obama: 53% approve, 44% disapprove (net +9)
• Governor Dannel Malloy: 51% approve, 46% disapprove (net +5)
