Tom Foley, Connecticut’s Republican candidate for governor, is besting The Nutmeg State’s Democratic incumbent, Gov. Dan Malloy, according to the results of a
Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday.
Not only does Foley get overall higher marks from likely voters (he holds a 46 percent to 40 percent lead over Malloy), they also say he would do a better job handling the economy (54 percent to 37 percent) and government spending (54 percent to 36 percent). Voters named those two issues as most important for Connecticut residents.
Malloy leads with women voters – 45 percent to 38 percent – while Foley is ahead with men (54 percent to 35 percent) and independents (48 percent to 35 percent).
"In our first likely voter poll, Tom Foley has the edge but Gov. Dannel Malloy is certainly within striking distance," said Douglas Schwartz, director of the Quinnipiac University poll.
“A difficult problem for Malloy to overcome is his high negative favorability rating, as 53 percent say they have an unfavorable opinion of him, including 40 percent who say they have a strongly unfavorable opinion.
"It is tough for a well-known incumbent to change voter opinion once formed. In contrast, only 33 percent have an unfavorable opinion of Foley,” Schwartz said.
A recent ad by the Foley campaign depicts Malloy as angry,
The Hartford Courant reports.
A narrator says: "Dan Malloy is angry. His failed policies are hurting Connecticut. But why is he taking it out on others? False attacks on Tom Foley, bullying teachers, state employees, taxpayers. Dan Malloy’s arrogance and aggression hurt people.”
Foley has also taken aim at Malloy, the state’s top boss since 2011, for “one of the worst job-recovery rates in the country," according to
The Connecticut Post.
A plurality of likely Connecticut voters surveyed find Foley to be honest, trustworthy and have strong leadership qualities, according to the poll.
"Foley leads Malloy in large part because he is viewed by most voters as better able to handle pocketbook issues,” Schwartz said. “Voters think Foley is better able than Malloy to handle their top issue — the economy and jobs. Foley also has big leads on taxes and government spending, while Malloy has small leads on gun policy and education."
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