Hi Michelle:
You said that maybe Connecticut was going to elect a Dem guv. Well, here's the latest poll.
Republican John Rowland 72%
Democrat Barbara Kennelly 24%
Kennelly expresses regrets as another
poll shows her losing badly
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) The bad news grew worse for Democratic
gubernatorial candidate Barbara Kennelly in a new poll Wednesday, and a
published report depicted the embattled challenger lashing out at her own party
and revealing her regrets about running.
A Quinnipiac College poll showed Kennelly's listless campaign against
Republican Gov. John G. Rowland continuing to defy conventional trends.
Instead of closing on the governor as Election Day looms, Kennelly remained
unable to budge his 48 percentage point lead.
Rowland continued to solidify his dominance, with most voters saying they are
pleased with life in Connecticut. They gave him high approval ratings of 76
percent, and he even remained a 36 percentage point favorite in the Hartford
area congressional seat Kennelly has held for eight terms.
Meanwhile, Kennelly was quoted by two newspapers as sounding much like a
vanquished candidate the day after an election, instead of a hopeful challenger
two weeks prior. She backed away from the comments later in the day.
In an article printed Wednesday, Kennelly told the editorial boards of The
Advocate of Stamford and the Greenwich Time that she was ''a bit naive'' when
entering the race more than a year ago.
''I was somewhat naive in thinking there was something there,'' Kennelly said
about her decision to run. ''I probably should have been more realistic about it.''
Kennelly in the article also lashed out at Democratic State Party Chairman Ed
Marcus, saying he has failed for years to raise money for candidates. Marcus
responded he has raised money for Kennelly and that he understood if she was
getting frustrated.
At an afternoon news conference Wednesday in Danbury called to criticize
Rowland's proposed cuts to public transportation, Kennelly backed away from
her statements to the newspapers. As several reporters, five local politicians
and four volunteers holding campaign signs looked on, Kennelly said she had
no regrets about running.
''What I regret is that I criticized anybody,'' she said. ''I ran for the very right
reasons: to make sure Connecticut was first again in educating all its children,
first in protecting its environment and first in having a good transportation
system.''
Kennelly, 62, said her statements came during an editorial board meeting that
went ''on and on and on,'' and that she ''learned this week you should watch
your words very carefully.''
When asked about her comments on feeling naive, Kennelly responded, ''I said
what I said.''
The poll showed that among likely voters registered voters who are following
the race, say they plan to vote and have cast ballots in the two most-recent
elections Rowland was favored by 72 percent of respondents. Kennelly was
supported by 24 percent.
A poll earlier in the month gave Rowland a 44 percentage point lead; the
difference in the new survey was within the statistical margin of error.
''The only poll I'm going to look at is Nov. 3 and I doubt you will wonder why I
say that,'' Kennelly said at the Danbury news conference.
The poll showed voters believe Rowland can better handle taxes, crime and
welfare, and even issues Kennelly has tried to adopt: education and the
environment. The two tied on health care an issue on which Kennelly has run
heavily.
Rowland said the overwhelming number of people who believe the state is
headed in the right direction show why he is so popular. But he used a sports
analogy to reiterate past comments that he fears his loyal voters may stay home.
''If you're ahead by five touchdowns there's a tendency for the leading team and
its supporters either to leave the stadium or kind of take it easy or lay back a
little bit. The team that's behind at the very least is trying to close the gap,
maintain some dignity in the race,'' said Rowland, 41.
The poll of 1,247 registered voters, including 683 likely voters, was conducted
Oct. 13-19.
The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points for
registered voters and plus or minus 3.8 percentage points for likely voters.
courant.com
Greatest margin in polling history in this state! Every time Hillary comes in the state Rowland gains 8 points. |
