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Politics : Bush Administration's Media Manipulation--MediaGate? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Proud_Infidel who wrote (8203)	8/18/2006 10:24:21 AM
From: Proud_Infidel	Respond to of 9838

Lieberman in poll position: Double-digit deficit shows Lamont has work ahead Waterbury Republican-American ^ \| August 18, 2006 \| Paul Hughes HARTFORD -- Dark horse Ned Lamont isn't galloping to the lead, but a new poll shows him gaining on U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman. As an independent candidate, Lieberman wins against Lamont, the Democratic primary winner, and Republican Alan Schlesinger, according to a Quinnipiac University poll that was released Thursday. But Lamont cut into Lieberman's lead from a poll that was taken July 20. "He did gain on Lieberman, but I think the more important news is that Lieberman still has a double-digit lead. It is a substantial lead," said Douglas Schwartz, director of the poll. Among registered voters, Lieberman gets 49 percent of the vote, followed by Lamont with 38 percent and Schlesinger with 4 percent. Lamont gained 11 percentage points since the July poll. Lieberman gets 53 percent of likely voters, compared to 41 percent for Lamont and 4 percent for Schlesinger. "There is still time to make up this race because a quarter of voters say they could still change their mind," Schwartz said. The latest poll points to a number of issues for Lamont: his experience, his appeal outside of the Democratic Party and perceptions of his leadership qualities. "Lamont had a good month in terms of news coverage and in terms of a big primary win. And yet Lieberman is still ahead, and ahead substantially," Schwartz said. The new poll results also reinforce Schlesinger's underdog status. "Schlesinger's numbers are very poor. He has only 4 percent of the vote, and that is the kind of number you typically see for a third-party candidate like the Libertarian Party, or the Green Party, not a major party candidate," Schwartz. The poll Thursday was the first since Lamont upset Lieberman in last week's closely watched primary. "It's good to be ahead in the polls again," Lieberman said Thursday morning in Norwich. "I understand that early polling does not win campaigns. I consider myself to be behind in this race." "We have never run our campaign by polls, even when we're ahead. But we're encouraged by the movement and the opportunity we see here," said Liz Dupont-Diehl, Lamont's spokeswoman. Schlesinger downplayed his poor showing. "When people get to see me in debates and see the message I have for moderate and conservative voters, these numbers will change dramatically," he said. Lieberman's support is driven by his strong numbers among independents, and especially among Republicans. "He gets three-quarters of the Republican vote, an amazing number for the Democrat, and among independents he wins by 22 points. And Lieberman, even though he lost the Democratic primary ... he is still getting a third of the Democratic vote," Schwartz said. The war in Iraq defined the Democratic primary, and Democrats remain opposed to the war. The latest poll also found nine out of 10 Democrats disapprove of President Bush's handling of the war, and eight out of 10 disagree with Lieberman's continued support of it. Some 55 percent of likely Democratic voters who disagree with Lieberman on Iraq said they would vote against him on that issue alone. But that's not the case with Republicans and independents. "When you look at the statewide number, only about a third of voters say they would vote against Lieberman just on that issue," Schwartz said. Opinions are mixed about Lamont. Only 23 percent of voters had a favorable opinion of him. Another 27 percent had an unfavorable impression, and 17 percent said their opinion was mixed. Nearly a third said they didn't know enough to judge him. Four out of 10 voters said Lamont cares about people's problems and needs or shares their views on issues important to them. The rest didn't think so, or weren't sure. There are also questions about his qualifications.