Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D.

Director,
FOR RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 28, 2010

ANGRY VOTERS PUSH McMAHON CLOSER IN SENATE RACE,

QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY CONNECTICUT POLL FINDS;
BUT MOST VOTERS SAY HER ADS ARE ANNOYING
Propelled by Connecticut likely voters who say they are “angry” with government, former
wrestling executive Linda McMahon, the Republican U.S. Senate candidate, is closing in on
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, the Democrat, and now trails just 49 – 46 percent,
according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
This compares to a 51 – 45 percent Blumenthal lead in a September 14 likely voter
survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll, conducted by live
interviewers.
In today’s survey, 4 percent are undecided and 9 percent of voters who name a
candidate say they could change their mind by Election Day. Blumenthal leads 89 – 9 percent
among Democrats. McMahon leads 80 – 16 percent among Republicans. Independent voters
shift from 47 – 46 percent for Blumenthal September 14 to 49 – 44 percent for McMahon
today. In a gender reversal, women back Blumenthal 56 – 39 percent while men back
McMahon 52 – 44 percent.
The 33 percent of likely voters who say they are “angry” with the federal government
support McMahon 78 – 20 percent.
“With five weeks to go, the Connecticut Senate race is very close. Attorney General
Richard Blumenthal is ahead by only a statistically insignificant 3 points. Blumenthal has to
be concerned about Linda McMahon’s momentum. He can hear her footsteps as she closes in
on him,” said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, PhD.
“McMahon clearly is capitalizing on the anger that one-third of voters are feeling
toward the federal government.”
-more-
Quinnipiac University Poll/September 28, 2010 – page 2
“But McMahon has to be concerned that voters are still divided on her,” Dr. Schwartz
added. “There continues to be a big gender gap, as we’ve seen in other states such a New
York and Pennsylvania. Women are going with the Democrat and men are siding with the
Republican.
“Usually debates don’t make much of a difference, but in a race this close next month’s
debates could be a game changer.”
Connecticut likely voters approve 68 – 29 percent of the job Blumenthal is doing as
attorney general and have a 51 – 41 percent favorable opinion of him.
McMahon gets a split 42 – 43 percent favorability.
Connecticut likely voters disapprove 51 – 45 percent of the job President Barack
Obama is doing.
Offered four choices to describe their feelings about the federal government:
• 2 percent say enthusiastic;
• 21 percent say satisfied;
• 43 percent say dissatisfied;
• 33 percent say angry.
Of the 95 percent of Connecticut likely voters who have seen McMahon TV ads, 56
percent find them annoying and 40 percent find them informative. Among all voters, 54
percent say McMahon’s TV, radio and direct mail advertising is excessive, while 37 percent
say it is about right.
Of the 87 percent who have seen Blumenthal TV ads, 54 percent find them informative
and 42 percent find them annoying. Blumenthal’s advertising has been about right, 49 percent
say, while 33 percent say he hasn’t advertised enough and 11 percent call it excessive.
“Linda McMahon has spent about $22 million on her campaign, but is it overkill? A
majority of voters say that it has been excessive. In contrast, many Democrats feel that
Blumenthal hasn’t been doing enough on the advertising front,” Schwartz said.
“As McMahon has flooded the airwaves, many voters are saying, ‘Enough already!’”
From September 21 – 26, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,083 Connecticut likely
voters with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New
Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for
research.
For more data or RSS feed– http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-
5201, or follow us on Twitter.

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6. If the election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates
were Richard Blumenthal the Democrat and Linda McMahon the Republican, for whom would you
vote? (If undecided) If you had to choose today, would you vote for Blumenthal or
McMahon? This table includes "Leaners".

LIKELY VOTERS........................................
Angry with
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Fed GovQ32

Blumenthal 49% 16% 89% 44% 44% 56% 20%

McMahon 46 80 9 49 52 39 78
SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - - 1 1 1 1
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - - - - - - -
DK/NA 4 4 1 6 4 4 1

TREND: If the 2010 election for United States Senator were being held today, and
the candidates were Richard Blumenthal the Democrat and Linda McMahon the Republican, for
whom would you vote?

LIKELY VOTERS..
Sep 28 Sep 14
2010 2010

Blumenthal 49 51
McMahon 46 45
SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - -
DK/NA 4 3

6a. (If candidate choice q6) Is your mind made up, or do you think you might change your
mind before the election?

LIKELY VOTERS........
CAND CHOICE Q6
Tot RB LM

Made up 91% 91% 90%

Might change 9 9 9
DK/NA - - -

TREND: (If candidate choice) Is your mind made up, or do you think you might change your
mind before the election?

LIKELY VOTERS..
CAND CHOICE Q6..

Sep 28 Sep 14
2010 2010
Made up 91 89
Might change 9 11
DK/NA - -
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7. (If Blumenthal voter) Is your vote for Senator mainly for Blumenthal or against
McMahon? (*Subgroup not large enough to report)

LIKELY BLUMENTHAL VOTERS..............

Tot *Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

For Blumenthal 75% 79% 66% 74% 75%

Against McMahon 21 16 33 22 20
DK/NA 4 5 2 4 4

TREND:(If voting for Blumenthal) Is your vote for Senator mainly for Blumenthal or
against McMahon? (*subgroup not large enough to report)

LIKELY VOTERS..
Sep 28 Sep 14
2010 2010

For Blumenthal 75 73%

Against McMahon 21 22
DK/NA 4 5

8. (If McMahon voter) Is your vote for Senator mainly for McMahon or against Blumenthal?
(*Subgroup not large enough to report)

LIKELY McMAHON VOTERS.................

Tot Rep *Dem Ind Men Wom

For McMahon 52% 58% 49% 47% 58%

Against Blumenthal 44 38 47 50 34
DK/NA 5 5 5 3 7

TREND: (If voting for McMahon) Is your vote for Senator mainly for McMahon or against
Blumenthal? (*subgroup not large enough to report)

LIKELY VOTERS..
Sep 28 Sep 14
2010 2010

For McMahon 52 53
Against Blumenthal 44 42
DK/NA 5 6

9. Is your opinion of - Richard Blumenthal favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard

enough about him?

LIKELY VOTERS.........................
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Favorable 51% 22% 85% 46% 44% 58%

Unfavorable 41 71 8 45 47 34
Hvn't hrd enough 6 4 6 5 7 5
REFUSED 2 2 - 4 2 3
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TREND: Is your opinion of - Richard Blumenthal favorable, unfavorable or haven't you
heard enough about him?

LIKELY VOTERS..
Sep 28 Sep 14
2010 2010

Favorable 51 55
Unfavorable 41 39
Hvn't hrd enough 6 4
REFUSED 2 1

10. Is your opinion of - Linda McMahon favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough
about her?

LIKELY VOTERS.........................
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Favorable 42% 76% 13% 43% 46% 38%

Unfavorable 43 14 69 46 39 47
Hvn't hrd enough 14 10 18 10 14 14
REFUSED 1 1 - 1 1 1

TREND: Is your opinion of - Linda McMahon favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard
enough about her?

LIKELY VOTERS..
Sep 28 Sep 14
2010 2010

Favorable 42 45
Unfavorable 43 41
Hvn't hrd enough 14 13
REFUSED 1 1

11. Have you seen any of Linda McMahon's television advertisements for this year's
election for United States Senator?

LIKELY VOTERS.........................
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 95% 98% 95% 95% 96% 95%

No 4 2 4 5 4 4
DK/NA - - - - - -

12. (If seen ads) From what you have seen of Linda McMahon's television ads, are they
more informative or more annoying?

LIKELY VOTERS(HAVE SEEN ADS Q11)......

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Informative 40% 65% 14% 41% 43% 36%

Annoying 56 29 84 56 53 60
DK/NA 4 6 2 3 3 4
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13. Have you received any mail from Linda McMahon's campaign for United States Senator?

LIKELY VOTERS.........................
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 68% 82% 54% 72% 70% 66%

No 28 16 41 24 25 31
DK/NA 4 2 5 5 5 3

14. (If received mail) From what you have seen of Linda McMahon's campaign mailings, are
they more informative or more annoying?

LIKELY VOTERS(HAVE RECEIVED MAIL Q13).

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Informative 44% 65% 18% 41% 47% 40%

Annoying 48 27 76 52 46 52
DK/NA 8 7 7 7 7 8

15. Thinking about the McMahon campaign's amount of advertising on television, radio, and
through mail, do you think Linda McMahon's campaign advertising has been excessive, just
about right, or not enough?

LIKELY VOTERS.........................
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Excessive 54% 38% 73% 54% 49% 60%

About right 37 58 15 36 44 29
Not enough 5 3 7 4 3 7
DK/NA 4 2 4 5 4 4

16. Have you seen any of Richard Blumenthal's television advertisements for this year's
election for United States Senator?

LIKELY VOTERS.........................
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 87% 89% 86% 89% 87% 88%

No 12 10 13 10 13 11
DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1

17. (If seen ads) From what you have seen of Richard Blumenthal's television ads, are
they more informative or more annoying?

LIKELY VOTERS(HAVE SEEN ADS Q16)......

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Informative 54% 31% 78% 54% 50% 59%

Annoying 42 67 18 41 46 37
DK/NA 4 2 4 5 4 4
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18. Have you received any mail from Richard Blumenthal's campaign for United States
Senator?

LIKELY VOTERS.........................
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 30% 29% 37% 28% 28% 32%

No 64 69 57 63 66 63
DK/NA 6 3 6 9 6 5

19. (If received mail) From what you have seen of Richard Blumenthal's campaign mailings,
are they more informative or more annoying?

LIKELY VOTERS(HAVE RECEIVED MAIL Q18).

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Informative 57% 39% 77% 49% 57% 56%

Annoying 33 50 13 41 31 35
DK/NA 11 11 10 10 12 9

20. Thinking about the Blumenthal campaign's amount of advertising on television, radio,
and through mail, do you think Richard Blumenthal's campaign advertising has been
excessive, just about right, or not enough?

LIKELY VOTERS.........................
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Excessive 11% 20% 4% 11% 13% 9%

About right 49 47 47 51 49 49
Not enough 33 24 45 32 31 35
DK/NA 7 10 4 7 7 7

26. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Richard Blumenthal is handling his job as
State Attorney General?

LIKELY VOTERS.........................
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Approve 68% 47% 90% 65% 64% 72%

Disapprove 29 49 9 30 33 23
DK/NA 4 4 1 6 3 5

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Richard Blumenthal is handling his job as
State Attorney General?

LIKELY VOTERS..
Sep 28 Sep 14
2010 2010

Approve 68 70
Disapprove 29 26
DK/NA 4 4
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27. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?

LIKELY VOTERS.........................
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Approve 45% 8% 83% 38% 38% 52%

Disapprove 51 90 13 56 57 44
DK/NA 4 2 4 6 5 4

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as
President?
LIKELY VOTERS..
Sep 28 Sep 15
2010 2010

Approve 45 45
Disapprove 51 52
DK/NA 4 3

28. Is your opinion of - Bill Clinton favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough
about him?

LIKELY VOTERS.........................
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Favorable 65% 37% 93% 63% 59% 72%

Unfavorable 30 58 4 31 35 23
Hvn't hrd enough 2 1 2 3 2 2
REFUSED 3 4 1 4 3 3

29. Is your opinion of - Sarah Palin favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough
about her?

LIKELY VOTERS.........................
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Favorable 30% 53% 5% 34% 33% 26%

Unfavorable 57 26 91 52 53 63
Hvn't hrd enough 10 18 4 10 11 8
REFUSED 3 3 1 4 3 3

30. Is your opinion of - Barack Obama favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough
about him?

LIKELY VOTERS.........................
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Favorable 49% 9% 89% 43% 42% 56%

Unfavorable 48 89 9 51 55 40
Hvn't hrd enough 1 1 1 2 - 2
REFUSED 2 1 1 4 2 2
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31. Is your opinion of - the Tea Party movement favorable, unfavorable or haven't you
heard enough about it?

LIKELY VOTERS.........................
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Favorable 37% 66% 6% 41% 43% 30%

Unfavorable 37 11 68 33 31 44
Hvn't hrd enough 23 21 26 20 23 24
REFUSED 2 1 - 5 3 2

32. I am going to mention four phrases and ask you which one best describes how
you feel about the way the federal government works. Do you feel enthusiastic, satisfied
but not enthusiastic, dissatisfied but not angry, or angry?

LIKELY VOTERS.........................
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Enthusiastic 2% - 5% 1% 1% 3%
Satisfied 21 7 36 20 19 23
Dissatisfied 43 40 43 42 44 41
Angry 33 52 14 36 35 31
DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 1
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