Malloy opens a 7 point poll lead

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dan Malloy opened a 7-percentage point lead over Republican Tom Foley in a Quinnipiac University poll released today, although just 18 days before the election a large share of voters say they are undecided or could change their minds.

The poll shows the former Stamford mayor ahead of the Greenwich businessman among likely voters, 49 percent to 42 percent--more than double his lead two weeks ago.

But seven percent are undecided in a still-volatile contest, and one-fifth of voters say they still could change their minds in the last two-plus weeks of a campaign marked by heavy negative ads attacking the truthfulness of each candidate.

"After the debates and the latest ads, both candidates are better known, but Malloy is better liked," said Douglas Schwartz, the poll's director. "Both candidates have been on the attack, yet interestingly neither candidate's overall image has been damaged."

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