In Gov's Race, Malloy Creeps Up On Lamont

A new Quinnipiac University poll shows the Democratic race for governor tightening.  WNPR’s Jeff Cohen reports.

 

Businessman Ned Lamont now leads former Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy 45 to 40 percent.  But Malloy has continued to close the gap.  According to the poll, 14 percent of voters are undecided while 43 percent of those who had already picked a candidate said they could still change their minds.

 

Patrick Scully is a Democratic political observer who once worked as a communications director for the state senate Democrats.  He says Malloy may be behind in the numbers, but that the race is a close one.

 

“Malloy has inched closer and closer in every survey you see and he is now in my mind better than within striking distance.  It’s pretty much a dead heat.”

 

Scully also said that Malloy has something of an advantage because of his union support. 

 

“The SEIU labor unions support Malloy.  They’re the ones that will come out and vote in a summer primary.”

 

The poll shows the race for the Republican gubernatorial primary is getting closer, too.  But former Ambassador Tom Foley’s lead over Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele is still a sizeable 15 points.  Foley leads that race 41 to 26 percent.

 

But the poll has bad news for whichever Republican wins the nomination – were the election held today, the Democratic candidate would win.  Scully says he doesn’t put much stock in the general election numbers this early in the process. 

 

“November is several lifetimes away in politics from August.  So these numbers mean very little.”

 

Primary voters go to the polls on Tuesday.

 

For WNPR, I’m Jeff Cohen.