The Connecticut U.S. Senate race is essentially tied up, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released on Thursday morning.
Forty eight percent of likely voters are in favor of Republican Linda McMahon, while 47 percent are for Democratic U.S. Rep. Christopher Murphy. A Quinnipiac poll released on August 28 showed McMahon with 49 percent and Murphy with 46 percent.
Fifty percent of McMahon backers said they are "very enthusiastic," while 39 percent are "somewhat enthusiastic." For Murphy, 27 percent are "very enthusiastic" and 55 percent are "somewhat enthusiastic."
"Connecticut voters like Linda McMahon more than U.S. Rep. Christopher Murphy. But the Democrat seems to be holding his own against the onslaught of negative advertising," Douglas Schwartz, director of the Quinnipiac University poll, said in a news release on the poll. "McMahon voters are much more likely to say they are very enthusiastic about their choice than Murphy voters, by about 2-1. While the horserace has barely changed, the images of both candidates have declined since August, as the campaign attacks have increased."
Schwartz said McMahon has done a good job defining Murphy, who was not well known statewide, in a negative way.
The poll also states that voters have about the same low opinion of professional wrestling and the U.S. Congress.
Of the voters Quinnipiac spoke with for the poll, 5 percent have a very positive opinion of professional wrestling, with 18 percent somewhat positive, 31 percent somewhat negative and 30 percent very negative.
Only 2 percent of voters have a very positive opinion of the U.S. Congress, with 24 percent somewhat positive, 37 percent somewhat negative and 34 percent very negative.
"There is so much that could be said about the U.S. Congress and professional wrestling, but we probably shouldn't say it," Schwartz said.
The poll also asked about the advertisements and 84 percent of voters said they have seen McMahon campaign ads "very often" or "somewhat often," compared to 64 percent for Murphy. McMahon's ads are "very effective" or "somewhat effective," 66 percent of voters say, compared to 51 percent for Murphy.
"McMahon's blanketing the airwaves with TV ads appears to be working. More voters have seen her ads than Murphy's and more voters think they are effective," Schwartz said.
