Sen. Dodd is climbing out of a popularity pit but not enough to win an election against former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons if the race were to happen today.
For the first time in six months, less than half of Connecticut voters polled said they disapprove of the job is doing.
The latest Quinnipiac University poll results show that 49 percent don’t like the job he’s doing. But, 52 percent did not like the job he was doing at the end of July.
"Sen. Christopher Dodd's approval keeps edging up, and he is bringing down his high negatives. For the first time in six months, his disapproval is under 50 percent, just barely," Poll Director Doug Schwartz said.
Still, Dodd still trails former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons, who plans to challenge Dodd in 2010, by a 44-39 percent margin. In the last survey, the margin was 48-39, in favor of Simmons.
"But the incumbent has made only slight progress against Republican front-runner Rob Simmons. About 40 percent of voters will vote for anybody but Dodd, as evidenced by their willingness to vote for Republican candidates they haven't heard of,” Schwartz said.
Dodd’s popularity troubles come from people not trusting him.
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Voters said, 51-40 percent, that the senator is not honest and trustworthy and 59 percent said their opinion of him has not changed after a Senate committee cleared Dodd of violating Senate rules in the V.I.P. mortgage deal from Countrywide.
Voters were presented with a list of names of possible challengers, including Simmons, Tom Foley, Peter Schiff and Sam Caliguiri.
But one big name was missing from the list Linda McMahon, 60, of Greenwich. The former CEO of the WWE shook up the ring this week by throwing herself in too. Along with many, many WWE fans, she also has the power to bring deep pockets to the race. She is stepping down to run and her husband, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, is assuming her duties.
Another change in the possible race is Schiff announcing on Thursday that he’s in, although his name was on the list.
What should help Dodd is his work on health care, Schwartz said, because people like President Barack Obama.
