A statewide poll shows Greenwich businessman Tom Foley, the Republicans' 2010 gubernatorial candidate, has a large lead over his fellow GOP contenders.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, released on Tuesday, also shows Foley and Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy tied in a potential match-up. Malloy, who narrowly defeated Foley four years ago, has not announced his re-election plans.
“We have tried to be consistent in not saying much about polls because, what’s there to say? Polls come and go, numbers go up and down. The Governor always does what he thinks is best for the state and the right thing to do,” Andrew Doba, director of communications for Governor Malloy, said in a statement.
The survey of 1,878 registered voters shows 42 percent support Malloy while 42 percent support Foley. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.3 percentage points.
"Haven't we seen this movie before? A potential rematch of Gov. Dannel Malloy vs Tom Foley couldn't get any closer," poll director Douglas Schwartz said in a statement.
Schwartz said Foley dominates the other Republican candidates, who have little statewide recognition.
Thirty-six percent of the 477 Republican voters surveyed support Foley, followed by 11 percent for Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton. The sampling error is 4.5 percentage points.
