As the gun-control debate flashes in the State Legislature, Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy wins an overall 48 – 39 percent job approval rating from voters, his highest ever, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
This compares to Gov. Malloy’s split 43 – 43 percent approval in a March 6 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.
In today’s results, Democrats approve 72 – 15 percent, while disapproval is 69 – 21 percent among Republicans and 45 – 41 percent among independent voters. Women approve 51 – 33 percent while men are divided 45 – 46 percent.
Connecticut voters approve 48 – 39 percent approve of the governor’s handling of gun policy. They also approve 76 – 17 percent of Malloy’s response to the Newtown shootings and 80 – 14 percent of his response to the February blizzard. This comes on top of a 78 – 16 percent approval for his response to Hurricane Sandy.
Malloy is a strong leader in a crisis, voters say 67 – 27 percent. Voter approval on his handling of other issues is mixed:
57 – 33 percent disapprove of his handling of the state budget;
45 – 39 percent approve of his handling of education;
61 – 29 percent disapprove of his handling of taxes;
56 – 35 percent disapprove of his handling of the economy.
“Connecticut voters say Gov. Dannel Malloy is a good man to have in a crisis and give him very high grades for his response to recent crises in the state,” said Douglas Schwartz, PhD, director of the Quinnipiac University poll. “On the day-to-day issues of governing, such as budget, taxes and the economy, he gets failing grades.”
Democrats in the State Legislature get mixed grades, with 44 percent of voters approving and 46 percent disapproving. Republicans get a negative 32 – 55 percent grade from voters.
Highway Tolls
Connecticut voters oppose 58 – 39 percent putting tolls on highways in the state. But voters support tolls 57 – 40 percent if toll proceeds are used to repair the state’s roads and bridges. Additionally, voters support tolls 53 – 44 percent if proceeds are used to reduce the state gas tax.
Voters are divided 44 – 45 percent in whether they support or oppose eliminating the local car tax. They oppose eliminating the tax 77 – 18 percent if that leads to higher property taxes.
Voters oppose 65 – 31 percent allowing illegal immigrants to get drivers’ licenses.
Gun-Control
Voters support 66 – 29 percent stricter gun-control laws in Connecticut, with 70 – 27 percent support for a statewide ban on ammunition magazines with more than 10 rounds and 71 – 26 percent support for expanding the statewide ban on the sale of assault weapons.
Republicans and Democrats in the State Legislature will not be able to work together to reduce gun violence in the state, voters say 53 – 41 percent.
By a 49 – 27 percent margin, voters trust Democrats more than Republicans on gun policy, but they still are divided 48 – 47 percent on whether the governor and the State Legislature will be able to get something done to reduce gun violence this year.
“Connecticut voters by wide margins want action on gun-control, but they have less confidence that the State Legislature will deliver on this issue,” Dr. Schwartz said. “Voters trust Democrats more than Republicans on gun-control and overall they dislike Democrats less than they dislike Republicans.”
From March 7 – 10, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,144 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percentage points. Live interviewers call landlines and cell phones.
The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, and the nation as a public service and for research.
