Dodd Losing Ground in His Race for Re-Election

Connecticut voters disapprove of the job Dodd is doing by 54 percent to 40 percent with 6 percent undecided. That disapproval ratio stood as high as 58 percent to 33 percent last April, but came down to 49 percent to 43 percent in September before moving back up. Voters say by 53 percent to 39 percent with 8 percent undecided that Dodd does not deserve re-election.

"After inching up in the polls for months, Sen. Christopher Dodd is sliding back down again on job approval," said Quinnipiac's Douglas Schwartz. "He continues to struggle with independent voters, as 60 percent disapprove of the way he is handling his job."

President Obama was in Connecticut in October to speak at a fundraiser for Dodd. Although Obama is still popular in the state, 75 percent of those surveyed say his support for Dodd makes no difference to them.

Former Rep. Rob Simmons, who tops the Republican pack for the party's nomination in the poll, leads Dodd by 49 percent to 38 percent with 11 percent undecided.

Linda McMahon, the former chief executive of World Wrestling Entertainment, is statistically tied with Dodd, leading him 43 percent to 41 percent with 14 percent undecided. The margin of error is 2.8 points.

McMahon trails Simmons in the poll for the GOP nomination, with Simmons at 28 percent while she draws 17 percent.

Three others -- state Sen. Sam Caligiuri, businessman Tom Foley and economist and commentator Peter Schiff -- are all in the single digits in the Republican race. However, even though 74 percent or more of voters do not know enough about any of them to have a favorable or unfavorably opinion, they all do well when matched up with Dodd, who is serving his fifth term.

Caligiuri is tied with Dodd at 42 percent each with 14 percent undecided. Foley leads Dodd, 47 percent to 40 percent with 13 percent undecided. Dodd leads Schiff by 42 percent to 41 percent with 15 percent undecided.