Richard Blumenthal Takes Dive in Poll After Story About His Military Record

The revelation that Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal had told audiences he served in Vietnam when that wasn't the case has had an immediate impact on his standing in a new poll, cutting his advantage over one of his strongest potential challengers from 13 points to three.

Blumenthal had been cruising in the polls since putting on the Democratic mantle in place of Sen. Christopher Dodd, whose growing unpopularity in the state made him decided not to seek re-election.

But following the story about his military record -- Blumenthal actually stayed out of combat zones through five deferments and then getting a stateside spot in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve -- that broke in the New York Times late Monday, he found his lead over Republican Linda McMahon, the former chief executive of World Wrestling Entertainment, down to 48 percent to 45 percent with 4 percent preferring another candidate and 3 percent undecided, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll conducted May 18. The survey was taken Tuesday evening.

In early May, Blumenthal had led 52 percent to 39 percent.

The conservative website Daily Caller had reported that the McMahon campaign said it steered the Times to the Blumenthal story, but her campaign has now pulled that claim off the site.

Blumenthal still has leads of 11 and 16 points, respectively, over two other GOP contenders, former Rep. Rob Simmons and economist and commentator Peter Schiff.

Fifty-six percent of those surveyed said they had been following the story about Blumenthal's military record very closely. Fifty-three percent said the issue would be very or somewhat important in how they would vote (with 27 percent saying it would be "very" important) while 47 percent said it would not be very or at all important.

Fifty-seven percent said Blumenthal should not quit the race while 26 percent said he should, with 17 percent undecided.

Blumenthal apologized on Tuesday, saying, ""On a few occasions I have misspoken about my service, and I regret that and I take full responsibility." He added, "But I will not allow anyone to take a few misplaced words and impugn my record of service to our country."

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