Round-Up of Governor, Senate Races in 10 States

The weekly Fox News/Pulse Opinion Research polls, all conducted Oct. 2, rounds up Senate and governor races in Connecticut, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio and West Virginia. For a quick summary of surveys by other pollsters released Tuesday, go to the bottom of the page.

Fox's Connecticut poll falls in line with some other recent surveys showing Democrat Richard Blumenthal still holding off Republican Linda McMahon, despite some polls that had shown the race growing close. The other poll of note is in West Virginia showing Republican John Raese unexpectedly ahead of popular Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin.

The results of the Senate races in Missouri, Nevada and Ohio are pretty consistent with other polls, showing Missouri Republican Roy Blunt and Ohio Republican Rob Portman in the lead, while Harry Reid and Sharron Angle remain knotted up in Nevada. Same is true for the Ohio governor race which, like a Quinnipiac poll today, had Republican John Kasich in the lead.

The margin of error for all of the Fox polls is 3 points. To see the polls themselves, click on the state names.

Connecticut

Blumenthal is leading McMahon by 52 percent to 42 percent, with 3 percent preferring some other candidate and 4 percent undecided. Eighty-six percent of McMahon supporters and 90 percent of Blumenthal backers say their minds are made up. Fifty-one percent see McMahon unfavorably while 40 percent regard her favorably, with the remainder not sure or not having heard of her. Fifty-five percent view Blumenthal favorably compared to 37 percent who view him unfavorably, with the remainder not sure or not having heard of him.


Thirty-eight percent do not view McMahon as honest and trustworthy, while 36 percent do, with 26 percent not sure. Forty-eight percent believe Blumenthal is honest and trustworthy, while 35 percent do not, with 17 percent not sure.

In the governor's race, Democrat Dan Malloy leads Republican Tom Foley 47 percent to 41 percent, with 2 percent preferring some other candidate and 9 percent undecided.

Missouri

Blunt is leading Democrat Robin Carnahan in the Senate race by 50 percent to 42 percent, with 5 percent preferring someone else and 3 percent undecided. The contest is for the seat being given up by the GOP's Kit Bond. About 9 in 10 voters in each camp say their minds are made up.

Forty-four percent see Blunt unfavorably while 41 percent regard him favorably, with 13 percent not sure of their opinion. Fifty-two percent view Carnahan unfavorably and 43 percent see her favorably, with 5 percent not sure.

Fifty-three percent say Carnahan agrees with President Obama on the issues too often.

Nevada

Angle leads Reid by 49 percent to 46 percent, with 4 percent preferring some other candidate and 1 percent liking neither. Last week, Angle led by one point. Fifty-six percent disapprove of the job Reid is doing as senator while 42 percent approve, with 2 percent undecided.

Both candidates have a negative image with voters. Fifty-three percent see Angle unfavorably while 39 percent view her favorably, with the rest undecided or not knowing enough about her. Fifty-five percent see Reid unfavorably while 44 percent regard him favorably.

Thirty percent say their vote will be meant to express support for the Tea Party, which was Angle's key to the GOP nomination. Twenty-seven percent say they will vote to express opposition to the Tea Party. Thirty-six percent say the Tea Party is not a factor and 7 percent are undecided.

Fifty-six percent believe Reid has been in the Senate too long and 53 percent consider Angle's position on the issues to be too extreme.

Ohio

Portman is leading Democrat Lee Fisher 53 percent to 37 percent, with 2 percent preferring some other candidate and 8 percent undecided. Portman is seen favorably by 48 percent and unfavorably by 25 percent, with 13 percent saying they never heard of him and 13 percent not sure of their opinion. Fisher is seen unfavorably by 44 percent and favorably by 30 percent with 10 percent not having heard of him and 16 percent unsure.

In the governor's race, Kasich leads Democratic incumbent Ted Strickland by 49 percent to 43 percent, with 2 percent preferring another candidate and 5 percent undecided. (The Quinnipiac University poll released today had Kasich ahead 50 percent to 41 percent). Kasich is seen favorably by 45 percent and unfavorably by 35 percent, with 6 percent who say they never heard of him and 13 percent not sure of their opinion. Strickland is seen unfavorably by 49 percent and favorably by 42 percent with 8 percent not sure. Eight out of 10 voters in each camp says their minds are made up.

West Virginia

Raese leads Manchin by 48 percent to 43 percent in the race to fill the seat of the late Sen. Robert Byrd. Eighty percent of Raese voters say their minds are made up as do 85 percent of Manchin supporters.

Two-thirds of voters approve of the job Manchin is doing as governor and about as many regard him favorably. But the poll indicates Manchin is being hurt by Obama's unpopularity, with 60 percent saying their choice of Raese is meant as a signal of opposition to administration policies. About two-thirds of voters disapprove of the job Obama is doing.

Quick Rundown of Other Polls:

California: Democrat Barbara Boxer leads Republican Carly Fiorina by 49 percent to 45 percent with 5 percent undecided. (Rasmussen Reports, Oct. 3).

Illinois: Republican Mark Kirk leads Democrat Alexi Giannoulias 45 percent to 41 percent with 9 percent preferring other candidates and 6 percent undecided. (Rasmussen Reports, Oct. 4).

Maryland: Democrat Martin O'Malley leads Republican Robert Ehrlich 49 percent to 41 percent with 8 percent undecided. (Rasmussen Reports, Oct. 4).

New York: Democrat Andrew Cuomo leads Republican Carl Paladino in the governor's race by 53 percent to 38 percent with 8 percent undecided. (Public Policy Polling, Oct. 1-3).

Pennsylvania: Republican Pat Toomey leads Democrat Joe Sestak by 45 percent to 38 percent in the Senate Race. Republican Tom Corbett leads Democrat Dan Onorato 47 percent to 36 percent in the governor's race. (Allentown Morning Call/Muhlenberg College, Sept. 28-Oct. 4)

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