As political observers dissect every jolt and twitch of Connecticut's competitive U.S. Senate race, Republican Governor Jodi Rell continues to enjoy an enviable lead in the state's relatively uneventful and unremarked gubernatorial contest.
Governor Rell now leads the Democratic nominee, New Haven Mayor John DeStefano, 60% to 32% (see crosstabs). That makes her lead a couple points lower than it was in August, a couple points higher than it was in July.
DeStefano and other Democrats have complained lately about certain reported contributions to the Rell campaign. The donations were not illegal, but the critics say that the Governor's willingness to accept them contradicts promises she made not to take money from lobbyists or firms with state contracts. The Rell campaign counters that the charges of hypocrisy amount to a tempest in a teapot.
This latest quarrel is too recent to have any impact on our September poll. In any case, the Governor continues to be extremely well liked, with 75% viewing her favorably, 40% "very favorably." Her job approval numbers are virtually identical.
Only 14% of likely voters view DeStefano "very favorably," the same percentage who don't know him well enough to hazard an opinion of him. He is viewed "very unfavorably" by 17%.
Governor Rell's campaign is surging apace despite a climate generally favorable to Democrats on most issues.
About three fourths of likely voters say they discuss politics and current events at least once a week. More than half do so several times a week or daily.

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