Last year some pundits argued that in Democratic-leaning Connecticut, the reelection of even a well-liked Republican incumbent like Governor Jodi Rell could not be taken for granted.

Events do have a way of upending conventional political wisdom. In Connecticut, though, Exhibit A would be the twisty Senate race. However, there are no bumps in the road yet for the Republican Rell, who now leads Democrat John DeStefano 61% to 31% (see crosstabs). For Rell, that’s an eight-point jump since our July 20 poll.

DeStefano, who won his party's primary by a whisker, attracts only a plurality of Democrats, 48%, and lags badly with most other groups. With liberals he enjoys only a one-point advantage, leading Rell 46% to 45%.

Rell is viewed favorably by 77%, and most approve of her job performance. DeStefano is viewed favorably by 49%.

President Bush is viewed as a conservative by 70% of all Connecticut voters, and at least two thirds or so of Democrats, Republicans, and unaffiliated voters. His approval rating is now at 36% in the state.

Most likely voters (56%) trust Democrats more than President Bush when it comes to stewardship of the economy; 32% trust Bush more.

Our August 9-10 survey showed that 37% of voters in the Constitution State regard the economy as the top issue affecting their vote. Iraq is mentioned second-most often (23%), followed by national security (16%). The two issues can be seen as closely related, but Democrats were more likely to name the war as their top issue (30%), Republicans to name national security (27%).

In the new poll, we lumped the war and national security as one issue when asking whom the voters trust more, the President or Congressional Democrats. Fifty-percent (52%) say the Democrats, 34% say Bush. Not surprisingly, 72% of Republicans trust Bush more, 79% of Democrats trust congressional Democrats more.

Crosstabs are available for Premium Members only.