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Contact:
Janice Palmer, Media Relations, (860) 486-3530
Chris Barnes, CSRA Assoc. Director (860) 919-3659
Rell still largely unknown to many state residents
Residents optimistic about how Rell will execute duties of office
Residents expect cooperation in split-party administration
Ethics reform a major priority
The latest UConn Poll was conducted by telephone with a scientific sample of 501 Connecticut residents from June 25-27, 2004. Sampling error is +/- 4.4%.
The latest UConn poll, conducted over the weekend showed that strong majorities of Connecticut residents have confidence in soon-to-be Governor Jodi Rell while saying still they don't know a lot about her. Nearly a majority (49%) of state residents say their impression of Gov. Jodi Rell is either "very" or "somewhat" favorable, though nearly as many (45%) say they do not know enough about her to say.
"The fact that the Lt. Governor is not that well known is not surprising, given the role that the office typically has in state government and the dominance of John Rowland stories in the media," said Chris Barnes, University of Connecticut pollster. "The elements of a honeymoon period are in place: the public has confidence in Jodi Rell to do the job as governor, and are certainly going to give her the benefit of the doubt as they get to know her better."
Solid majorities express confidence in Jodi Rell's abilities to effectively lead the state (70%), work well with Democrats in the State Legislature (66%) and to act ethically and responsibly as governor (77%).
"These results show both a high degree of confidence, but also high expectations of this new administration," said Barnes.
When asked what is the most important issue facing the state that Jodi Rell should deal with as governor, nearly one in five (18%) say that dealing with corruption and restoring confidence in state government should be the new governor's top priority. Taxes (16%), jobs (10%), and education (9%) are also mentioned as important issues for Rell to focus on as governor.
Ethics reform is also considered to be important by state residents, with nearly nine in ten (88%) saying that there should be "significant ethics reform" in the next legislative session.
Residents are evenly divided over just how difficult it will be for Jodi Rell to give Connecticut a new start as governor. Just over half (51%) of residents say it will be "very" or "somewhat" difficult" for her to give the state a new start, while 46% say it will be "not too" or "not at all" difficult for her to do so.
Incoming Lt. Governor and current State Senate President Kevin Sullivan, a Democrat remains largely unknown by state residents, with about two out of three (65%) saying they don't know enough about him to have either a favorable or unfavorable impression.
Connecticut residents, while not accustomed to a having a split party administration are optimistic that the new Governor and Lt. Governor will be able to work together. About three quarters of residents (74%) think Jodi Rell and Kevin Sullivan will work "very" or "somewhat" well together.
"The fact that three quarters of the state is optimistic about Rell and Sullivan working together bodes well for the new administration, because a good working relationship between the new governor and lieutenant governor is considered critical by state residents," said Barnes. "Ninety five percent of residents think it's important for this new team to work well together."
SURVEY QUESTIONS: JUNE 28, 2004
As you may know, Republican John Rowland recently announced that he will resign as Governor of Connecticut. After he resigns, Republican Lieutenant Governor Jodi Rell will become Governor of the state.
Q1. What is your overall impression of Lieutenant Governor Jodi Rell? Is it very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, very unfavorable, or don't you know enough to say?
| State Residents: | Very favorable % |
Somewhat favorable % |
Somewhat unfavorable % |
Very unfavorable % |
DK/REF % |
| June 25-27, 2004 | 20 | 29 | 5 | 3 | 45 |
| April 21-27, 2004 | 18 | 28 | 6 | 3 | 45 |
| July 14-21, 2003 | 9 | 32 | 9 | 4 | 46 |
Q2. How would you rate the job Jodi Rell is doing as Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut - excellent, good, fair, or poor?
| State Residents: | Excellent % |
Good % |
Fair % |
Poor % |
DK/REF % |
| June 25-27, 2004 | 10 | 40 | 18 | 4 | 28 |
| April 21-27, 2004 | 13 | 30 | 20 | 3 | 34 |
Q3. How much confidence do you have in Jodi Rell to effectively lead the state? Would you say you have a great deal of confidence, some confidence, a little confidence or no confidence at all?
| State Residents: | Great deal of confidence % |
Some confidence % |
A little confidence % |
No confidence at all % |
DK/ REF % |
| June 25-27, 2004 | 26 | 44 | 16 | 5 | 10 |
| April 21-27, 2004 | 21 | 43 | 16 | 4 | 16 |
Q4. How much confidence do you have in Jodi Rell to work well with the Democrats in the state legislature? Would you say you have a great deal of confidence, some confidence, a little confidence or no confidence at all?
| State Residents: | Great deal of confidence % |
Some confidence % |
A little confidence % |
No confidence at all % |
DK/ REF % |
| June 25-27, 2004 | 24 | 42 | 17 | 4 | 13 |
Q5. How much confidence do you have in Jodi Rell to act ethically and responsibly as the Governor of Connecticut? Would you say you have a great deal of confidence, some confidence, a little confidence or no confidence at all?
| State Residents: | Great deal of confidence % |
Some confidence % |
A little confidence % |
No confidence at all % |
DK/ REF % |
| June 25-27, 2004 | 44 | 33 | 10 | 5 | 8 |
Q6. How knowledgeable would you say Jodi Rell is about state politics and government? Would you say she is very informed, somewhat informed, not too informed or not at all informed?
| State Residents: | Very informed % |
Somewhat informed % |
Not too informed % |
Not at all informed % |
DK/ REF % |
| June 25-27, 2004 | 48 | 31 | 3 | 1 | 17 |
Q7. How strong of a leader would say Jodi Rell is? Would you say she is a very strong leader, a somewhat strong leader, not too strong of a leader or not at all a strong leader?
| State Residents: | Very strong leader % |
Somewhat strong leader % |
Not too strong leader % |
Not at all strong leader % |
DK/ REF % |
| June 25-27, 2004 | 16 | 49 | 9 | 4 | 23 |
Q8. How honest and trustworthy would you say Jodi Rell is? Would you say she is very honest and trustworthy, somewhat honest and trustworthy, not too honest and trustworthy or not at all honest and trustworthy?
| State Residents: | Very honest and trustworthy % |
Somewhat honest and trustworthy % |
Not too honest and trustworthy % |
Not at all honest and trustworthy % |
DK/ REF % |
| June 25-27, 2004 | 38 | 36 | 3 | 3 | 19 |
Q9. What would you say is the most important issue facing the state that Jodi Rell should deal with as Governor? (ASK OPEN-ENDED. PROBE FOR 1 MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE.)
| % | |
| Restoring confidence/integrity in state gov | 18 |
| Taxes | 16 |
| Jobs | 10 |
| Education | 9 |
| Budget | 9 |
| Economy (General) | 9 |
| Health Care | 5 |
| Transportation | 2 |
| Connecticut's cities | 1 |
| Terrorism | 1 |
| Crime | 1 |
| Iraq | * |
| Something else (SPECIFY) | 12 |
| DK/Ref. | 9 |
| (* represents a result of less than ½ of 1%) | |
Q10. As you know, Jodi Rell was Lt. Governor of Connecticut for ten years. How difficult do you think it will be for her to give Connecticut a new start as governor? Would you say:
| State Residents: | Very difficult % |
Somewhat difficult % |
Not too difficult % |
Not at all difficult % |
DK/ REF % |
| June 25-27, 2004 | 17 | 34 | 26 | 20 | 4 |
Q11. As Jodi Rell thinks about how to set up her administration, do you think she should: (READ CHOICES 1-3)
| State Residents: | Keep those people around who
she wants to continue working in her administration % |
Remove everyone who worked
in the administration under John Rowland % |
Keep everyone who worked in
the Rowland administration % |
DK/ REF % |
| June 25-27, 2004 | 69 | 20 | 8 | 3 |
Q12. Overall, how important is it to you that elected officials enact significant ethics reform in the next legislative session, would you say: (READ CHOICES 1-4)
| State Residents: | Very important % |
Somewhat important % |
Not too important % |
Not at all important % |
DK/ REF % |
| June 25-27, 2004 | 64 | 24 | 6 | 2 | 4 |
Q13. What is your overall impression of State Senate President Pro Tem Kevin Sullivan? ? Is it very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, very unfavorable, or don't you know enough to say?
| Very favorable % |
Somewhat favorable % |
Somewhat unfavorable % |
Very unfavorable % |
DK/ REF % |
|
| June 25-27, 2004 | 7 | 16 | 7 | 6 | 65 |
| July 14-21, 2003 | 5 | 18 | 8 | 4 | 65 |
IQ14. As a result of John Rowland's resignation, Republican Lieutenant Governor Jodi Rell will become Governor of Connecticut. The new Lieutenant Governor will be Kevin Sullivan, a Democrat. Connecticut will now have a Governor and Lieutenant Governor from different parties.
Q14. How important do you think it is that they work well together? Would you say it is very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not important at all?
| State Residents: | Very important % |
Somewhat important % |
Not too important % |
Not at all important % |
DK/ REF % |
| June 25-27, 2004 | 84 | 11 | 4 | 1 | * |
Q15. In general, how well do you think they WILL work together? Would you say they will work very well together, somewhat well together, not too well together, or not at all well together?
| State Residents: | Very well together % |
Somewhat well together % |
Not too well together % |
Not at all well together % |
DK/ REF % |
| June 25-27, 2004 | 19 | 55 | 9 | 3 | 15 |