Dodd:
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in Connecticut now finds Dodd attracting just 35% to 40% of the vote against three possible Republican challengers.Former GOP Congressman Rob Simmons is still his toughest opponent, leading Dodd 48% to 35%. Seven percent (7%) prefer some other candidate in this contest, and 11% are undecided. Those figures are a slight improvement for Simmons since September.
The newest Republican in the race, Linda McMahon, the ex-CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, earns 44% of the vote to Dodd’s 38%. Eight percent (8%) opt for another candidate, with nine percent (9%) not sure.
Long-shot candidate Peter Shiff, the widely-known president of Euro Pacific Capital, is essentially even with Dodd and holds a one-point edge, 40% to 39%. In their race, eight percent (8%) like some other candidate, and 14% are undecided.
Obama:
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Thursday shows that 28% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Forty percent (40%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -12
Those are the numbers listed under "strongly" approve and disapprove, but overall, the majority disapprove:
Overall, 46% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance. Fifty-three percent (53%) disapprove. These figures have been remarkably stable and the approval totals have stayed in a narrow range between 46% and 50% every day but one for more than two months
Virginia on Obamacare:
Barack Obama was the first Democratic presidential candidate in decades to carry Virginia, but that support isn’t carrying over to the president’s national health care plan.A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Virginia voters finds that 54% oppose the health care plan proposed by the president and congressional Democrats. Forty-five percent (45%) favor the plan. Those figures are similar to the national average.
Those figures include 28% who strongly favor the plan and 46% who are strongly opposed.
Using bailout funds for states:
Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 22% of Americans favor providing federal bailout funds to states with serious financial problems. Fifty-eight percent (58%) oppose giving bailout money to financially troubled states.
A second stimulus package:
On top of that, 56% of Americans oppose the passage of another economic stimulus package this year. While House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other congressional Democrats are hoping to spend more to combat unemployment, just 33% favor another stimulus plan.
Pennsylvania Senate election.
Likely Republican nominee Pat Toomey is now ahead of both Democrats who are vying to run against him next year in Pennsylvania’s 2010 race for the U.S. Senate.
Ohio:
Unemployment in Ohio has jumped to 10.5%, the state is wrestling with an $851 million budget shortfall, and Governor Ted Strickland has proposed delaying a tax cut approved in 2005. Add it all together, and it’s a tough environment for the incumbent Democratic governor who now trails his expected general election opponent by nine percentage points in an early look at the 2010 race.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in Ohio shows Republican John Kasich getting 48% of the vote while Strickland picks up just 39%. Three percent (3%) say they’d prefer a third-party candidate, and 11% are not sure who they would vote for. In September, the two men were essentially even.
All bad news for Democrats heading into the 2010 election year.
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