Democrat Richard Blumenthal now leads Republican Linda McMahon by just five points in Connecticut’s race for the U.S. Senate in a survey conducted two nights after their third and final head-to-head debate.
The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Voters shows Blumenthal, Connecticut’s longtime attorney general, picking up 51% of the vote. McMahon, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, earns the vote from 46%. One percent (1%) prefer some other candidate, while three percent (3%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The latest numbers move the race from Solid Democrat to Leans Democrat in the Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 Senate Balance of Power rankings.
Just over a week ago, Blumenthal opened a 54% to 43% lead over McMahon the night after their first debate. While the race was closer in several surveys since January, Blumenthal has always held the lead. In 13 surveys this year, the Democrat has drawn 47% to 60% of the vote. McMahon has picked up 31% to 46% support during that same period.
The polling in this race is volatile but considering that Rasmussen shows the race tightening over the last week, I will take this as a sign of movement towards McMahon. This race is one that many were starting to write off and it still may be a long shot. There is ample reason to be hopeful, however. Blumenthal is truly an awful candidate. His awful response to McMahon's question, "how do you create a job" should have been the kiss of death in this economic environment. This is CT though and Connecticut voters seem to have a high tolerance for Blumenthal and his propensity to "misspeak." So egregious have been Blumenthal's outright deceptions on his military record, or lack thereof, that even noted lefty loons like Chris Matthews find him tough to like. Maybe CT voters are starting to second guess him as well.
Tweet
