Pollster Scott Rasmussen shows Democratic Attorney General Richard Blumenthal leading Republican former Congressman Rob Simmons by 52%-38%, down from a 58%-32% lead in an earlier poll. That result looked a lot like Barack Obama’s 61%-38% margin in Connecticut in 2008. The more recent poll looks a lot like Rasmussen’s January 4 Massachusetts poll showing Martha Coakley leading Scott Brown 50%-41%. Brown ended up winning 52%-47% 15 days later.
We’re a lot farther from the November election today than 15 days, and Blumenthal, in his 20th year as state attorney general, is a lot more formidable candidate than Coakley, who is in her fourth year as attorney general. But this poll is further evidence that the Democratic brand is in trouble in New England and it suggests Blumenthal may have trouble converting his high job approval as attorney general into a Senate seat that seemed to be his when embattled incumbent Christopher Dodd announced his retirement.
