Blumenthal Campaign: Our Poll Numbers Still Look Really Good

Richard Blumenthal's campaign insists that despite a week's worth of highly damaging stories on his misleading of voters about his military service during the Vietnam era, the Connecticut attorney general's Senate candidacy remains in strong shape.

In a briefing with reporters on Monday, the campaign's pollster Al Quinlan relayed internal polling numbers that showed Blumenthal's job approval rating (voters who viewed him as excellent or good) at 62 percent. Meanwhile, Blumenthal's personal favorable/unfavorable rating stood at a still-strong 55 percent to 28 percent unfavorable.

The polls deserve to be digested with a strong grain of salt as they are not only internal numbers but were presented without any knowledge of methodology. That said, the study was conducted between May 19 and May 20 -- the heart of the Vietnam-related controversy -- and, as Quinlan noted, a full 91 percent of respondents said they had heard the story.

The campaign obviously is trying to use the numbers as evidence that it has emerged intact from self-created pitfalls and in strong position to win the Senate seat. Blumenthal, said Quinlan, has a "significant double-digit lead" in his race against likely Republican candidate Linda McMahon: 55-40 percent. Perhaps in a reflection of how weak the GOP field in the state truly is, Blumenthal's internal numbers have him peeling off 23 percent of the Republican vote.

"This guy has a remarkably deep connection with people. They know he's a fighter," said Quinlan. "They know he's a fighter for them... They see him as a guy who stands up for them, takes on the fights. This deep connection is what they're judging him on, not what they heard in the news last week."

Comments

[blewvelvet]

11:09 PM on 05/25/2010

The big "LAUGH" about all this is that the Republicans don't have a prayer come next mid-term elections. They keep digging themselves into a deeper hole as they show their true corporatists lies and deception. "We the People" cannot afford to have one more Republican seat occupied in the Senate. And most people ARE "awake" know this. It took a few sleepers 8 years..or until they lost their 401k, house value, mortgages, job or health to feel this..and guess what I know only two people NOT affected. The rest..90% of the others...are hurt real bad.

Republicans have been the obstructionists and antagonists against the American middle class for over 30 Years!! We will have NO progress or betterment of ANYTHING as long as they have more than 60 seats.

[booker52]

05:38 AM on 05/25/2010

Yeah lying about your non existance military service works everytime.

[jsomerville5]

09:40 AM on 05/25/2010

I smell desperation and more lies from the Blumenthal campaign. Instead of touting questionable "internal" poll numbers, he should be a man and admitted that he lied.

[TheThinkerCometh]

10:22 PM on 05/25/2010

He did, he apologized unambigiously on Monday in a statement and on video.

[Ohio5470]

10:11 AM on 05/27/2010

I worked on this poll and I am a bit surprised he fared so well. Maybe it is because he is so revered and/or because the Republicans are habitual liars of such an extreme magnitude they overwhelm a misstep, such as Blumenthol's. By, the way, the poll was done by a reputable firm and the questions were fair.

[charlietuna11]

12:55 AM on 05/25/2010

i wish i could vote a million times against this fraud and ego maniac.to even hear his name makes me angry. i am positive aipac have their team ready to strike . like lieberman, they will be able to keep the funds rolling to israel...

[JR49]

12:51 AM on 05/25/2010

If this guy is suppose to quit accordance some then what Rand Paul would have to do after last week and after it came out he received money for his campaign from Stormfront.org?

[Guscat]

06:23 AM on 05/25/2010

Blumenthal's lying about Viet Nam has nothing to do with Rand Paul.

[supertim]

12:43 AM on 05/25/2010

reality:
blumey got five draft deferrments and joined the marine reserve when he ran out of options

texas textbook version:
richard blumenthal, god fearin' american patriot, helped defend Connecticut from the advances of the godless NVA, led by Ho Chi Minh

[CabinGuy1]

12:19 AM on 05/25/2010

This guy has to be weird. Who makes up stuff like that. He also claimed to be captain of his swim team in college and he wasn't even on the team. He reminds me of Eliot Spitzer.

[AlexPC]

11:53 PM on 05/24/2010

Lying about military service FAIL

I'm a Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, and nothing can piss me off more than something like this. I'm a Democrat, but this guy is a Fake and a Liar. He had deferred 5 times during the Vietnam war.

Congrats, he now has as many war deferments as the great war leader Mr. Dick Cheney (sarcasm).

[TheThinkerCometh]

11:57 PM on 05/24/2010

He was working for the government, that's why he got those deferments. Also, you are not from CT and don't know anything about him. He has done wonderful things up there. He stood up to corporations, gave everyone a fair shake, and is a nice person. Also, he has shown up to most events honoring veterans and has helped them with VA care and housing.

Finally, that gaffe was two years ago and he said it later in the speech after making it clear he didn't serve overseas.

[charlietuna11]

01:01 AM on 05/25/2010

with liberman and blumenthal, two draft avoiders, what more do we need to know?

[jsomerville5]

08:09 AM on 05/25/2010

He didn't lie just once. So far he has been caught lying on six occasions. How on earth do you explain this lie: " I wore the uniform in Vietnam?"

[charlietuna11]

12:56 AM on 05/25/2010

perfect comparison.

[Anym]

11:39 PM on 05/24/2010

Can anybody from the state explain to me how such an obviously flawed candidate managed to make it into the nomination?

[GeoLee]

12:08 AM on 05/25/2010

Well, if some slimey lawyer tried to steal your mother's estate when she had Alzheiner's and AG Blumenthal came to your rescue and brought5 charges, you might understand. He has taken on the causes of the average Joe and Jne in Ct for years. And by the way, the NYT didnot even watch the tape of the entire speech in whihc his frist words inthe fi8ve minute speech were that although he srved durinhg the vietnam era, he did not serve in vietnam. Watch news ohter thanFOX and the NY based big three and you might know. Blumenthal has taken on the Iinsurance & Pharmaceiutical Industries and Wall Street over the years.and if he will do it in CT, he will do it in DC

[TheThinkerCometh]

12:11 AM on 05/25/2010

Yes, many people here do not know his many virtues.

[MsYellowDog]

11:37 PM on 05/24/2010

Let's face it,many of today's voters know nothing about the VietNam era, and care even less.

[Marie Russell-Barker]

11:35 PM on 05/24/2010

Let's think about how we all speak sometimes, using the word of description about ourselves, sometime one can over speak about one's self. Especially if we really wanted to do something badly and this seems to be the case here worth is the important thing here will he make a good candidate for the Senate. Can he hold the Dobbs seat this is all that actually matters to the voters. The only ones who are interested in old conversations are those who don't want Blumenthal to win the election and we know who they are!

[williamina]

11:53 PM on 05/24/2010

huh

[GeoLee]

12:09 AM on 05/25/2010

Dodd, not Dobbs.

[hippie4ever]

11:29 PM on 05/24/2010

It's another 'lessor of evils' election, I fear. Zombies and loonies stalk the land unquestioned by the mainstream media.

[charlietuna11]

01:08 AM on 05/25/2010

yes and there located in arizona and the nutmeg state.

[RodbfromNC]

11:23 PM on 05/24/2010

He had the election won. He is a good candidate with tons of education and experience. Then he has to act like he was in Vietnam. IDIOT Did he need more of a challenge? What an IDIOT. Did he shoot himself in the foot while avoiding Vietnam? It seems that the ":elected class" have a thing that attracts idiots.

[gomezrules]

11:19 PM on 05/24/2010

Well, why wouldn't a guy caught lying about military service be elected in this day and age? Heck, if Obama can get elected, anyone can! At least Blumenthal has an actual record to run on.

[hippie4ever]

11:31 PM on 05/24/2010

ah, no.

[AlexPC]

11:42 PM on 05/24/2010

Blumenthal deferred 5 times in order to avoid going to Vietnam. He finally joined the Marine Corps Reserve during the tail end of the war and would have never deployed.

[charlietuna11]

01:15 AM on 05/25/2010

had he served,i get the impression the war would have ended two years sooner. haven't you read the blogs about what a great and brave man he is? of course when one is wealthy its not uncommon to see so many similar tales.

[Avanti2]

11:10 PM on 05/24/2010

He is just an Uppity East Coast Blue Blood with a Silver Spoon in His Mouth who views himself as better than everybody else and thus would never ever lie but only misspoke.

Ya see, the word lie is not part of the Blue Blood Lingo used in the Ivy League.

[CabinGuy1]

12:20 AM on 05/25/2010

Good point. He is a nasty blowhard.

[hippie4ever]

10:41 PM on 05/24/2010

Were I a voter in this district I wouldn't vote for either the Dem or the Rethug; I'd cast a vote for the most principled third party candidate, excluding Libertarians like the Pauls of course.