Chris Dodd’s Approval Numbers Sink To New Lows

The hits just keep coming for Sen Chris Dodd (D-CT)… The latest Quinnipiac Poll shows his approval numbers have dropped to 33 percent and that trails both likely Republican challengers, former Congressmen Rob Simmons and state Sen. Sam Caligiuri in head to head match ups:

Dodd’s new 33 percent rating, a dip from 49 percent in a March 10 poll, is “especially devastating” considering he is a longtime incumbent Democrat in a solidly blue state, Schwartz said.

“His numbers are so poor that voters are looking for a credible alternative to him,” Schwartz said. “I’ve never seen a politician fall so far, so fast.”

Many of those surveyed were concerned over Dodd’s role in the recent flap over $165 million in bonuses that American International Group Inc. paid some of its employees while receiving billions in federal bailout money.

Dodd spokesman Bryan DeAngelis said Thursday the senator will not comment on the poll and remains “focused on his job, fighting for the people of Connecticut.”

The poll also found Dodd trails his two announced Republican challengers, former GOP Congressman Rob Simmons and Connecticut state Sen. Sam Caligiuri. It shows Simmons defeating Dodd by a margin of 50 percent to 34 percent, and Caligiuri winning 41 percent to 37 percent.

The 2010 midterm elections are still a long way off, but the internals of the poll are train wreck for Sen. Dodd… His favorability rating has sunk to a -28, with 58% of respondents having an unfavorable opinion of him versus only 30% favorable.  Fifty-four percent say that Sen. Dodd is “not honest and trustworthy,” while 52% say he doesn’t care about their problems.

If Sen. Dodd’s approval numbers don’t improve dramatically it would be political suicide for him to seek reelection and I can’t Democrat party leaders would even let him run.

Update (10:50 p.m.): Ramesh Ponnuru raises a good point over at the Corner:

Dodd’s Numbers are bad news for Republicans, aren’t they? If the Democrats get Dodd to withdraw, or someone beats him in the primary, the seat becomes much harder to take. Republicans need him bleeding but not dead.

Very true, Dodd’s sagging poll numbers are double edged sword for Republicans, they prove he’s vulnerable but if they stay the way they are there’s a good chance he’ll asked to withdraw or be beaten in primary. Which will make the seat harder to take.