FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Kevin Hill
hill@dubymcdowell.com
860.869.7239

DELAURO, COURTNEY SAFE

Incumbents breaking away from challengers

HARTFORD, CT (October 8, 2010) - Democratic U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro and Joe Courtney have comfortable leads
against their Republican opponents according to a poll released today on Connecticut’s 2nd and 3rd congressional districts.
Representative DeLauro has 58.1 percent to Republican Jerry Labriola’s 36.5 percent and Representative Courtney has 55.0 percent to
Republican Janet Peckinpaugh’s 41.3 percent.
The polls were commissioned by ctcapitolreport.com and conducted by the Merriman River Group on October 3-5, 2010. In
the 2nd congressional district, 545 voters were surveyed of which 3.7 percent are still unsure of whom they will support. There is a
margin of error of +/- 4.2 percent.
In the 3rd congressional district, 513 voters were surveyed and 5.5 percent are still unsure of whom they will support. There is
a margin of error of +/- 4.3 percent.
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“Traditionally, Connecticut’s 2nd, 4th and 5th congressional districts have been considered potential swing seats,” says the poll’s
Executive Director, Matthew Fitch. “In a year that is shaping up to be challenging for Democrats nationally, the Democratic
incumbents in the 4th and 5th are locked in tough challenges, with the 4th too close to call and the 5th leaning Republican.
“In the Second, however, Democratic incumbent Joe Courtney seems to be defying the trend, holding a secure 14-point lead
over Republican challenger Janet Peckinpaugh. Much of Courtney’s success in this poll is due to him being able to do what fellow
incumbents Himes and Murphy have not: make the race more than a straight referendum on President Obama. While supporters of
Obama back Courtney by a wide 90-8 margin, Courtney is also getting slightly over 20 percent of those voters who disapprove of, or
are unsure about, Obama’s job performance. In a district where the President’s approval rating is close to 50-50, that higher level of
support from Obama opponents is worth a five point swing in both directions and turns what could be a relatively close race into a
comfortable lead for Courtney.”
Fitch added, “Women voters don’t seem to be connecting with Peckinpaugh. She is being trounced by a 63-32 margin among
women despite holding an 8 percent lead among men. That’s bad news in a district where 55 percent of the voters on Election Day are
women.”
“The safest congressional incumbent in Connecticut this year is Rosa DeLauro,” remarked Fitch. “She enjoys a lead in excess
of 20 points and is likely to increase it given her financial advantage and strong campaigning. She is a rare Democrat this year that
leads among unaffiliated voters. She is getting 84 percent of Democrats in this Democratic district, and may be the only Congressional
candidate to break 60 percent this year.”

About CTCapitolReport.com

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CT Capitol Report is published and edited by veteran political professional Tom Dudchik. Since its launch in 2009 its readership has
grown exponentially and it is widely considered the most comprehensive website for Connecticut political news.

About Merriman River Group

With offices in Hamden, CT and Los Angeles, CA, Merriman River Group is a full service consulting organization specializing in
election supervision and administration, public opinion research, and communication services. In 2010, Merriman River Group
launched their NexGen IVR polling system, which offers professional grade polling and analysis with reduced costs and faster
completion time. NexGen IVR has been used in public and private polling from New England to Hawaii this year, with accuracy far
exceeding traditional polling methods. For more information on Merriman River Group, please visit www.merrimanriver.com.

######

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CT 2nd Congressional District

Margin of Error = 4.2%

Frequency Percent

Valid Congress:Courtney 300 55.0

Congress:Peckinpaugh 225 41.3

Congress:Unsure 20 3.7

Total 545 100.0

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Congress * Gender Crosstabulation

Gender

Gender:Not
Gender:female Gender:male Reported Total

Congress Congress:Courtney Count 192 101 7 300

% within Gender 63.0% 45.1% 43.8% 55.0%

Congress:Peckinpaugh Count 98 119 8 225

% within Gender 32.1% 53.1% 50.0% 41.3%

Congress:Unsure Count 15 4 1 20

% within Gender 4.9% 1.8% 6.3% 3.7%

Total Count 305 224 16 545

% within Gender 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

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Gender * Congress Crosstabulation

Congress

Congress:Courtney Congress:Peckinpaugh Congress:Unsure Total

Gender Gender:female Count 192 98 15 305

% within Congress 64.0% 43.6% 75.0% 56.0%

Gender:male Count 101 119 4 224

% within Congress 33.7% 52.9% 20.0% 41.1%

Gender:Not Reported Count 7 8 1 16

% within Congress 2.3% 3.6% 5.0% 2.9%

Total Count 300 225 20 545

% within Congress 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

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Congress * Party Crosstabulation

Party

1. 2. 3. 9. 99. Party:Not
Party:Democrat Party:Republican Party:Independent Party:Unsure Reported Total

Congress Congress:Courtney Count 163 30 81 4 22 300

% within Party 90.6% 21.9% 45.8% 50.0% 51.2% 55.0%

Congress:Peckinpaugh Count 17 103 83 4 18 225

% within Party 9.4% 75.2% 46.9% 50.0% 41.9% 41.3%

Congress:Unsure Count 0 4 13 0 3 20

% within Party .0% 2.9% 7.3% .0% 7.0% 3.7%

Total Count 180 137 177 8 43 545

% within Party 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

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Congress * Tea Party Crosstabulation

Tea Party

9. 99.TeaParty:Not
1. TeaParty:Yes 2. TeaParty:No TeaParty:Unsure Reported Total

Congress Congress:Courtney Count 15 254 10 21 300

% within Tea Party 15.3% 67.7% 32.3% 51.2% 55.0%

Congress:Peckinpaugh Count 80 109 19 17 225

% within Tea Party 81.6% 29.1% 61.3% 41.5% 41.3%

Congress:Unsure Count 3 12 2 3 20

% within Tea Party 3.1% 3.2% 6.5% 7.3% 3.7%

Total Count 98 375 31 41 545

% within Tea Party 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

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Congress * Obama Crosstabulation

Obama

1. 2. 3. 4.
Obama:Approve Obama:Approve Obama:Disapprove Obama:Disapprove 9.
strongly somewhat somewhat strongly Obama:Unsure Total

Congress Congress:Courtney Count 158 86 21 30 5 300

% within Obama 92.4% 85.1% 38.2% 14.5% 45.5% 55.0%

Congress:Peckinpaugh Count 11 11 33 167 3 225

% within Obama 6.4% 10.9% 60.0% 80.7% 27.3% 41.3%

Congress:Unsure Count 2 4 1 10 3 20

% within Obama 1.2% 4.0% 1.8% 4.8% 27.3% 3.7%

Total Count 171 101 55 207 11 545

% within Obama 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

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Congress * Obama_Short Crosstabulation

Obama_Short

Obama:Approve Obama:Disapprove Obama:Unsure Total

Congress Congress:Courtney Count 244 51 5 300

% within Obama_Short 89.7% 19.5% 45.5% 55.0%

Congress:Peckinpaugh Count 22 200 3 225

% within Obama_Short 8.1% 76.3% 27.3% 41.3%

Congress:Unsure Count 6 11 3 20

% within Obama_Short 2.2% 4.2% 27.3% 3.7%

Total Count 272 262 11 545

% within Obama_Short 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

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Obama * Congress Crosstabulation

Congress

Congress:Courtney Congress:Peckinpaugh Congress:Unsure Total

Obama 1. Obama:Approve strongly Count 158 11 2 171

% within Congress 52.7% 4.9% 10.0% 31.4%

2. Obama:Approve Count 86 11 4 101

somewhat
% within Congress 28.7% 4.9% 20.0% 18.5%

3. Obama:Disapprove Count 21 33 1 55
somewhat
% within Congress 7.0% 14.7% 5.0% 10.1%

4. Obama:Disapprove Count 30 167 10 207

strongly
% within Congress 10.0% 74.2% 50.0% 38.0%

9. Obama:Unsure Count 5 3 3 11

% within Congress 1.7% 1.3% 15.0% 2.0%

Total Count 300 225 20 545

% within Congress 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

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Obama_Short * Congress Crosstabulation

Congress

Congress:Courtney Congress:Peckinpaugh Congress:Unsure Total

Obama_Short Obama:Approve Count 244 22 6 272

% within Congress 81.3% 9.8% 30.0% 49.9%

Obama:Disapprove Count 51 200 11 262

% within Congress 17.0% 88.9% 55.0% 48.1%

Obama:Unsure Count 5 3 3 11

% within Congress 1.7% 1.3% 15.0% 2.0%

Total Count 300 225 20 545

% within Congress 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

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CT 3rd Congressional District

Margin of Error = 4.3%

Frequency Percent

Valid Congress:DeLauro 298 58.1

Congress:Labriola 187 36.5

Congress:Unsure 28 5.5

Total 513 100.0

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Congress * Gender Crosstabulation

Gender

Gender:Not
Gender:female Gender:male Reported Total

Congress Congress:DeLauro Count 200 91 7 298

% within Gender 63.5% 48.7% 63.6% 58.1%

Congress:Labriola Count 96 87 4 187

% within Gender 30.5% 46.5% 36.4% 36.5%

Congress:Unsure Count 19 9 0 28

% within Gender 6.0% 4.8% .0% 5.5%

Total Count 315 187 11 513

% within Gender 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

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Gender * Congress Crosstabulation

Congress

Congress:DeLauro Congress:Labriola Congress:Unsure Total

Gender Gender:female Count 200 96 19 315

% within Congress 67.1% 51.3% 67.9% 61.4%

Gender:male Count 91 87 9 187

% within Congress 30.5% 46.5% 32.1% 36.5%

Gender:Not Reported Count 7 4 0 11

% within Congress 2.3% 2.1% .0% 2.1%

Total Count 298 187 28 513

% within Congress 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

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Congress * Party Crosstabulation

Party

1. 2. 3. 9. 99. Party:Not
Party:Democrat Party:Republican Party:Independent Party:Unsure Reported Total

Congress Congress:DeLauro Count 168 22 75 4 29 298

% within Party 84.0% 20.0% 51.0% 44.4% 61.7% 58.1%

Congress:Labriola Count 25 85 64 0 13 187

% within Party 12.5% 77.3% 43.5% .0% 27.7% 36.5%

Congress:Unsure Count 7 3 8 5 5 28

% within Party 3.5% 2.7% 5.4% 55.6% 10.6% 5.5%

Total Count 200 110 147 9 47 513

% within Party 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

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Congress * Tea Party Crosstabulation

Tea Party

9. 99.TeaParty:Not
1. TeaParty:Yes 2. TeaParty:No TeaParty:Unsure Reported Total

Congress Congress:DeLauro Count 11 242 16 29 298

% within Tea Party 15.1% 70.8% 31.4% 61.7% 58.1%

Congress:Labriola Count 62 88 24 13 187

% within Tea Party 84.9% 25.7% 47.1% 27.7% 36.5%

Congress:Unsure Count 0 12 11 5 28

% within Tea Party .0% 3.5% 21.6% 10.6% 5.5%

Total Count 73 342 51 47 513

% within Tea Party 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

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Congress * Obama Crosstabulation

Obama

1. 2. 3. 4.
Obama:Approve Obama:Approve Obama:Disapprove Obama:Disapprove 9.
strongly somewhat somewhat strongly Obama:Unsure Total

Congress Congress:DeLauro Count 160 81 29 20 8 298

% within Obama 93.6% 81.0% 44.6% 12.5% 47.1% 58.1%

Congress:Labriola Count 5 15 33 134 0 187

% within Obama 2.9% 15.0% 50.8% 83.8% .0% 36.5%

Congress:Unsure Count 6 4 3 6 9 28

% within Obama 3.5% 4.0% 4.6% 3.8% 52.9% 5.5%

Total Count 171 100 65 160 17 513

% within Obama 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

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Congress * Obama_Short Crosstabulation

Obama_Short

Obama:Approve Obama:Disapprove Obama:Unsure Total

Congress Congress:DeLauro Count 241 49 8 298

% within Obama_Short 88.9% 21.8% 47.1% 58.1%

Congress:Labriola Count 20 167 0 187

% within Obama_Short 7.4% 74.2% .0% 36.5%

Congress:Unsure Count 10 9 9 28

% within Obama_Short 3.7% 4.0% 52.9% 5.5%

Total Count 271 225 17 513

% within Obama_Short 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

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Obama * Congress Crosstabulation

Congress

Congress:DeLauro Congress:Labriola Congress:Unsure Total

Obama 1. Obama:Approve strongly Count 160 5 6 171

% within Congress 53.7% 2.7% 21.4% 33.3%

2. Obama:Approve Count 81 15 4 100

somewhat
% within Congress 27.2% 8.0% 14.3% 19.5%

3. Obama:Disapprove Count 29 33 3 65
somewhat
% within Congress 9.7% 17.6% 10.7% 12.7%

4. Obama:Disapprove Count 20 134 6 160

strongly
% within Congress 6.7% 71.7% 21.4% 31.2%

9. Obama:Unsure Count 8 0 9 17

% within Congress 2.7% .0% 32.1% 3.3%

Total Count 298 187 28 513

% within Congress 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

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Obama_Short * Congress Crosstabulation

Congress

Congress:DeLauro Congress:Labriola Congress:Unsure Total

Obama_Short Obama:Approve Count 241 20 10 271

% within Congress 80.9% 10.7% 35.7% 52.8%

Obama:Disapprove Count 49 167 9 225

% within Congress 16.4% 89.3% 32.1% 43.9%

Obama:Unsure Count 8 0 9 17

% within Congress 2.7% .0% 32.1% 3.3%

Total Count 298 187 28 513

% within Congress 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

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