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The Hour

Gov. Rell defending credibility after years of basking in limelight of trustworthiness

Posted on 10/18/2009 -- especially with the economy in While still relatively high when compared
HARTFORD recession. to surrounding governors, Rell’s job
By SUSAN HAIGH approval numbers have dipped in recent
Associated Press “When people are upset generally with the Quinnipiac Polls, due mostly to the state’s
state of affairs, something such as this ... it budget problems. A Sept. 16 poll showed
When M. Jodi Rell took over as governor does become more of an issue,” he said. “It 59 percent approve of how she’s handling
in 2004, replacing her former running looms larger than it would under different her job while 34 percent disapproved -- the
mate John G. Rowland after he resigned circumstances.” lowest approval number during her tenure
amid a corruption scandal, she was seen as governor. Rell’s job approval number
by many Connecticut voters as a breath of Rose said Rell has managed to deftly avoid in a July 22 poll was 65 percent; and 73
fresh ethical air. the taint of scandal for years, even when percent on May 27.
her chief of staff, M. Lisa Moody, came
Over the past five years, they’ve continued under fire in 2006 for using of her state Her all-time high was 83 percent job
to hold the Republican in high regard, Capitol office to distribute invitations to a approval in a Jan. 13, 2005 survey.
citing in statewide polls her honesty and Rell campaign fundraiser.
trustworthiness as her top attributes. Schwartz said even though Rell’s numbers
“That’s the one thing about Jodi. She have dropped somewhat, she remains in
But in recent weeks, Rell -- who has seemed to be above a lot of that in the good shape politically if she decides to
enjoyed some of the highest approval minds of many people in this state, that seek re-election in 2010.
numbers in the country among governors she was not your typical political figure,”
-- has found herself in the unusual position he said. “She’s got a good-sized cushion being
of defending her credibility. consistently in the 70s, so she can take
“This casts some doubt on that,” Rose said. a hit in the polls and still be strong,” he
“This is going at her biggest strength,” “All of a sudden, there is that sense that, added.
said Douglas Schwartz, director of the gosh, is she all that different?”
Quinnipiac University Poll. “People were Chris Healy, chairman of the state
so relieved after Rowland left office Nancy DiNardo, the chairwoman of the Republicans, said he takes Rell at her
that they felt that they had someone as state Democrats went far as to accuse Rell word and believes she was trying to get
governor they could trust.” last week of “not being truthful” about an accurate read of what’s on the public’s
the intentions behind Dautrich’s work, mind and how the state government should
Several investigations have begun into the citing inconsistencies about when Rell’s be streamlined when facing the worst
Rell administration’s hiring of a University administration rejected a proposal from deficit in Connecticut history.
of Connecticut professor to oversee a Dautrich to conduct a poll that included
two-year, $220,000 project aimed at questions about potential political rivals in He accused the Democrats, who control
streamlining state government. Democrats the 2010 election. the General Assembly by a veto-proof
say e-mails first obtained by The Day majority, of trying to deflect attention from
of New London show that at least part Rell, appearing at a flu clinic in Old what he considers their mishandling of the
of the work conducted by Professor Ken Saybrook on Friday, bristled when asked state’s budget crisis.
Dautrich, former director of the school’s to respond to DiNardo’s comments and
polling institute, was done to help the whether this controversy has led voters to “I think it’s a frustration on the
governor politically. question her honesty. Democratic front because they can’t defeat
the governor in the public’s mind,” he said.
Gary Rose, chairman of the Department of “I’m not going to comment on anything “Any whiff of controversy they’re going
Government and Politics at Sacred Heart Nancy DiNardo says,” Rell said. “I know to fan to see if it catches fire. I don’t think
University, said he believes the controversy what kind of person I am, I know what that this is going to catch fire.”
over Dautrich’s taxpayer-funded work, kind of life I lead, I know how I deal
which included a focus group that was publicly and privately and I am not going
asked questions about Rell’s leadership to let comments by the Democratic state
style besides budget issues, could hurt Rell partywoman have any influence on me
among voters. whatsoever.”

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