Poll: U.S. Sen. Blumenthal leads by 13 points over Republican Leora Levy

Two-term Democrat Richard Blumenthal leads Greenwich fundraiser Leora Levy by 13 points in their battle for the U.S. Senate, according to the latest poll.

A survey by WTNH/The Hill/Emerson College Polling shows 10.5% still undecided with less than two months before the Nov. 8 election. Another 4.7% said they would choose “someone else’' without specifying any candidates.

Blumenthal, 76, holds a wide lead among women at 53.3% to 28.7%.

He also holds a major fundraising advantage, based on the latest public filings. After spending heavily to win the primary, Levy had only $285,000 in cash on hand as of September 6. That compared to more than $8 million for Blumenthal, who is still raising money at a steady pace through e-mails to his supporters. He has been embarking on an advertising blitz recently on multiple television stations, while Levy has dropped off sharply from her heavy advertising pace before the primary.

While Blumenthal has high name recognition and a double digit lead in a blue state where he has won seven statewide elections since 1990, Levy downplayed the Democrat’s lead.

“Dick Blumenthal has spent almost $3 million on advertising since the last Emerson College poll, and all he got for his trouble was losing three points in a poll that’s got 16 points more Democrats than Republicans. Not great!’' said Levy campaign spokesman Tim Saler. “Meanwhile, Leora has a 9-point advantage among independents and Blumenthal is unfavorable by 5. When voters learn about Blumenthal’s support for the open borders that allow fentanyl to flood into our communities, and his three votes against protecting our tax dollars from going to illegal immigrants, it will only get worse for Dick.”

Blumenthal has declined to comment recently on polling, and his campaign aides did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Blumenthal and other Democrats have talked repeatedly about abortion since the U.S. Supreme Court overruled the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling and said that all 50 states should decide abortion regulations on a state-by-state basis. But abortion did not rank at the top among issues for those polled.

When asked which issue is “the most important in determining” how they will vote in November, 40% chose the economy, which includes jobs, inflation, and taxes. Nearly 15% chose “threats to democracy,’' while another 10% chose health care. Overall, 7.3% chose abortion.

The survey of 1,000 self-described likely voters has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points - meaning that Blumenthal could be ahead by 10 to 16 points.

Levy increased her name recognition by scoring an upset victory in August against former House Republican leader Themis Klarides, a state legislator for 22 years who had won nearly 60% of the delegates at the state party convention. She surprised many political insiders after former President Donald J. Trump publicly endorsed her by telephone at a Republican gathering in Montville, and she went on to sweep 134 of the state’s 169 municipalities in a stunning victory.

Regarding Blumenthal’s large fundraising edge, Saler said, “There’s not enough money in the world to cover up Dick Blumenthal’s support for open borders.’'

In order to catch up in the money race, Levy is hosting two Republicans in the next five days in her hometown of Greenwich. Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel will headline a fundraising luncheon Wednesday with a top price of $2,900 per person, and U.S. Sen. Rick Scott will be arriving Sunday. Scott is a key figure who chairs the committee attempting to gain back the U.S. Senate for Republicans.

The top price for the Scott event is $25,000 for a private dinner in the famed “backcountry’' section of Greenwich at the sprawling, 10-acre estate of Linda McMahon, who spent $50 million before losing in 2010 to Blumenthal. Scott will also attend an earlier reception at another home, at $5,000 per person, in the upscale Rock Ridge section within walking distance of the home of Gov. Ned Lamont.

Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@courant.com