CT: Dodd Edges Out Simmons in Poll

A new Research 2000 poll finds that Sen. Chris Dodd (D) is vulnerable in his 2010 re-election race, but his outlook is not as bleak as the recent negative headlines and controversies surrounding the Senator would indicate.

His favorable-unfavorable numbers clock in at 47-40, which is not great, but that fact that he is still in the black in the midst of all the this controversy is good news for Dodd.

When matched up against former Rep. Rob Simmons (R) (who has already announced his candidacy and started taking shots at Dodd), Dodd edges him out 45% to 40%. Simmons' favorable-unfavorable clocks in at 41-18.

When matched up against the even lesser known state Sen. Sam Caligiuri (R), Dodd trounces him 51% to 30%.

Is this great news for the Dodd camp? Absolutely not. Being under 50% as a well-entrenched and long-standing incumbent is never good news.

But with the recent intense outlash against Dodd--who has the displeasure of being the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee in a time of bank failure--Team Dodd will take any kind of lead over someone like Simmons, who led Dodd in a poll earlier this month.