Governors' Races: GOP Ahead in Illinois and Texas, Trails in Connecticut

Here's a quick look at the latest polls in three of this year's races for governor:
Connecticut
GOP's Tom Foley Gains Ground but Still Lags Dan Malloy
Democrat Dan Malloy, the mayor of Stamford, leads Republican Tom Foley, a former ambassador, by 46 percent to 39 percent with 3 percent preferring another choice and 12 percent undecided, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll conducted Sept. 9. The margin of error is 4.5 points. In mid-August, right after Malloy upset one-time frontrunner Ned Lamont in the party's primary, he had led 48 percent to 33 percent.
Sixty-two percent see Malloy favorably and 30 percent unfavorably, with 9 percent not sure. Fifty-one percent see Foley favorably compared to 40 percent who see him unfavorably, with 9 percent not sure. But a big difference is that those who see Malloy "very" favorably number 22 percent compared to 8 percent who regard Foley "very" favorably.
Illinois
Republican Bill Brady Hits the 50-Percent-Support Mark for the First Time
Republican State Sen. Bill Brady is leading Democratic incumbent Pat Quinn by 50 percent to 37 percent with 4 percent for Green Party candidate Rich Whitney and 10 percent either undecided or preferring another choice, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll conducted Sept. 12. The margin of error is 4 points. In late August, Brady had led by 46 percent to 37 percent.
Sixty-three percent of voters disapprove of the job Quinn is doing as governor while 35 percent approve. Quinn is viewed unfavorably by 53 percent and favorably by 43 percent, with 4 percent not sure. Brady is viewed favorably by 56 percent and unfavorably by 35 percent, with 9 percent not sure.
Quinn is only getting 56 percent support from fellow Democrats compared to the 88 percent backing Brady gets from Republicans. Brady leads Quinn among unaffiliated voters by 49 percent to 16 percent, with 14 percent for Whitney and the rest undecided or preferring someone else. Rasmussen does not disclose the size of its samples by party identification.
Texas
GOP Incumbent Rick Perry Holds Modest Lead over Democrat Bill White
Republican Gov. Rick Perry leads Democrat Bill White, the former mayor of Houston, by 39 percent to 33 percent with 5 percent for Libertarian Kathie Glass, 1 percent for Green Party candidate Deb Shafto and 22 percent undecided, according to a University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll conducted Sept. 3-8. The margin of error is 3.46 points.

That's a similar margin to one found by a Public Pollicy Polling survey conducted Sept. 2-6 that had Perry ahead by 48 percent to 42 percent with 10 percent undecided.
Perry's job-approval numbers are less than impressive. Forty-two percent disapprove of the job he is doing, 40 percent approve and 16 percent neither approve or disapprove. PPP had found 50 percent disapproving compared to 39 percent who approved, with 12 percent undecided.
Follow Poll Watch on Twitter
Visit the Poll Watch Home Page and see all the latest polls in one place
Read Politics Daily's 2010 Elections Round-Up

putin Blagojevich financial regulations Tony Hayward