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New Q Poll: Foley-Malloy Race Deadlocked As Election Day Nears

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. -- It's a dead heat in the race for governor in Connecticut with less than a week to go before Election Day, according to a new Quinnipiac University Poll released Wednesday morning. 

Tom Foley, left, and Dannel Malloy are tied up at 43 percent each  in the race for governor in the latest Quinnipiac Poll.

Tom Foley, left, and Dannel Malloy are tied up at 43 percent each in the race for governor in the latest Quinnipiac Poll.

Men and women likely voters are miles apart, leaving the Connecticut governor's race between Democratic incumbent Gov. Dannel Malloy and Republican challenger Tom Foley tied at 43 percent vs. 43 percent, according to the poll. Independent candidate Joe Visconti has 7 percent, with 6 percent undecided.

In a survey last week by the independent Quinnipiac University, Malloy had a narrow lead, with 43 percent of likely voters compared with Foley's 42 percent. 

"The Connecticut governor's race is a fight to the finish between Gov. Dannel Malloy and challenger Tom Foley - and between men and women," said Douglas Schwartz, director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. 

"Independent candidate Joe Visconti's numbers have edged slightly downward. Not a surprise given that many of his supporters told us they could change their mind. Perhaps we are beginning to see some of those more conservative minded Visconti voters shift to Foley as the election draws near," Schwartz added. 

Today, with Visconti out of the race, Foley gets 46 percent to Malloy's 45 percent. 

In the three-way match-up, independent voters go to Foley over Malloy 48 percent vs. 33 percent, with 14 percent for Visconti. 

Republicans back Foley 87 percent vs. 7 percent, with 4 percent for Visconti. Democrats go to Malloy 82 percent vs. 9 percent, with 3 percent for Visconti. 

The gender gap remains wide, as Malloy leads Foley 52 percent vs. 35 percent among women, with 5 percent for Visconti, while Foley leads Malloy 51 percent vs. 34 percent among men, with 10 percent for Visconti. 

Connecticut likely voters give Foley a split 43 percent vs. 43 percent favorability rating, while Malloy gets a negative 41 percent vs. 52 percent score. Visconti remains unknown as 75 percent of voters still don't know enough about him to form an opinion.

"Foley's favorability rating has improved. Voters now have a mixed opinion of him after viewing him negatively. Voters' views of Malloy are stable and negative," Schwartz said. 

"Will Connecticut visits by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in the final week of the campaign motivate the Democratic base to turnout in an election where they otherwise might stay home? And will that be enough to put Malloy ahead? 

"Or will New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie's appearance on behalf of Foley get Republicans fired up more?" 

From Oct. 22 to 27, Quinnipiac University surveyed 838 likely voters with a margin of error of 3.4 percentage points. 

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