In Quinnipiac’s Connecticut survey, the good news for Republicans is that the news for Obama is bad. The bad news for Republicans is that the news for Democrats is good.

Connecticut voters are divided 48 – 48 percent on President Barack Obama’s job approval, down from 53 – 44 percent approval June 15 and the president’s lowest grade ever in the state. There is a large gender gap as women approve 52 – 42 percent while men disapprove 54 – 43 percent. By a slim 49 – 46 percent, voters say the president deserves reelection.

For a heavily Democratic state, that’s pretty darn bad. But so far, no Republican candidate has closed the sale:

Among Republicans, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney leads the pack with 37 percent, followed by Texas Gov. Rick Perry with 19 percent, Minnesota U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann at 8 percent and no other candidate above 4 percent. In 2012 general election matchups, Obama tops Perry 52 – 33 percent and beats Romney 49 – 36 percent. In both races, the president carries independent voters, 45 – 33 percent over Perry and 41 – 37 percent over Romney.

What’s more, even in a national political environment that’s tough for Democrats, the Senate race appears to be an uphill climb.

Former wrestling executive Linda McMahon thumps former U.S. Rep. Chris Shays 50 – 35 percent in an early look at the 2012 Republican primary for the Connecticut U.S. Senate seat, but she trails either of two possible Democratic candidates, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. McMahon leads 54 – 37 percent among Republican men and 47 – 32 percent among women.
In the Democratic Senate primary, U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy leads former Connecticut Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz 36 – 26 percent, with 35 percent undecided, the independent Quinnipiac University poll finds. Murphy leads 43 – 25 percent among men and 31 – 26 percent among women.
In possible 2012 general election matchups:
• Murphy tops McMahon 49 – 38 percent;
• Bysiewicz beats McMahon 46 – 38 percent;
• Murphy beats Shays 43 – 37 percent;
• Shays gets 42 percent to Bysiewicz’ 40 percent.

Not yet much for a Connecticut Republican to get excited about. But it is interesting to see Obama at a 48-48 split on job approval in a state he won 60.6 percent to 38.2 percent.