Q-Poll Agrees. McMahon Leads Murphy By 3. Wins Independents, Gains With Women. Obama Margin Narrows. Esty Beware.

A Tuesday morning Quinnipiac University poll finds Republican Senate nominee Linda McMahon leading Democrat U.S. Representative Christopher Murphy by three points, 49%-46%. The survey of 1,472 likely  Connecticut voters found reached the same result as last week’s Rasmussen poll of the too-close-to-call contest for the seat being vacated by Senator Joseph Lieberman.

McMahon enjoys a wide lead among independent voters, 55%-40%. The Greenwich Republican has closed the gap among women, trailing Murphy by only 4%.

Murphy will be discouraged to see President Barack Obama’s coattails growing shorter in blue Connecticut. The president leads opponent Mitt Romney by 7%. Obama leads 52% to 45%. That will mean trouble for Democrats hoping to hold the 5th Congressional District seat Murphy is giving up. A 7% lead statewide for Obama means Romney is running ahead in the district that extends from the northwest corner of the state to the western suburbs of Hartford. The poll signals trouble for Democrat Elizabeth Esty as he lurches to the left by hitching a ballot ride with the Working Family Parties in her race against Republican Andrew Roraback for that toss-up seat.

A couple of numbers that suggest Romney has room to improve his standing with likely voters. The economy is rated an extremely important issue by nearly 60% of likely voters. Survey respondents were asked, “Regardless of how you intend to vote, who do you think would do a better job on– the economy, Barack Obama or Mitt Romney?” Forty-nine percent said Romney, 44% Obama.