Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd faces new problems in his bid for a new Senate term next year: By a 53-39 percent margin, Connecticut voters do not think he deserves re-elecction.

Those are among the findings of a Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday. The poll of 1,236 Connecticut voters was conducted Nov. 3-8, and margin of error is plus or minus 2.8 percentage points.

It found Dodd trailing former Rep. Rob Simmons, a Republican, by 49-38. He would also lose to former World Wrestling Entertainment executive Linda McMahon, 43-41.

Dodd has been a leading figure in crafting health care and banking system overhaul legislation this year.

But, said poll director Douglas Schwartz in a statement, "Healthcare is an issue that should work for Sen. Dodd. Voters who tell us it's the most important issue side with him. But voters who care most about the economy say the Republican candidate will be better able to deal with it. If the economy worsens, this will hurt Dodd."

Simmons leads GOP primary candidates with 28 percent; McMahon has 17 percent.

Here's the poll: http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1296.xml?ReleaseID=1395