Connecticut Gov. John Rowland, previously thought unbeatable, is seeing his lofty lead in the race erode. The sinking economy, which has hammered nearly every sitting governor, is taking its toll on Rowland, who has seen his lead shring from 28 points in late May to 17 points today.

Rowland is still above the critical 50 percent line, so he's still the probably winner of the race. However, poll results indicate this may become far more competitive by the time November rolls around. Bush's approval ratings in the state have plunged to 59 percent, while Rowland's approval ratings have dropped to 1996 levels. Also, the number of Connecticut residents who approve of “the way things are going in Connecticut today" is dipping.

If Republicans face competitive races in places like CT, a state with a popular GOP governor, their prospects in November may be far worse than hoped.