Two polls released today offer mixed news for Republicans and Democrats in competitive Connecticut Senate and House races.

A new poll commissioned by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee surveying the 5th district House race showed former state Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D) had a 9-point lead over state Sen. Andrew Roraback (R). Forty-four percent of those polled said they intended to vote for Esty, while 35 percent said they would back Roraback.

The poll, obtained by Roll Call, was conducted Aug. 21-23 by the Democratic firm Global Strategy Group. The survey live interviewed 402 likely voters and the margin of error was 4.9 points.

Roll Call rates the House race as Leans Democratic.

A Quinnipiac University poll showed a more competitive Senate race to replace retiring Sen. Joe Lieberman (I). In that survey, former WWE CEO Linda McMahon (R) had a slight lead over Rep. Christopher Murphy (D), 49 percent to 46 percent.

Roll Call recently changed the rating of the Connecticut Senate race to Leans Democratic, citing the

, citing the improved campaign that the wealthy former wrestling executive is running.

On the presidential front, President Barack Obama topped presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney in the Quinnipiac survey. Fifty-two percent of respondents indicated the would vote for Obama, while 45 percent said they would back Romney.

The poll also shows that the president had a net positive rating, while Romney is slightly underwater.

The Quinnipiac poll was conducted among 1472 likely voters August 22-26. The margin of error for the live interview poll was 2.6 percent.