Former Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy appears to be gaining ground in his campaign for governor.

A Quinnipiac University Poll released Friday has Malloy, a Democrat, leading Republican former ambassador to Ireland Thomas Foley by a margin of 49 to 42 percent among likely voters in the state. Malloy’s lead has more than doubled in two weeks.

Poll Director Douglas Schwartz said in a statement there are still many undecided voters that could prove critical as Election Day approaches.

The poll also showed a high approval rating for outgoing Republican governor M. Jodi Rell, at 59 percent. After six years in office, Rell is not seeking re-election.