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Poll: New Yorkers Would Rather Have Spitzer As Governor Over Paterson
The latest Marist Poll is a mixed bag for Gov. David Paterson (D-NY). It's partly bad news -- and partly really bad news.
This number must really hurt: When New York's registered voters are asked whether they would rather have Eliot Spitzer or David Paterson as governor, it's Spitzer 51%, Paterson 38%.
The horse-race numbers are also a sight to behold. In a primary with state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, the current leader is Cuomo by a 70%-21% margin. Paterson trails in a general election match-up with Rudy Giuliani by a 56%-32% margin, and trails former GOP Rep. Rick Lazio by 40%-37%. By contrast, Cuomo leads Rudy by 55%-38%, and swamps Lazio by 67%-22%.
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Josh
Matt
Eric
Not being from NY, can someone who is explain why people dislike Patterson so much? I know he got a lot of bad press over the Senate appointment, but is there anything else that's behind these number?
May 4, 2009 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
I live in NY and I've seen quite a few commercials from the unions blasting Paterson for the cuts in the budget that he has made - healthcare, education, etc. We are also unhappy about possible MTA fare hikes and tax hikes. Whether he is to blame for all our problems or not, NYers just don't see strong leadership from him.
May 4, 2009 10:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the insight!
May 4, 2009 11:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Living in NY, I have the same question. There seems to be a campaign of drips of bad, mostly inconsequential press for him. The latest, on Friday, was that he replaced the state's official photographer (who was white) with a black photographer, the white man sued for discrimination and the state settled for $300G. Normally that wouldn't get a full-page spread in a paper, but it is now.
I suspect there are still ill feelings in some camps re: Kennedy. Since that was mostly a fight between Clinton and Bloomberg, I suspect one of those camps is behind it all, and I"m guessing Clinton, only because Rangel was subject to the same drip-drip of negative press re: taxes etc., coincidentally shortly after he ended the possibility of Clinton holding out until the convention by questioning why she wasn't dropping out after the end of the primaries.
BTW, the same thing is happening with Bloomberg right now, not him personally but members of his administration.
May 4, 2009 1:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow Cuomo is strong.
May 4, 2009 11:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, maybe we'll see a President Cuomo one day after all.
May 4, 2009 12:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
"also a sight to behold"...seems like an odd thing to say in reference to Paterson.
May 4, 2009 12:46 PM | Reply | Permalink