
The new Quinnipiac poll of New York finds that state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo continues to have a very wide lead over incumbent Gov. David Paterson in a potential Democratic primary match-up. The poll also finds that voters do not believe race would end up being a divisive issue, if such a primary were to occur.
Among registered Democrats, Cuomo leads Paterson by 55%-23% in a primary. The poll also asked: "Some people say that if Andrew Cuomo runs against David Paterson in a Democratic primary for Governor that it would be racially divisive. Do you agree or disagree?" The top-line number was only 14% agree, 80% disagree. Among Democrats it was 15%-78%, among whites it was 13%-79%, and among blacks 22%-73%.
As the pollster's analysis notes, black Democratic voters favor Paterson in such a match-up, by a 42%-34% plurality. At the same time, though, black Dem respondents give Cuomo higher approval numbers for his job as attorney general, at 78%-12%, compared to their 60%-30% approval of Paterson as governor. So although race can often be a third rail in American politics, in this case it doesn't appear that it would end up being all that divisive.
hologram5
February 3, 2010 10:56 AM
Who cares who wins at this point anyways? We all know they will turn into corp lackeys soon enough anyways. We have been sold out. Where is the anger? Where do WE DRAW THE LINE?
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monstruss
February 3, 2010 11:07 AM
Can't Paterson see he has no chance of winning the primaries?
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Darrius
February 3, 2010 11:21 AM
Does anybody know what percentage of New York state residents are black?
If those questions were asked in the South all those answers would be in the 80% - 90% range.
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FreeRider
February 3, 2010 11:24 AM
I'm so sick of Paterson. He's trying to frighten off challengers by saying "You can't run against a black guy." What a creep.
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Emman
February 3, 2010 11:38 AM
I hope Paterson wins but I do love Cuomo. It'd been nice for Cuomo to lobby for lieutenant governor instead of trying to unseat Paterson.
And to think that this spineless President Obama would not throw his support to Paterson is a total betrayal! Obama would not support Ford to run against Gilibrand either even though I love her too. Obama did not lend his support to then Democratic mayoral candidate in NYC, though I still like Bloomberg.
The point is, President Obama have a systematic precedence of deserting African American candidates to score political points. About 96% of African Americans supported this bastard yet he'd not do nothing for us. If President Obama can stake his political influence in trying to discontinue DADT in the military, why can't he do that for African Americans? President Obama is vigorously arguing against the maltreatment of terrorists (these are people who set out to kill Americans 'cause of their hatred for us; Stupid fanatics, of any religion, especially Muslims, must be deterred by any means necessary). But he'd not show the same vigor in support of African American candidates? Selfish fool who only thinks he's the only supposed African American worth of adulation.
Instead of this fool spending our tax payers money (another one coming in March) to travel abroad all the time, he can spend more time with urban mayors and the likes to find out ways to help them grow the economy. Hello New Orleans!! The last time I checked, everybody was castigating Bush for ignoring and his refusal to lend a tangible helping hand for the city of New Orleans. Oh yes, change we can see... this fool (President Obama) needs to wake up and stand for something and stop dithering.
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Schmed
February 3, 2010 12:06 PM in reply to Emman
Being African American is not a reason to support any particular candidate. If that were the case, you should be a big fan of Michael Steele and Alan Keyes.
About 96% of African Americans supported this bastard yet he'd not do nothing for us.
If you think you have some ownership stake in Obama because he's African American, then you're no better than Pat Buchanan.
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Viva!America!
February 3, 2010 2:32 PM in reply to Emman
What's he supposed to do for Us? What part of his agenda does not affect Us? Are we some completely separate people with completely unique needs that Obama needs to come up with a bill just for Us? We are no longer slaves, we can vote, we have many rights, are you still looking for that 40 acres and a mule? Was he supposed to erase racism by now? We are Americans and his agenda is to propose legislation that helps Americans that need it most. I'm sure WE fall into that category.
"nothing for us" is the most ridiculous crap I've seen on this site. You don't speak for me and you don't speak for "us".
Complete Nonsense.
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Emman
February 3, 2010 11:59 AM
Freeride, but it's okay for MSNBC to always attribute every criticism of President Obama to be motivated by racism, right? Governor Paterson never, never implicitly or otherwise said no one should run against him because he's black. Stop spreading lies!!!! Gov. Paterson is running on his own merit, period!! Like he's alluded to, may the best man win... Paterson for Governor!!
Out of curiosity Senators Reid and Lincoln, et cetera, are both lagging in the polls, right? Why is President Obama and his White House not covertly nudging them or attempt to discourage them from running for re-election? Hmmmm, what's good for the goose....
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FreeRider
February 3, 2010 2:33 PM in reply to Emman
Don't comment to me, you race-card-playing, racist, inbred, mouth-breathing moronic asshole, pretending to be black.
Go iron your bedsheet.
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Emman
February 3, 2010 12:52 PM
Schmed I find it suspicious that you'll use a gorilla face as your display picture... Wolves in sheep clothing...
I'm not an ideologue and I think that's what President Obama claimed while speaking to the Republican legislators, right? Micheal Steele does not frighten me. Alan Keyes almost sounds like an extreme politician. Justice Clerance Thomas is equally okay by me. Politics to me is how and what I benefit from it... African Americans supported then Senator Obama en masse during the Democratic primary because he's supposedly African American, remember? Else there'd be no way for him to have beaten a better known candidate of Hilary Clinton's political stature, plus, her husband was widely admired in the black communities.
Schmed stop parsing words... President Obama does not have to support African American politicians 'cause their skin color. But I guess you conveniently missed the whole point about White politicians whose poll numbers were abysmal, yet, President Obama will always stake his political influence in trying to save them or help them win election!!! Governor Corzine whom I love is a good example and I can go on and on...
Again, "what's good for goose is good for the ..."
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midnight rambler
February 3, 2010 1:06 PM in reply to Emman
If you equally support Obama, Paterson, and Clarence Thomas because they are all black, I will say straight to your face that you are an utter idiot. I suppose you're a big fan of William Jefferson too?
Paterson is not only unpopular, but demonstrably incompetent. You're the first person I've ever heard say they support him.
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Schmed
February 3, 2010 1:16 PM in reply to Emman
Emman,
I use a gorilla because I got tired of using my usual owl and my sister works with gorillas. She also reads TPM, so she sees it as a tribute. Now, why would you suspect something about gorillas and African Americans? You seem to suggest some kind of racist nexus. More Buchananism come out in you?
African Americans supported then Senator Obama en masse during the Democratic primary because he's supposedly African American, remember?
Sez you. African Americans in my family supported him for his policies, not his skin color. He beat Clinton primarily because Clinton hired fools to run her campaign.
Schmed stop parsing words... President Obama does not have to support African American politicians 'cause their skin color.
So, he doesn't have to do "nothing for us"? If he doesn't help Paterson, it's not because he's African American. It's because he's politically inept (like Ford) and has the pong of defeat all over him (like Ford). Associate with losers and you'll end up a loser.
BTW, I wouldn't waste time parsing your words -- they don't make sense in the first place.
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Emman
February 3, 2010 2:49 PM
"African Americans in my family supported him for his policies, not his skin color"... what were Senator Obama's policies as you remember them? You are a fool to think Sen.Obama defeated Hillary Clinton during the primary without a major boost from the African American communities.
I take umbrage in your calling Governor Paterson inept. If you name five things President Obama have accomplished I'll match it with six of his (Paterson). And please, please do not insult Governor Paterson 'cause he's legally blind. He may be a disable American but he's not stupid.
Is this the same President Obama who promised to read every bill before signing it, yet, signed off on the big banks bail out? He had the audacity to tell Americans that he had no knowledge of the employee bonuses. It's either he lied to us when he promised to read every bill before signing it or he thinks Americans are fools. Either way, President Obama did not adequately represent American tax payers in negotiating a bail out for the big banks.
Another lie, "most of the bail out money have been re-paid" President Obama... it's a fallacy and an embellishment of truth.
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Schmed
February 3, 2010 9:35 PM in reply to Emman
Helpful hint: clink the "Reply" link to avoid spawning needless secondary threads.
You are a fool to think Sen.Obama defeated Hillary Clinton during the primary without a major boost from the African American communities.
You are a dishonorable barrator to insinuate that I posited any such nonsense.
I take umbrage in your calling Governor Paterson inept.
Sue me. For a perfect example of Paterson's ineptitude, consider the Kennedy senatorial non-appointment.
And please, please do not insult Governor Paterson 'cause he's legally blind. He may be a disable American but he's not stupid.
You, sir, claim the mantle of stupidity by shamefully offering strawmen fallacies instead of well reasoned arguments supported by a shred of factual evidence. If you want to continue to shake your fist at the sky, carry on. But don't have the arrogant temerity to try to shove your filthy lies down my throat and brassly suggest that they're mine.
Umbrage?! Umbrage is mine, wretched cad! Away! Away, I say, knave!
Harumph!
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