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Poll: Sharp Jump In Percentage Of Voters Who Think Paterson Should Resign

Eric Kleefeld | March 5, 2010, 9:57AM

Gov. David Paterson (D-NY)

David Paterson, Polls

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A new Quinnipiac poll in New York finds a sharp increase in the number of people who think that Gov. David Paterson (D) should resign -- and this increase has happened in only the past two days, as more and more scandals have been reported in the press.

Registered voters were asked: "Do you think Governor Paterson should serve his full term until December 31 or should he resign?" The numbers are only 46% for serving his full term, to 42% saying he should resign, with a ±2.7% margin of error. Just two days ago, that number stood at 61%-31% in Paterson's favor.

From the pollster's analysis: "Support for Gov. David Paterson erodes with every new headline. New York State voters started the week giving the Governor the benefit of the doubt 2-1. Now, there is more doubt and less benefit as he clings to a bare plurality of support."

Respondents were also asked about Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch, who was controversially appointed to office by Paterson last year in a move that withstood a legal challenge at the state's highest court. In the poll from two days ago, there was some reason to believe that a reluctance to see an unknown face take over the governorship -- after Paterson himself had succeeded to the office two years ago -- might have been a factor in giving Paterson the benefit of the doubt.

The poll asked: "Who do you think would more effectively govern New York state until December 31 - David Paterson or Richard Ravitch?" The answer today is Paterson 37%, Ravitch 32%, undecided 31%, compared to a much better number for Paterson of 47%-29%-23% two days ago.

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Viva!America!

March 5, 2010 10:13 AM

Let the man finish his term. I'm tired of all this governor switching.

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Harry Truman

March 5, 2010 10:21 AM

If he was a Republican we'd be all over his behind. He should just get the frak out

He at least had the decency and foresight to appoint a good lieutenant governor who is too old to care about young women or to hep his aides' attempts to evade prosecution for beating them, who has a true sense of propriety built up over 50 years of public service, has no sense of entitlement based on race, religion, ethnicity, or pedigree (Paterson is where he is only because of his old man), is respected by everyone in New York who has ever dealt with him, and who is not a boomer or Gen-X'er, i.e., not a member of either of the two most sorrowful generational excuses for citizens this world has ever produced.No one would ask a Governor Ravitch to run for President (and he's be too smart to try) but if anyone can keep the wheels from coming off the state of New York, he can.

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cleanupnynow

March 5, 2010 11:19 AM

David Paterson simply needs to RESIGN

David Paterson needs to LEAVE NOW. Not next year, not in November, not next month, not next week, not tomorrow, but LEAVE NOW.

For too long, David Paterson has used the state as an employment agency for his incompetent and unqualified friends, gal-pals and associates – Dave Johnson, Michael Jones-Bey, Clemmie Harris, Gabrielle Turner, Indira Noel, Harry Corbitt - this practice needs to stop. David Paterson’s lackeys are an embarrassment to the fine men and woman who work in state service.

DAVID PATERSON NEEDS TO LEAVE NOW AND BRING HIS CREW WITH HIM

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cleanupnynow

March 5, 2010 11:19 AM

David Paterson was never up to the job of governing. Paterson has managed to bungle every position he has had his adult life.

David Paterson and his crew’s incompetence and wanton ways is evident in the “The Democratic Conference: Organizational and Operational Structure Report”, a report detailing how Paterson’s Senate Minority Office was managed, or more precisely mismanaged, when he was Senate Minority Leader.

http://www.politico.com/static/PPM110_demreportfinal.html

The report indicates that the office, headed by the highly inept and unqualified Mr. Michael Jones-Bey was dysfunctional and a complete zoo. The incompetent Mr. Jones-Bey, whom was more interested in partying than working, did not seem much interested in the job – doesn’t that sound like David Paterson himself. Incredulously, but not surprisingly Mr. Jones-Bey, a childhood friend of David Paterson, got promoted to head the Division of Minority & Women Owned Business Development (DMWBD) at New York State’s Empire State Development Corporation for his partying. Now that’s being rewarded for your incompetence.

Seems like the Mr. Jones-Bey, Mr. Dave Johnson, Harry Corbitt and many of David Paterson’s close aides occupying high paying state jobs, have gotten their wanton ways from their boss, David Paterson.

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