Kirsten Gillibrand

Poll: Gillibrand Trailing Bill Thompson In Dem Primary -- Or Is She?

Eric Kleefeld | December 15, 2009, 12:41PM

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)

A new Quinnipiac poll says that appointed Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) is vulnerable to a primary challenge from outgoing New York City Comptroller Bill Thompson, who just came surprisingly close in his unsuccessful campaign for Mayor of New York City.

The numbers for the Democratic primary: Thompson 41%, Gillibrand 28%, with a ±3.7% margin of error. On the other hand, a Siena poll that was also released today shows Gillibrand ahead of Thompson by 32%-23%.

Thompson has likely benefitted from recent publicity from his mayoral campaign, in which he was frequently on New York TV (though not as much as Mike Bloomberg, obviously). By contrast, Gillibrand hasn't been on paid TV at all -- not one ad.

One thing the two polls both agree on, though, is that each Democrat currently trails Rudy Giuliani in a general election match-up. Quinnipiac has Rudy ahead of Gillibrand by 50%-40% and ahead of Thompson by 52%-36%. Siena had Rudy leading Gillibrand by 49%-42%, and leading Thompson by 56%-34%.

Kirsten Gillibrand

Poll: Gillibrand Trails Giuliani, Narrowly Leads Pataki

Eric Kleefeld | December 15, 2009, 9:34AM

Sen. Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY)

A new Siena poll shows that appointed Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) continues to be in a marginal position going into her 2010 special election, though she remains the strongest potential Democratic nominee.

In general election match-ups, Gillibrand trails Rudy Giuliani by 49%-42%, and leads George Pataki by 43%. Against lesser-known Republican Bruce Blakeman, a possible candidate who is currently a commissioner for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Gillibrand leads by 52%-22%. The margin of error is ±3.8%.

Another Democrat was tested, outgoing New York City Comptroller and recent unsuccessful mayoral nominee Bill Thompson, who trails Giuliani by 56%-34% and Pataki by 49%-36%, and led Blakeman by 40%-23%.

In a potential Democratic primary, Gillibrand has 32%; Thompson has 23%; former Rep. Harold Ford (D-TN), who ran unsuccessfully for Senate from his original home state in 2006, has seven percent; and labor union organizer Jonathan Tasini, who is actually an active candidate, has only three points.

NY-MAYOR

Bloomberg v. Thompson: The Mayoral Contest That Wasn't

Rachel Slajda | November 2, 2009, 3:10PM

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and candidate Bill Thompson

At more than 8 million people, the population of New York City is greater than that of most states. So why aren't we focusing more on tomorrow's mayoral election?

Because this contest simply isn't a contest.

In simply monetary terms, the two-term incumbent, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, has already spent more than $85 million of his own money, dwarfing the $6 million expenditures of his opponent, Democrat Bill Thompson. And Bloomberg's record-breaking expenditures may reach $140 million by the time it's all said and done.

But it's more than just money.

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NY-MAYOR

Is Al Gore A Bloomberg Backer Or Just A Fan?

Christina Bellantoni | October 27, 2009, 5:50PM

Fmr. Vice President Al Gore, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg

New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg has bipartisan credentials and has been praised by Republicans and Democrats alike, including President Obama.

Many major national politicians are staying out of Bloomberg's reelection campaign (Obama, for example, backs the Democratic candidate Bill Thompson) but the praise is resurfacing in the final days of the race.

TPM reader DO flagged for us a glossy 8 1/2 x 11" Bloomberg campaign mailer featuring a full-page photo of former Vice President Al Gore, saying it "appears to be a strong endorsement." (It's not.)

"If Gore remains passive about this it will be tantamount to accepting Bloomberg's apparent claim that Gore has endorsed him ... or Gore is playing a political game in which he is endorsing Bloomberg, but is leaving himself a plausible denial that he has endorsed Bloomberg while he tacitly accepts Bloomberg's brochure being send in his name," DO wrote us.

TPMDC checked in with Gore spokeswoman Kalee Kreider, who affirmed her boss' friendly quotes about Bloomberg over the years.

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