7/28: Democratic Race for NYC Mayor Wide Open

In the aftermath of former Congressman Anthony Weiner’s sex scandal about one-third of New York City’s Democrats, 32%, are undecided about whom to support in the Democratic primary for mayor in 2013.  The leading contenders are City Council Speaker Christine Quinn with 16%, New York City Comptroller Bill Thompson with 15%, and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz with 14%.  They are followed by New York City Comptroller John Liu who receives 9%, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio who has the support of 7%, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer who garners 6%, and Publisher Tom Allon who is backed by 1% of Democrats citywide.

Click Here for Complete July 28, 2011 NYC NY1-Marist Poll Release and Tables

“With Weiner out of the picture, there are twice as many undecided voters than voters who support any one of the current contenders,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion.  “That makes for a very fluid contest.”

When NY1-Marist last reported this question in April, now former Congressman Anthony Weiner received the backing of 18% of Democrats in New York City.  Thompson took 15% while Liu and Quinn each received 13% of the Democratic vote citywide.  At that time, 9% of Democrats reported they were pulling for de Blasio while 4% backed Stringer.  27%, then, were undecided.  Markowitz was not included in the previous survey.

Table: 2013 Democratic Primary for Mayor

Voters Want Weiner, Spitzer Out of 2013 Mayoralty

Citywide few voters, including those within their own party, want the sex scandal plagued pols, former Congressman Anthony Weiner or former Governor Eliot Spitzer, to seek the New York City mayoralty in 2013.  Only 26% would like to see Weiner in the race and just 33% would want Spitzer to enter the contest.

Table: Former Congressman Anthony Weiner 2013 Mayoralty?
Table: Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer 2013 Mayoralty?
Table: Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer 2013 Mayoralty? (Over Time)

New York City Voters Divide Over Top Cop Candidacy

How do New York City voters feel about Police Commissioner Ray Kelly becoming “Candidate Kelly?”  The electorate divides.  Citywide, 42%, would like to see Kelly run for mayor and 42% say he should stay out of the race.  16% are unsure.

Among Democrats, 41% would like Kelly to toss his proverbial hat into the ring.  This compares with 54% of Republicans and 35% of non-enrolled voters who say the same.

Table: Police Commissioner Ray Kelly 2013 Mayoralty?

NY1-Marist Poll Methodology

4/14: A Political Comeback for Spitzer?

Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer’s sock-clad sexcapades earned him a place in New York political infamy.  But, can he reform himself in the eyes of New York State voters and resurrect his political career?

Click Here for Complete April 14, 2010 NYS Poll Release and Tables

Nearly six in ten registered voters in New York State — 58% — do not want Spitzer to run for statewide office this year.  30%, however, do want him to re-enter the political scene for the upcoming New York State elections, and 12% are unsure.

New York State voters may not have short memories, but fewer members of the electorate, compared with those seven months ago, are now opposed to a Spitzer political comeback.  It’s not that many more voters have warmed up to the idea of “Candidate Spitzer.”  It’s that more are just unsure.  In Marist’s September 2009 survey, 69% did not want Spitzer to run in 2010 compared with 27% who did, and 4% who were unsure.

“Eliot Spitzer’s political scars remain, although for some New Yorkers, they may have faded a bit,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. “Eventually, voters may go for the idea of Spitzer running for office but not yet.”

Although a majority of voters do not want the former governor to run for office this year, the electorate isn’t ruling out a political return for Spitzer in the future.  When asked if he should ever run for New York State office again, voters divide. 45% think he should hit the campaign trail again while 48% think his political career is over.  7% are unsure.

But, advocating a Spitzer comeback doesn’t necessarily mean voters like the former governor.  Only 28% of voters have a favorable impression of Spitzer compared with 50% who have an unfavorable view of him.  22% are unsure.

Table: Spitzer to Run for Statewide Office?
Table: Spitzer to Run for Future Statewide Office?
Table: Spitzer Favorability

Public vs. Private: The Spitzer Sex Scandal

If Eliot Spitzer runs for public office, should his previous sex scandal be a matter for public debate or left as a private issue?  Voters statewide divide. 49% think it should be a public matter while 48% say it should be a private one. 3% are unsure.

Table: Spitzer Sex Scandal Public or Private Matter

It’s a Blank Slate

If Spitzer were to make a bid for public office in New York State this year, voters are all over the map when it comes to which office he should seek.  22% say Spitzer should make a bid for New York State Comptroller.  21% think he should attempt to reclaim his gubernatorial post.  A fifth of voters would prefer to see him run for an office with which he is very familiar, New York State Attorney General, and 14% believe he should run for U.S. Senate in New York.  23% are unsure.

Table: Public Office for Which Spitzer Should Run

NYC Voters to Spitzer, “Don’t Spoil the Big Apple”

Nearly two-thirds of voters in New York City — 66% — do not want Spitzer to enter New York City politics and run for mayor in 2013.  24%, however, think a bid for mayor would be a good idea.  10% are unsure.

Table: Spitzer/NYC Mayoralty Bid

Marist Poll Methodology

5/4: Paterson Approval Rating: Scraping Bottom?

How low can New York Governor David Paterson’s job approval rating go? Based on the latest Marist Poll numbers, it can still go lower, but not by much! Not quite one-fifth of New York registered voters statewide — 19% — report that Governor David Paterson is doing either an excellent or good job in office. That is a seven percentage point drop since The Marist Poll last asked this question in its March 2009 survey. In fact, voters are so dissatisfied with the governor’s performance that a majority — 51% — say they would prefer his sex scandal-plagued predecessor, Eliot Spitzer, be in office than he. On both questions, Paterson doesn’t even receive backing from a majority of voters in his own party. Just 22% of Democrats think he is doing well as governor, and half say, “Resurrect Spitzer!”

Table: Paterson’s Approval Rating
Table: Rather Have as Governor

Paterson’s Image Takes a Hit
Is there a silver lining for Governor Paterson? Well, 66% of registered voters across the state believe he is working hard as governor. However, that, too, is a drop from Marist’s March 2009 poll when 77% of the state’s electorate thought he was toiling away for New York. But, that’s where the praise for Paterson ends. 66% of voters say he does not have what it takes to lead the state while just 28% think he is a good leader. Paterson fares a little better on whether he understands the problems facing the state, but he still does not receive majority support from voters. In fact, with 48% reporting that the governor just doesn’t get the critical issues facing New York and 47% saying he does, the electorate is divided.

Looking at one of the most pressing problems in New York State – the economic crisis – 68% of the electorate disapproves of how Paterson is handling the situation, and 23% approve. Voters also do not believe Governor Paterson is a man for all New Yorkers. Nearly six in ten voters — 58% — report he does not represent all regions of the state while 34% think he does. And, when you zoom into Albany, a whopping 71% believe the governor is not changing daily, political operations for the better. David Paterson isn’t even viewed by a majority of the electorate as a governor who cares about the average person. 51% think he is not in tune with the needs of people like them compared with 42% who think the opposite is true. On all of these questions, public opinion was far more positive for Governor Paterson in The Marist Poll’s March 2009 survey.

There is a new issue on Governor Paterson’s plate – the swine flu outbreak. How do voters think he is handling this health concern? 46% approve of his management, and 18% disapprove. 36% are unsure.

Table: Paterson is Working Hard As Governor
Table: Paterson is a Good Leader for NYS
Table: Paterson Understands the Problems Facing NYS
Table: Paterson Handling Economic Crisis
Table: Paterson Represents All Regions of the State
Table: Paterson Is Changing the Way Things Work In Albany for the Better
Table: Paterson Cares About People Like You
Table: Paterson Handling Swine Flu Outbreak

Turn This Ship Around: Nearly Seven In Ten Think NYS Moving In Wrong Direction

Registered voters in New York State are pessimistic about the direction of the state. 67% report the state is moving along the wrong path while 27% say the Empire State is right on track. These findings are comparable to those in Marist’s March 2009 survey.

Table: NYS Direction Table

Marist Poll Methodology

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5/4: DiNapoli Holds Firm…36% Unsure How to Rate Him

5/4: Obama…On a Roll With New York Voters

The Marist Poll’s Lee Miringoff says Paterson might have to do something dramatic to reverse his plummeting popularity:

NY Voters Want Spitzer to Resign

Seven in ten New York State voters think Governor Spitzer should resign from office: 70% of registered voters think Governor Spitzer should resign from office after it was revealed that he was a customer of a high-priced prostitution ring. 22% think he should not have to resign from office, and 8% are unsure. A majority of Democrats, Republicans, and non-enrolled voters believe he should submit his resignation.

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NYS Poll: Spitzer’s Approval Rating

A majority of New York State registered voters give Governor Spitzer a “thumbs down.” 56% of registered voters do not approve of the job Eliot Spitzer is doing as governor and rate his performance in office as fair or poor. His approval rating stands at 35% among the state’s electorate. Only 5% of voters say he is doing an excellent job as governor, and 30% rate his performance as good. 9% of registered voters are unsure how to rate the governor.

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NYS Poll: Voters Want Further Probe of Governor

62% of registered voters think there should be an additional inquiry beyond the New York State Attorney General’s report into what Governor Spitzer knew when his top aides misused the state police to gather information about Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno. 33% think the Attorney General’s report should end the discussion, and 5% are unsure. A majority of Democrats, Republicans, and independents believe the issue should be further investigated.

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NYS Poll: Jury Still Out on Spitzer as Governor

Eliot Spitzer, who received high praise from many New York State voters as attorney general, is having to prove himself once again to voters in his new job as governor. 19% of registered voters statewide are unsure how to rate the job he is doing so far. Among voters who express an opinion, 43% approve and rate the job Spitzer is doing as governor as excellent or good. 38% of registered voters do not approve and rate the job he is doing as fair or poor.

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NYS Campaign 2006: Democrats Hold Big Leads

Eliot Spitzer continues to outdistance his Republican rival by a wide margin in the race for New York’s next governor: In his bid to become governor of New York, Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has a 48 percentage point lead over his Republican opponent, former Assemblyman John Faso. Spitzer receives the support of 70% of voters likely to vote on Election Day compared with 22% for Faso. 8% of likely voters are undecided. 62% of registered voters approve of the job Eliot Spitzer is doing as attorney general, including a majority of Republicans.

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New York State: Campaign 2006

Spitzer formidable frontrunner in race for New York governor: In match-ups for the 2006 election for New York governor, New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer outdistances his potential opponents by substantial margins including former Assemblyman John Faso, former Massachusetts Governor William Weld, and Rochester businessman Thomas Golisano, who has since announced that he will not be a candidate.

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