5/11: Cuomo Approval Rating Solid

New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s job approval rating may have briefly dipped a couple of months ago, but it’s back on solid ground.  64% of registered voters in New York State say Cuomo is doing either an excellent or good job in office.  This includes 22% who believe Cuomo is excelling in the position and 42% who think his performance is a good one.  27% describe the job he is doing as fair. And, just 6% give him a poor grade.  3% are unsure.

Andrew Cuomo

Andrew Cuomo

Click Here for Complete May 11, 2010 NYS Poll Release and Tables

Cuomo has inched upwards since Marist last asked voters about Cuomo’s job performance in its March 26th survey.  At that time, 61% gave him above average marks.  26% thought his performance was average, and 8% reported he was operating at a subpar level.  5% were unsure.

Satisfaction with Cuomo’s job performance crosses party lines.  While it’s not surprising that 70% of Democratic voters think he is doing either an excellent or good job in office, nearly six in ten Republican voters — 58% — share this view.  63% of non-enrolled voters agree.

“Andrew Cuomo is by far the most popular statewide elected official.  Of course, some suggest that’s not saying much given the public’s displeasure with Albany,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion.  “But, his numbers would stand out even if the state’s government was viewed positively.”

Table: Cuomo Approval Rating
Table: Cuomo Approval Rating Over Time

Click on the graph to enlarge the image.

Click on the graph to enlarge the image.

Cuomo Outpaces Competition in Hypothetical Gubernatorial Contests

If Andrew Cuomo seeks the Democratic nomination for governor, as expected, he would be a force to be reckoned with.  When matched up against former U.S. Representative Rick Lazio, Cuomo leads with 65% to Lazio’s 25%.  One-tenth of registered voters in New York State are unsure.  Cuomo’s lead has even widened since Marist last pitted Cuomo against Lazio in late March.  In that survey, 61% supported Cuomo while 30% backed Lazio.  9% were unsure.

Cuomo has an equally impressive lead when he faces off against Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy in a hypothetical contest.  63% of voters say they would cast their ballot for Cuomo while 25% report they would throw their support behind Levy.  12% are unsure.  In Marist’s March 26th survey, Cuomo led with 65% to Levy’s 26%.  9% were unsure.

And, how does businessman Carl Paladino fare against Cuomo?  Once again, Cuomo leaves the competition in the dust.  Nearly seven in ten voters — 67% — report they will back Cuomo while 22% will support Paladino.  11% are unsure.

Table: Cuomo/Lazio 2010 Matchup
Table: Cuomo/Levy 2010 Matchup
Table: Cuomo/Paladino 2010 Matchup

Lazio Loses Support with Paladino in the GOP Picture

In the race for the Republican nomination for governor, Rick Lazio’s lead has shrunk.  Currently, Lazio receives support from 38% of GOP voters while Steve Levy garners 22%, and Carl Paladino nets 13%.  27% are unsure.

When Marist last asked this question in late March, Paladino was not included.  And, his presence makes a difference.  At that time, Lazio received majority support — 53% — from Republican voters statewide.  21% backed Levy, and 26% were unsure.

Table: 2010 GOP Primary for Governor

Marist Poll Methodology