March 8, 2013
3/8: Gillibrand Approval Rating Dips
Half of registered voters in New York State — 50% — approve of the job Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is doing in office. This includes 9% of voters who think Gillibrand is doing an excellent job and 41% who believe she is doing a good one. Nearly one in four voters — 24% — say Senator Gillibrand is doing a fair job in her post while 12% think she is performing poorly. 14% are unsure
Click Here for Complete March 8, 2013 Marist Poll Release and Tables
“Senator Gillibrand scored her best rating during the height of her re-election campaign,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. “Now, the partisan climate felt nationally has spilled to affect her New York standing.”
Gillibrand’s approval rating has dropped from when Marist last reported this question in October. At that time, Gillibrand achieved her highest approval rating since taking office — 55%. 28%, then, thought she was doing a fair job while 8% believed she fell short. 10% were unsure.
Looking at party, the change has occurred among Republicans and non-enrolled voters. 37% of Republicans have a positive view of Gillibrand’s job performance. This compares with 47% last fall. Among non-enrolled voters in the state, 41% approve of how Gillibrand is doing in office, down from 48% in October. Gillibrand’s support among her base, however, has changed little. 64% of Democrats statewide applaud her job performance. 63% did so in the fall.
Table: Gillibrand Approval Rating
Table: Gillibrand Approval Rating (Over Time)
Schumer Approval Rating Steady
Senator Chuck Schumer enjoys a consistent job approval rating. A majority — 54% — give the senator high marks. Included here are 16% who think the senator is doing an excellent job and 38% who believe he is doing a good one. 26% rate his performance as fair while 13% say he is performing poorly. Seven percent are unsure.
In Marist’s October survey, 55% gave Schumer a thumbs-up. 27% thought he was doing an average job while 13% believed he fell short. Five percent were unsure.
Table: Schumer Approval Rating
Table: Schumer Approval Rating (Over Time)
Obama Approval Rating at 50% in New York State
Among registered voters in New York State, half — 50% — approve of the job President Barack Obama is doing in office. This includes 21% who think he is doing an excellent job and 29% who say he is doing a good one. 22% give Obama fair marks while 27% say his performance is poor. Less than 1% is unsure.
When Marist last reported this question in April, 47% approved of Mr. Obama’s job performance. 22% thought he was doing an average job, and 31% thought his performance fell short. Less than 1% was unsure.