March 3, 2009
Will Gillibrand Be Elected in Her Own Right?
New York’s newly appointed junior senator Kirsten Gillibrand has been in office for a little over a month, and New Yorkers just don’t know what to make of her. Half of the state’s electorate reports they are unsure about the job Senator Gillibrand is doing in office while 18% think Gillibrand is doing either an excellent or good job. 32% feel she is faring below average. The state’s uncertainty spans party lines and regional divides.
Gillibrand Approval Rating Table
If the 2010 Election for U.S. Senate Were Held Today…
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand would lead Long Island Congressman Peter King — 49% to 28%. She faces more fierce competition, though, from former New York Governor George Pataki where the two are neck-and-neck. Gillibrand receives 45% of voters’ support compared with 41% for Pataki. In both scenarios, none of the candidates have gained nor lost ground since Marist’s previous survey in January.
2010 Gillibrand/King Matchup Table
2010 Gillibrand/Pataki Matchup Table
No Guarantees for Gillibrand in Democratic Primary…Pataki Fares Well Against King in Hypothetical Senate GOP Matchups
If next year’s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in New York were held today, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand would find a tough adversary in U.S. Representative Carolyn McCarthy. The two are in a statistical dead heat with Gillibrand receiving 36% of New York Democrats’ support and McCarthy garnering 33% of the vote. A large proportion of Democrats — 31% — are undecided. On the Republican side, members of the GOP would support former New York Governor George Pataki over Long Island Congressman Peter King in the Republican primary. Pataki bests King 56% to 32%, respectively.
2010 Democratic Primary Matchup Table
2010 Republican Primary Matchup Table
The Marist Poll’s Lee Miringoff comments on Gillibrand:
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