NY SEN: Gillibrand's Island
A Quinnipiac University poll conducted this weekend shows Sen.-designate Kirsten Gillibrand (D) is more popular among GOPers than Dems but generally remains an unknown quantity among NY RVs. The survey, conducted 1/23-25 and released this a.m., also shows NYers blame Caroline Kennedy (D) over Gov. David Paterson (D) for the confusion around her Senate bid, but they have nonetheless grown more tepid towards the Gov. over recent months.
About half of NYers (49%) blame Kennedy and her aides for her failed Senate bid, including 63% of GOPers, 42% of Dems and 54% of Indies. Meanwhile just 15% of NY RVs blame Paterson and his aides. Nevertheless, NYers are split over Paterson's process for selecting a replacement for Sec/State Hillary Clinton; 44% approve of his handling of the appointment and 42% disapprove.
When it comes to Gillibrand, 46% approve of Paterson's choice, while 30% disapprove. Far more GOPers (56%) and upstaters (55%) approve of his pick than do Dems (41%), NYCers (41%) and suburbanites (35%). Gillibrand is not, however, particularly well known among NYers -- 63% do not know enough about her to form an opinion. As expected, this lack of recognition for the Albany-area Rep. drops to 58% among upstate RVs.
GOPers give Gillibrand her highest fav/unfav at 30%/7%, while Dems and Indies offer marks of 22%/11% and 28%/10%, respectively. The Sen.-designate also holds higher favorability among upstaters (34%/8%) than among NYCers and suburbanites, both of whom give her a 19%/13% rating.
In addition to division among NYers about the Sen. selection process and its outcome, Paterson has seen a drop in overall approval since HRC's nomination. In Quinnipiac's last poll before Pres. Obama tapped HRC -- completed 8/6 -- the Gov. had a 64% approval rating. Today, just 50% of NYers approve of his job performance. Over the same period, his disapproval figure has more than doubled, from 14% to 30%.
Another survey released this a.m. by Siena Research Institute offers additional evidence of Paterson's waning popularity, although it was conducted 1/20-23, before the Gov.'s appointment of Gillibrand.
Asked if they would prefer to elect Paterson or another candidate in '10, more NY RVs now prefer another candidate for the first time since Paterson took office. Less than one in three NYers (32%) say they would vote for Paterson, down from 42% on 11/13. Looking towards a potential primary challenge from AG Andrew Cuomo (D), Paterson's once-commanding lead of 28% just after election day has evaporated to just 2% today.
The Quinnipiac Univ. poll, conducted 1/23-25, surveyed 1,047 NY RVs and has margin of error +/- 3.0%. The Siena Research Institute poll, conducted 1/20-23, surveyed 627 NY RVs and has margin of error +/- 3.9%.
(MATTHEW GOTTLIEB)
Join the Discussion
The National Journal Group has the right (but not the obligation) to monitor the comments and to remove any materials it deems inappropriate.
Comments powered by Disqus