| January 19, 2006 - Alleged Threats Take Small Toll On Spitzer, Quinnipiac University New York State Poll Finds; Top Dem Buries Suozzi, GOP Contenders |
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After one month of allegations that he threatened public officials who oppose him, New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer's voter approval rating stands at 64 - 18 percent, and he has substantial leads over possible Democratic or Republican contenders in the race for Governor, according to a Quinnipiac University poll of New York State voters released today.
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Spitzer had a 68 - 13 percent approval, his highest ever, in a December 14, 2005, poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. His approval has hovered near the 60 percent mark in all Quinnipiac University polls since February 12, 2003.
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In a possible Democratic primary for Governor, Spitzer beats Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi 72 - 8 percent, compared to 69 - 11 percent December 14.
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| Spitzer also has substantial leads over likely Republican contenders: |
- 62 - 17 percent over Randy Daniels;
- 56 - 25 percent over Thomas Golisano;
- 62 - 19 percent over William Weld;
- 61 - 19 percent over John Faso.
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"Eliot Spitzer trounces all four of the Republican wannabes in this year's race for Governor. And voters think he's doing a good job as Attorney General," said Maurice Carroll, Director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi is a non-starter at this point. If he's to make a real run for the Democratic nomination, that Wall Street money he's supposed to get better show up soon."
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In a possible Republican primary for Governor, 42 percent are undecided. Golisano gets 34 percent, followed by 9 percent for Weld, 8 percent for Faso and 5 percent for Daniels.
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New York State voters give Spitzer a 52 - 10 percent favorability rating, with 16 percent mixed and 21 percent who haven't heard enough to form an opinion.
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Golisano gets an 18 - 12 percent favorability rating, with 16 percent mixed and 53 percent who haven't heard enough to form an opinion. For Weld, Faso, Daniels and Suozzi, the 'haven't heard enough' score is 73 percent or higher.
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"The recognition Golisano won running against Republicans makes him tops among the Republicans who want to be Governor. No one knows much about the others and 'don't know' gets the biggest number overall," Carroll said.
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Only 23 percent of New York State voters have read or heard anything about Spitzer's alleged threats against public officials who disagreed with him. Of that group, 42 percent believe the claims, while 38 percent do not believe them.
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Also among that 23 percent group, 30 percent say the alleged threats make them less likely to vote for Spitzer, with 8 percent who are more likely to vote for him and 54 percent who say this issue will not affect their vote.
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"Those stories about Spitzer threatening people don't seem to be gaining traction with the voters," Carroll said.
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In an open-ended question, where respondents can give any answer, 25 percent of voters list taxes as the most important problem facing New York State, followed by 19 percent who list economic issues and 11 percent who list education issues.
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From January 10 - 16, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,095 New York State registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points. The survey includes 369 Republicans with a margin of error of +/- 5.1 percent, and 458 Democrats with a margin of error of +/- 4.6 percent.
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The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida and nationwide as a public service and for research.
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For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu or call (203) 582-5201
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6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Eliot Spitzer is handling his job as State Attorney General?
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Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom
Approve 64% 59% 65% 70% 68% 61%
Disapprove 18 25 15 14 18 17
DK/NA 18 16 20 17 14 22
UpState..... UpState
Urban Othr Total NYC Sub
Approve 60% 64% 63% 63% 68%
Disapprove 15 19 18 16 19
DK/NA 25 17 18 21 13
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TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Eliot Spitzer is handling his job as State Attorney General?
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Highest Lowest
Approve Approve
Jan 19 Dec 14 Oct 4 Aug 3 May 4 Dec 14 Apr 6
2006 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2000
Approve 64 68 60 60 57 68 51
Disapprove 18 13 17 15 17 13 14
DK/NA 18 19 23 24 26 19 35
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7. Is your opinion of State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
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Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom
Favorable 52% 44% 54% 57% 57% 47%
Unfavorable 10 18 6 5 12 7
Mixed 16 19 15 17 15 18
Hvn't hrd enough 21 18 25 18 15 26
REFUSED 1 1 1 2 2 1
UpState..... UpState
Urban Othr Total NYC Sub
Favorable 47% 54% 52% 52% 49%
Unfavorable 8 11 10 6 14
Mixed 19 14 15 16 20
Hvn't hrd enough 26 19 21 24 16
REFUSED - 2 2 2 -
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TREND: Is your opinion of State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
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Jan 19 May 5 Jan 20
2006 2005 2000
Favorable 52 41 26
Unfavorable 10 8 7
Mixed 16 20 19
Hvn't heard enough 21 30 46
REFUSED 1 1 2
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8. Is your opinion of Former Massachusetts Governor William Weld favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
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Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom
Favorable 8% 11% 5% 6% 11% 5%
Unfavorable 9 7 11 7 11 6
Mixed 7 6 6 11 9 6
Hvn't hrd enough 75 74 76 76 67 81
REFUSED 1 2 1 - 1 1
UpState..... UpState
Urban Othr Total NYC Sub
Favorable 6% 9% 8% 7% 8%
Unfavorable 7 8 8 9 11
Mixed 2 8 6 8 8
Hvn't hrd enough 84 74 76 74 73
REFUSED - 2 1 2 -
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9. Is your opinion of former state Assembly Minority Leader John Faso favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
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Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom
Favorable 7% 8% 7% 8% 9% 6%
Unfavorable 6 7 5 4 8 4
Mixed 10 12 8 12 8 12
Hvn't hrd enough 76 73 78 75 75 76
REFUSED 1 1 1 2 1 2
UpState..... UpState
Urban Othr Total NYC Sub
Favorable 10% 8% 8% 7% 7%
Unfavorable 6 8 7 5 5
Mixed 7 8 8 10 13
Hvn't hrd enough 74 75 75 77 74
REFUSED 3 1 2 1 1
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10. Is your opinion of former Secretary of State Randy Daniels favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
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Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom
Favorable 7% 6% 7% 5% 7% 6%
Unfavorable 3 2 5 2 5 2
Mixed 7 6 7 10 6 9
Hvn't hrd enough 81 85 80 82 81 82
REFUSED 1 1 1 1 1 1
UpState..... UpState
Urban Othr Total NYC Sub
Favorable 3% 6% 6% 9% 6%
Unfavorable 7 4 4 3 3
Mixed 9 4 5 8 10
Hvn't hrd enough 79 85 84 78 82
REFUSED 2 1 1 2 -
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11. Is your opinion of businessman Thomas Golisano favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
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Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom
Favorable 18% 25% 15% 16% 22% 16%
Unfavorable 12 8 14 13 15 10
Mixed 16 17 16 15 18 14
Hvn't hrd enough 53 49 55 55 45 60
REFUSED 1 1 - 1 1 1
UpState..... UpState
Urban Othr Total NYC Sub
Favorable 41% 32% 34% 8% 6%
Unfavorable 6 11 10 14 14
Mixed 23 18 19 11 17
Hvn't hrd enough 29 39 37 66 62
REFUSED 1 - 1 1 -
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12. Is your opinion of Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
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Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom
Favorable 11% 8% 13% 13% 14% 9%
Unfavorable 6 10 5 4 6 7
Mixed 8 9 8 10 9 7
Hvn't hrd enough 73 71 73 73 70 76
REFUSED 1 2 1 1 2 1
UpState..... UpState
Urban Othr Total NYC Sub
Favorable 1% 4% 3% 7% 33%
Unfavorable 4 4 4 5 13
Mixed 2 3 3 9 17
Hvn't hrd enough 92 87 88 78 36
REFUSED 1 1 1 1 2
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13. If the 2006 election for governor were being held today, and the candidates were Eliot Spitzer the Democrat and Randy Daniels the Republican for whom would you vote?
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Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom
Spitzer 62% 35% 83% 64% 63% 60%
Daniels 17 41 2 13 21 13
SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - 1 2 1 1
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 2 1 3 1 3
DK/NA 18 23 13 18 13 22
UpState..... UpState
Urban Othr Total NYC Sub
Spitzer 55% 55% 55% 68% 63%
Daniels 14 23 21 10 19
SMONE ELSE(VOL) - 2 1 - 2
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 5 3 3 2 1
DK/NA 25 17 19 20 14
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TREND: If the 2006 election for governor were being held today, and the candidates were Eliot Spitzer the Democrat and Randy Daniels the Republican, for whom would you vote?
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Jan 19 Dec 14 Oct 4
2006 2005 2004
Spitzer 62 62 60
Daniels 17 15 15
SMONE ELSE 1 1 2
WLDN'T VOTE 2 1 1
DK/NA 18 20 22
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14. If the 2006 election for governor were being held today, and the candidates were Eliot Spitzer the Democrat and John Faso the Republican for whom would you vote?
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Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom
Spitzer 61% 31% 81% 66% 61% 60%
Faso 19 45 5 12 24 14
SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 1 2 1 1
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 2 2 1 1 3
DK/NA 18 22 12 19 12 22
UpState..... UpState
Urban Othr Total NYC Sub
Spitzer 52% 54% 54% 69% 61%
Faso 12 25 22 12 24
SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 1 - 2
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 5 1 2 2 1
DK/NA 29 19 21 16 13
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TREND: If the 2006 election for governor were being held today, and the candidates were Eliot Spitzer the Democrat and John Faso the Republican, for whom would you vote?
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Jan 19 Dec 14 Oct 4
2006 2005 2005
Spitzer 61 64 60
Faso 19 14 14
SMONE ELSE 1 1 1
WLDN'T VOTE 2 1 1
DK/NA 18 21 23
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15. If the 2006 election for governor were being held today, and the candidates were Eliot Spitzer the Democrat and Thomas Golisano the Republican for whom would you vote?
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Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom
Spitzer 56% 30% 77% 60% 57% 56%
Golisano 25 51 11 19 30 21
SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - - 1 1 1
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 1 1 1 2
DK/NA 16 17 11 19 11 20
UpState..... UpState
Urban Othr Total NYC Sub
Spitzer 40% 45% 44% 66% 64%
Golisano 33 37 36 16 20
SMONE ELSE(VOL) - 1 1 - 1
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 1 2 1
DK/NA 26 15 17 15 14
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TREND: If the 2006 election for governor were being held today, and the candidates were Eliot Spitzer the Democrat and Thomas Golisano the Republican, for whom would you vote?
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Jan 19 Dec 14 Oct 4 Aug 3
2006 2005 2005 2005
Spitzer 56 60 56 58
Golisano 25 22 22 22
SMONE ELSE 1 1 1 1
WLDN'T VOTE 2 1 1 1
DK/NA 16 16 19 18
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16. If the 2006 election for governor were being held today, and the candidates were Eliot Spitzer the Democrat and William Weld the Republican for whom would you vote?
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Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom
Spitzer 62% 38% 80% 65% 64% 60%
Weld 19 43 4 13 22 16
SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - 1 1 1 1
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 2 2 1 3
DK/NA 17 18 14 19 12 21
UpState..... UpState
Urban Othr Total NYC Sub
Spitzer 53% 56% 55% 66% 67%
Weld 8 23 20 16 22
SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 1 - 2
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 4 2 2 2 1
DK/NA 34 19 22 16 8
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TREND: If the 2006 election for governor were being held today, and the candidates were Eliot Spitzer the Democrat and William Weld the Republican, for whom would you vote?
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Jan 19 Dec 14 Oct 4 Aug 3 May 4
2006 2005 2005 2005 2005
Spitzer 62 63 60 60 60
Weld 19 16 16 16 16
SMONE ELSE 1 1 2 1 1
WLDN'T VOTE 2 1 1 1 1
DK/NA 17 19 21 21 22
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18. What do you think is the most important problem facing New York State today?
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Tot
Taxes Total: 25%
Taxes general 19
Property tax 5
Gas tax 1
Economy Total: 19%
Economy general 5
Unemployment/jobs 9
Minimum wage too low 1
Cost of living 3
Businesses leaving/
Outsourcing 1
Education Total: 11%
Education general 7
Funding education 3
School choice/
Vouchers 1
Budget Total: 5%
Budget general 2
Government too
big/Gov spending 1
Lack of/Late budget 1
Budget priorities 1
Healthcare/Costs/
Insurance/HMO's 5%
Politicians Total: 5%
Political corruption 2
Governor/State
leadership 2
Politicians/
Campaigns other 1
Housing Total: 3%
Housing general 1
Housing Costs/
Availability 2
Crime/Violence
general 2%
Immigration 2%
Terrorism general 2%
Children's issues 1 Medicare 1 Poverty/Homeless 1 Security/Safety 1 Senior issues 1 War (Iraq) 1 Welfare 1
Other 3 DK/NA 6
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35a. (If registered Republican)If the 2006 Republican primary for governor were being held today and the candidates were Randy Daniels, John Faso, William Weld and Tom Golisano, for whom would you vote?
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Registered
Republicans
Daniels 5%
Faso 8
Weld 9
Golisano 34
SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1
DK/NA 42
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TREND: (If registered Republican) If the 2006 Republican primary for governor were being held today and the candidates were Randy Daniels, John Faso, William Weld and Tom Golisano for whom would you vote?
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REGISTERED REPUBLICANS
Jan 19 Dec 14 Oct 4
2006 2005 2005
Daniels 5 3 7
Faso 8 9 8
Weld 9 8 6
Golisano 34 36 33
SMONE ELSE 1 1 3
WLDN'T VOTE 1 1 4
DK/NA 42 42 39
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| 35b. (If registered Democrat)If the 2006 Democratic primary for governor were being held today and the candidates were Tom Suozzi and Eliot Spitzer for whom would you vote? |
Registered
Democrats
Suozzi 8%
Spitzer 72
SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3
DK/NA 16
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TREND: (If registered Democrat) If the 2006 Democratic primary for governor were being held today and the candidates were Tom Suozzi and Eliot Spitzer, for whom would you vote?
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REGISTERED DEMOCRATS
Jan 19 Dec 14
2006 2005
Suozzi 8 11
Spitzer 72 69
SMONE ELSE 1 1
WLDN'T VOTE 3 1
DK/NA 16 19
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36. Have you heard or read anything about the claims by public officials that Eliot Spitzer threatened to use his office to make trouble for them?
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Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom
Yes 23% 27% 19% 25% 31% 16% No 76 72 78 75 68 82 DK/NA 1 1 3 1 2 1
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37. (If heard or read q36)Do you believe these claims?
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Heard about
threats Q36
Yes 42% No 38 DK/NA 20
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38. (If heard or read q36)Do these claims make you more likely to vote for Spitzer for governor, less likely to vote for Spitzer for governor, or don't they make a difference?
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Heard about
threats Q36
More likely 8%
Less likely 30
No difference 54
DK/NA 8
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