Posted on 03/03/2009 3:20:13 PM PST by neverdem
Gov. David Paterson’s approval rating has plunged 20 points in the past month to the lowest point ever for that office, according a poll conducted by Marist College.
Only 26 percent of registered voters said the governor is doing either an excellent or good job in office. At the same time, 77 percent believe he is working hard as governor, and 62 percent say Paterson understands the problems of New Yorkers. Also, half of the electorate thinks he cares about the average New Yorker.
Paterson is due in Niagara Falls Wednesday for a town hall meeting. In a radio interview Tuesday morning on WBEN-AM the governor touched on two subjects pertinent to Western New York and did not sound optimistic on either issue.
Regarding the proposed Bass Pro store, part of a $315 million development considered key to revitalizing Buffalo’s waterfront, the governor noted changes within the Empire State Development Corp., that is, $20 of profit for $1 of tax credit. Because of those revisions, Paterson said, “I would think that given the current conditions, that the possibility of Bass Pro coming to downtown is a little bit bleaker than it was.”
Paterson's comments are counter to that of local officials and drew the immediate wrath of of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown.
"If the governor has any problems or concerns (about Bass Pro) he should really let the public know. From my viewpoint, this project is still moving forward, and if the governor wants to say something different, we need to know this right away," Brown told reporters later in the morning.
And soon after, the governor's office issued a statement saying Paterson is fully committed to the project, noting the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. has said the project is well on-track.
"At this time I have been assured that the status of Bass Pro Shops remains very promising," the statement said.
When asked during the radio interview about the state attempting to collect taxes on the Seneca Nation of Indians from the sale of cigarettes, Paterson said, “It’s heading obviously for a confrontation. The Indian Nations have gone to court and we are tied up in a court battle with them. We have tried to meet with them, they obviously have not been particularly cooperative about a meeting, because the situation is working for them.”
The poll from Poughkeepsie-based Marist, which has conducted such polls for nearly 30 years, showed that less than half of those responding – 44 percent — felt the Democrat Paterson represents all regions of the state, and only 39% think the governor is a good leader. Even fewer voters -- 32% -- believe the governor is changing how things work in Albany for the better.
Additionally, among registered Democrats in New York State, 30 percent think Paterson is doing an above-average job while 65 percent disagree. Across the aisle, Republicans also overwhelmingly disapprove of Paterson’s performance with just 26 percent giving approval of the job Paterson is doing as governor while 72 percent think he is doing a fair or poor job.
Only 20 percent of non-enrolled voters agree that Paterson is doing well in the job he took over on March 17, 2008 following the resignation of Eliot Spitzer. Opinions of Paterson’s job performance are consistently low across the state as 24 percent of upstate voters approving and 26 percent of suburban voters say he is doing an above-average job.
Marist polled 1,045 registered voters statewide on Feb. 25 and 26. The survey has a plus/minus of 3 percent.
Can we get a good New York Republican to run against him, PLEASE????
I would take Paterson as POTUS over Obama in a heartbeat.
It could be a lot worse than this guy, believe me...
The Blind Taxman!
the best you can get would be Rudy.
this is NY after all.
I would not vote for Rudy in the presidential primaries ever....but as a Senator or Governor he would be head and shoulder above Paterson or Schumer.
“I would not vote for Rudy in the presidential primaries ever....”
That’s why we have Obama. But Rudy will be a great Governor of NY.
Why? Because Conservatives won't vote for RINOs and/or candidates that can be categorized as "Socialist Lite"?
Or is it because the RNC continues to run RINOs and/or candidates that can be categorized as "Socialist Lite"?
Non-whites charged with hate crimes!
FReepmail me if you want on or off my New York ping list.
let me know when you find one...
we also got Obama because Bush should have been in news conferences daily explaining to the country back in ‘03 about how the banks would fail if they kept lending money to dead beats. He said it once or twice....congress did not back him and he forgot about it...
....the fast moronic voting public saw the economy sagging and blamed HIM. who was rightfully partially to blame. But he was not the prime mover and shaker of this economy it was Carter and Clinton who threw the housing bubble monkey wrench into the machinery....Bush just did nothing.
anyway a Conservative was who we needed in 08....and we did not get one.
yeah Rudy would be OK as Governor.
Exactly. We New Yorkers lucked out when that snake Spitzer self-destructed. Paterson's policies are dead wrong, but he at least respects the other side.
“No we have obama because we got a worse candidate than Rudy, we got McLame”
That’s right—We got McLame because of the shortsighted refusal to vote for the clearly strongest conservative candidate, Rudy G.
“Why? Because Conservatives won’t vote for RINOs and/or candidates that can be categorized as “Socialist Lite”? “
No, because pseudo-cons with no strategic forethought refused to vote for the strongest conservative candidate, Rudy G. They gave us BHO.
I have come to the conclusion (as unPC as it is to say this) that Patterson is illiterate, not in the metaphorical sense but actually.
Steve Malzberg pointed out that it took him 60 hours to memorize his State of the State speech becuse he does not read Braille. Braille is his language because he is blind. In effect he is an illiterate who cannot read.
While I have compassion for his condition, not everyone can be Governor of a state. In this case I do not think an illiterate has the qualifications to perform the position.
NY deserves better.
Are you referring to Pro Choice Rudy G.?
I’m referring to the Rudy G. who pledged to appoint constructionist justices to the USSC.
Really yet he is Pro Choice and then Endorsed McAmnesty?
Sorry No Sale.
Thanks for the ping!
pay attention.
Rudy is NOT acceptable in flyover country. You have to do better than cry about Rudy...he blew it with being anti gun and his ‘I am against abortion but....’ and his gay pride policies...
We need a conservative for ALL of America, not just for NY, California or Mass-of-2-$h!t$, or you wind up with McQueeg.
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