Fifteen percent of New Yorkers pepared to vote for Paterson in 2010

The Siena College Research Institute released a poll today that showed Gov. David A. Paterson’s approval numbers stay low on every measure. The survey also analyzed what New York voters think about same sex marriage, the state’s junior Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and a property tax cap. The survey found the governor is viewed favorably by 27 percent of voters, with 60 percent looking at the governor in a negative light; the numbers remain virtually identical to last month’s poll, when 27 percent viewed him positively and 63 viewed him unfavorably. Only 15 percent of voters are prepared to elect Paterson as governor in 2010 with 71 percent of voters preferring “someone else,” the survey said. That someone else, the poll indicates, would be Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo: If a democratic primary were held today Andrew Cuomo would beat David Paterson by 70-19 percent, with African-American voters supporting Cuomo by better than two,” said Siena poll spokesman Steven Greenberg. The poll also showed the current governor would lose to former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani 59-31 percent. The attorney general would beat the former mayor 53-41 percent, according to the survey. Republican candidate John Faso is virtually tied with Paterson at 39-37 percent in a hypothetical election. The poll indicates Faso would be defeated in a hypothetical primary against Cuomo 65-16 percent. Former Gov. Eliot Spitzer is still doing better than Paterson; voters prefer him 21 percent to Paterson’s 11 percent. The survey showed Spitzer gaining 10 percentage points from the last survey. The Siena poll showed voters to be evenly divided, 46-46 percent, on whether the state Senate should pass the bill to legalize same sex marriages in the state. Democrats, young and Jewish voters support the bill, with the majority of Republicans, older voters, African-Americans, Protestant and Catholic voters opposed to it. Support dropped by at least 10 percentage points among independent voters, New York City voters, young voters, women and African-Americans. “Overwhelmingly, by a 78-15 percent margin, voters say that Senate Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith should bring the bull to a vote, regardless of whether or not he thinks it will pas, and let all senators vote yes or no on the bill,” Greenberg said According to the survey, by a 72-20 percent margin, voters favor a property tax cap. Support for the property tax circuit breaker is supported 65-26 percent today. There is about an even number of voters in support for both of these initiatives, with 47-45 percent in favor of them. Gillibrand is viewed favorably by only 33 percent of voters. While 27 percent of voters are prepared to elect her as senator in 2010, 39 percent of voters prefer “someone else,” the survey said. These numbers are an improvement for the junior senator, whose approval was 20-47 percent in April. Gillibrand leads Nassau County Republican Congressman Peter King 48-26 percent, and remains tied 43-43 with former Gov. George Pataki in a hypothetical election, the survey said. “The senior senator, Charles Schumer, enjoys a 63-25 percent favorable rating, and 61 percent of voters are prepared to re-elect him, compared to only 31 percent who prefer ‘someone else,’” Greenberg said. The survey also found 57-31 percent of voters would prefer to see the Senate remain in Democratic hands after the 2010 elections. This Siena Research Institute survey was conducted May 18 to 21 of 622 New York state registered voters. The survey has a margin of error of 3.9 percent.

Giuliani has supposedly dropped out of the running. Lazio has already declared his candidacy for Governor.

From Politics1, 5/23

“NEW YORK. As expected, former Congressman Rick Lazio (R) formally entered the race for Governor. A new Marist University poll shows Lazio leading vulnerable Governor David Paterson (D) by a 40-37 vote. The poll shows Paterson also trailing former New York City Mayor Rudy Guiliani (R) by a wider margin of 53-38 vote. Guiliani is no longer expected to enter the gubernatorial race — although the poll shows he’d defeat Lazio by 75-14 vote in the GOP primary. Attorney Ed Cox (R), son-in-law of President Nixon, is also exploring the race. The poll also shows Paterson getting crushed by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo in a prospective Democratic primary by a 70-21 margin.”

'Saturday Night Live' mocks Governor Paterson's blindness, past drug use
by Stephanie Gaskell
Sunday, December 14th 2008

Saturday Night Live pushed the envelope last night with... Fred Armisen as Paterson during a segment on "Weekend Update." ...Armisen, as Paterson, says he has three criteria: economic experience, upstate influence and someone with a disability who is completely unprepared for the job - just like him. "I want to choose a senator not from the glitzy coke parties of Manhattan but rather from the shabbier coke circles of upstate new york," he said. "I'm tired of all these fancy, two-eyed smart alecs from the big city running the whole show. It's time we get someone from Utica, Syracuse or Schnectady - towns where people have something a little off about him. I mean, they don't have to be blind," he said. "I just need someone with like a gamey arm or maybe the giant gums with the tiny teeth. Let's get one of those in the Senate." The fake Paterson points out that he only became governor because of former Gov. Eliot Spitzer's prostition scandal. "Whoever is appointed senator must - like me - be caught totally off guard and be comically unprepared to take office," he said. "Come on, I'm a blind man who loves cocaine who was suddenly appointed governor of New York. My life is an actual plot from a Richard Pryor movie."

ACTUAL HEADLINE:

Paterson In A Blind Rage Over 'SNL' Skit

Governor Paterson proposes 'Obesity Tax,' a tax on non-diet sodas
by Glenn Blain and Kenneth Lovett
with Edgar Sandoval and Erica Pearson
Daily News Albany Bureau
Sunday, December 14th 2008
Gov. Paterson, as part of a $121 billion budget to be unveiled Tuesday, will propose an "obesity tax" of about 15% on nondiet drinks. This means a Diet Coke might sell for a $1 - even as the same size bottle of its calorie-rich alter ego would go for $1.15. Paterson's budget also calls for a 3% cut in education spending, a $620-a-year tuition hike at SUNY and a $600 increase at CUNY - and about $3.5 billion in health care cuts, a source said. The Democratic governor will not call for a broad-based income tax boost, but he will push to restore the sales tax on clothing and footwear... State employees again will be asked to forgo their 3% raises next year and defer five days' pay until they leave their jobs, the source said. In all, Paterson will propose about $9 billion in cuts, $4 billion in new taxes and fees, and $1.5 billion in nonrecurring revenue, a second source said. The so-called obesity tax would generate an estimated $404 million a year. Milk, juice, diet soda and bottled water would be exempt from the tax... Public health advocates welcomed news of the tax, saying it would help the fight against childhood obesity. "Raising the price of this liquid candy will put children and teens on a path to a healthier diet," said Elie Ward of the American Academy of Pediatrics of New York State.

[and now, the buried lead:] The Paterson administration also announced steps yesterday to expand the state's social services net, including a 30% increase in welfare payments over three years starting January 2010, increased money for food banks and expanded access to the state's Family Health Plus program. Paterson also hopes to make it easier for people to enroll in Medicaid by eliminating face-to-face interviews and fingerprinting requirements.

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