Posted on 07/02/2002 6:47:19 AM PDT by areafiftyone
Republican Gov. George Pataki holds a 2 -1 lead over either Democratic challenger, even with independent businessman Thomas Golisano in the race, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
Among New York State registered voters, Gov. Pataki tops former U.S. Housing Secretary Andrew Cuomo 54 - 26 percent, with 6 percent for Golisano. In a two-man race, Pataki tops Cuomo 57 - 30 percent, showing that Golisano is taking votes from both sides.
Pataki beats State Comptroller H. Carl McCall 53 - 26 percent, with 7 percent for Golisano. In the two-way matchup, Pataki tops McCall 55 - 28 percent.
A May 1 poll by the independent Quinnipiac University, conducted before Golisano jumped into the race, showed Pataki over Cuomo 59 - 26 percent and Pataki over McCall 58 - 27 percent.
Cuomo leads McCall in a Democratic primary 47 - 32 percent, compared to his 43 - 33 percent lead May 1.
"Thomas Golisano's dive into the political pool has made hardly a ripple. He shaves a few points from each of the three candidates. That's good news for the Republican incumbent sitting on a 2 -1 lead," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"Say what you want about me but spell my name right. Andrew Cuomo is in the news regularly - whether it's favorable or unfavorable - and Democratic voters look like they're spelling his name right," Carroll added.
By a 66 - 18 percent margin, New York State registered voters approve of the job Pataki is doing as Governor.
Pataki has a 47 - 12 percent favorability rating, with 26 percent mixed and 14 percent who don't know enough to form an opinion. He had a 50 - 10 percent favorability May l.
Cuomo has a negative 16 - 24 percent favorability, with 22 percent mixed and 37 percent who haven't heard enough to form an opinion. This is little changed from his negative 15 - 28 percent rating May 1.
McCall's 23 - 6 percent favorability rating, with 15 percent mixed and 54 percent who haven't heard enough, is little changed from May 1.
By a 56 - 25 percent margin, New York State voters approve of the job Mario Cuomo did as Governor. Even Republican voters split 41 - 40 percent in their approval of Cuomo.
The fact that McCall would be New York's first black governor makes 13 percent of Democratic voters more likely to vote for him, while 2 percent are less likely and 82 percent say it will make no difference in their vote.
"At first Pataki was ABC, Anybody But Cuomo. Then he was a lucky guy with weak opposition. Now he's 'The Governor.' Nothing seems to dent his huge approval rating and his lead over the challengers," Carroll said.
"He's been out of office almost eight years, but voters still have a good feeling for Cuomo the Elder. Cuomo the Younger could use some of that good feeling right now."
From June 24 - 30, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,068 New York State registered voters, with a margin of error of +/- 3 percent. The survey includes 448 registered Democrats with a margin of error of +/- 4.6 percent.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and nationwide as a public service and for research.
You can read the rest of the poll numbers HERE
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