August 14, 2013 - Spitzer Has 19-Pt Lead In New York City Comptroller Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Men, Women, Blacks Back Him Big PDF format With no gender gap and a lead among black voters of more than 3-1, former Gov. Eliot Spitzer tops Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer 56 - 37 percent among likely Democratic primary voters in the race for New York City comptroller, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Spitzer leads 58 - 37 percent among men, 54 - 36 percent among women and 68 - 21 percent among black voters, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Stringer leads 53 - 43 percent among white voters. With four weeks until the primary, 68 percent of Spitzer voters and 74 percent of Stringer voters say they definitely will vote for the candidate they name today. "Everyone seems to be against former Gov. Eliot Spitzer except the voters, especially black voters," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Spitzer is all over the TV screens, building on his better name recognition and leaving Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer in the dust." The sex scandal which led to Spitzer's resignation as governor is a legitimate issue in the campaign, Democratic primary voters say 57 - 40 percent, with no gender gap. Spitzer's past behavior disqualifies him from consideration as a candidate, 23 percent of Democrats say, while 44 percent say it is an issue, but does not disqualify him. Another 32 percent say this behavior is not even an issue. Again there is a measurable racial gap, but almost no gender gap. Spitzer's behavior disqualifies him, 29 percent of white voters and 13 percent of black voters say. "Spitzer's history as 'Client 9' is a legit issue, voters think, but they don't think it disqualifies him from running," Carroll said. From August 7 - 12, Quinnipiac University surveyed 579 likely Democratic primary voters with a margin of error of +/- 4.1 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Colorado, Iowa and the nation as a public service and for research. For more information, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling, or call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. 9. If the Democratic primary for City Comptroller were being held today, and the candidates were Eliot Spitzer and Scott Stringer, for whom would you vote? (If undecided) As of today, do you lean more toward Spitzer or Stringer (Table includes leaners) LIKELY DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS Tot Men Wom Wht Blk Spitzer 56% 58% 54% 43% 68% Stringer 37 37 36 53 21 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - - - - DK/NA 7 5 9 4 10 TREND: If the Democratic primary for City Comptroller were being held today, and the candidates were Eliot Spitzer and Scott Stringer, for whom would you vote? (If undecided) As of today, do you lean more toward Spitzer or Stringer (Table includes leaners) LIKELY DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS Aug 14 Jul 25 2013 2013 Spitzer 56 49 Stringer 37 45 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - DK/NA 7 6 9a. (If candidate chosen q9) Will you definitely vote for (Candidate of choice q9), or is there a chance you could change your mind and vote for (Candidate not chosen q9)? IF CHANGE MIND: Would you say there's a good chance you'll change your mind, or would you say it's pretty unlikely? LIKELY DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS CANDIDATE CHOSEN Q9.......... CANDIDATE OF CHOICE Q9 Tot Spitz Stringer Def vote for cand 70% 68% 74% Change unlikely 10 10 10 Change likely 18 21 13 DK/NA 2 2 3 TREND: (If candidate chosen) Will you definitely vote for (Candidate of choice), or is there a chance you could change your mind and vote for (Candidate not chosen)? IF CHANCE CHANGE MIND: Would you say there's a good chance you'll change your mind, or would you say it's pretty unlikely? LIKELY DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS Aug 14 Jul 25 2013 2013 Def vote for cand 70 67 Change unlikely 10 12 Change likely 18 19 DK/NA 2 3 29. As you may know, Eliot Spitzer resigned as governor after conceding that he'd paid for sex with prostitutes. Regardless of whether or not you support him, do you think this is or is not a legitimate issue in the election for city comptroller? LIKELY DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS Tot Men Wom Wht Blk Legitimate issue 57% 56% 58% 61% 51% Not legitimate issue 40 40 40 36 46 DK/NA 3 4 2 4 3 TREND: As you may know, Eliot Spitzer resigned as governor after conceding that he'd paid for sex with prostitutes. Regardless of whether or not you support him, do you think this is or is not a legitimate issue in the election for city comptroller? LIKELY DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS Aug 14 Jul 25 2013 2013 Legitimate issue 57 53 Not legitimate issue 40 44 DK/NA 3 3 30. Regardless of your vote preference, for you, would you say that Spitzer's behavior disqualifies him from consideration as a candidate for comptroller, it's a factor but not a disqualifying one, or it's not a factor in considering him as a candidate? LIKELY DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS Tot Men Wom Wht Blk Disqualifies him 23% 23% 23% 29% 13% Factor/Not disqualfy 44 41 45 41 49 Is not a factor 32 34 30 29 34 DK/NA 2 2 2 1 4 TREND: Regardless of your vote preference, for you, would you say that Spitzer's behavior disqualifies him from consideration as a candidate for comptroller, it's a factor but not a disqualifying one, or it's not a factor in considering him as a candidate? LIKELY DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS Aug 14 Jul 25 2013 2013 Disqualifies him 23 25 Factor/Not disqualfy 44 40 Is not a factor 32 32 DK/NA 2 3 Demographic Summary
