August 5, 1997 - Giuliani Polishes Up Likability As Approval Tops 2 - 1, Quinnipiac College Poll Finds; Mayor Tops Messinger By 18 Points Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who continues to enjoy plus 60 percent approval ratings among New York City voters, has improved his likability as well, according to a Quinnipiac College Poll released today. By a 64 - 29 percent margin, New York City voters approve of the job Giuliani is doing as Mayor, up from 60 - 35 percent in a June 18 poll by the independent Quinnipiac College. In four polls this year, the Mayor has topped the 60 percent approval mark. Asked if the Mayor has a likable personality, New Yorkers are split 47 - 47 percent, up from a negative 43 - 52 percent in a February 11 Quinnipiac College Poll. In the Mayoral matchup, the Republican incumbent beats Democratic challenger Ruth Messinger 53 - 35 percent, widening the 49 - 39 percent lead he held in the June 18 poll. Giuliani would beat Albanese 59 - 23 percent and top Rev. Sharpton 70 - 17 percent. Manhattan Borough President Messinger is the clear winner of the Democratic Primary, with 52 percent, compared to 16 percent for Councilmember Sal Albanese and 12 percent for Rev. Al Sharpton. "They see photos of a smiling Mayor Giuliani with happy school children; they see him leading the fight for immigrants; they see him dressed as a woman as part of a good-natured joke on himself, and little by little, they start to like the guy," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac College Polling Institute. "When Quinnipiac College asked in February if Giuliani had a likable personality, most New Yorkers said no. Now, he's at the break-even point on likability and his approval is just about as high and as constant as a New York City mayor can get," Carroll added. Twenty-one percent of New Yorkers list crime or drugs as the most important problem in the city today, while 16 percent list education, and 8 percent list unemployment/jobs. The Mayor gets an 82 - 15 percent approval rating for handling crime, a negative 38 - 50 percent rating for handling education and 51 - 31 percent for the economy and jobs. Giuliani's favorability rating is 49 - 21, with 28 percent mixed and 2 percent who don't know enough to form an opinion. Among other candidates and city leaders, results are: Favorable Unfavorable Mixed Haven't heard enough Ruth Messinger 24 19 22 36 Sal Albanese 10 8 11 70 Rev. Al Sharpton 12 58 19 10 Public Advocate Mark Green 41 7 14 38 Comptroller Alan Hevesi 30 4 12 53 In a Giuliani-Messinger matchup, women back the incumbent 44 - 41 percent, a tie, while men support him 62 - 29 percent. By a 61 - 30 percent margin women approve of the job Giuliani is doing, while men approve 68 - 27 percent. Men and women split evenly on the Mayor's likability, 47 - 47 percent for women and 48 - 46 percent for men. In a Democratic primary for Public Advocate, incumbent Mark Green tops Brooklyn Assemblyman Roger Green 57 - 8, as 83 percent of all voters don't know Roger Green. "Borough President Messinger slips a few points. Giuliani gains a few points. The result: a widening gap in the likely Mayor match-up. Maybe a Democratic Primary will give Messinger a boost. But this is a Democratic town and she's falling back," Carroll said. Quinnipiac College surveyed 759 New York City residents who say they are registered voters. The poll was conducted July 29 - August 3, with a margin of error of +/- 3.6 percent. The Quinnipiac College Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as a public service and for research. Additional data available. 1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Rudolph Giuliani is handling his job as Mayor? Tot Wht Blk His Men Wom Approve 64% 78% 42% 54% 68% 61% Disapprove 29 17 49 37 27 30 DK/NA 7 5 8 8 5 8 1a. Do you approve/disapprove strongly or somewhat? Tot Wht Blk His Men Wom Approve strongly 33% 44% 13% 25% 39% 27% Approve smwht 31 34 29 29 29 34 Disapprove smwht 12 8 21 13 13 11 Disapprove strongly 17 10 28 24 15 19 DK/NA 7 5 8 8 5 8 2. How much attention have you been paying to the campaign for Mayor -- a lot, some, only a little or none at all? Tot Wht Blk His Men Wom A lot 20% 17% 25% 18% 20% 19% Some 38 42 32 37 39 37 Only a little 28 30 22 31 28 28 None at all 14 10 20 14 12 15 DK/NA - - 1 - - 1 3. Is your opinion of -- City Council Member Sal Albanese favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Wht Blk His Men Wom Favorable 10% 12% 9% 5% 11% 8% Unfavorable 8 7 9 11 11 5 Mixed 11 14 7 11 11 12 Haven't heard enough 70 66 74 73 65 75 REFUSED 1 1 1 - 2 - 4. Is your opinion of -- Mayor Rudolph Giuliani favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Wht Blk His Men Wom Favorable 49% 63% 25% 44% 56% 42% Unfavorable 21 12 39 21 17 24 Mixed 28 25 31 31 25 31 Haven't heard enough 2 - 4 5 1 2 REFUSED 1 - 2 - - 1 5. Is your opinion of -- Manhattan Borough President Ruth Messinger favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about her? Tot Wht Blk His Men Wom Favorable 24% 21% 30% 23% 24% 23% Unfavorable 19 24 11 11 25 12 Mixed 22 26 18 15 20 23 Haven't heard enough 36 29 41 50 30 41 REFUSED 1 - 1 1 1 - 6. Is your opinion of Reverend Al Sharpton favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Wht Blk His Men Wom Favorable 12% 5% 31% 8% 14% 10% Unfavorable 58 75 28 55 62 55 Mixed 19 14 29 18 15 23 Haven't heard enough 10 6 9 19 9 10 REFUSED 1 1 3 - 1 2 7. If the 1997 election for Mayor were being held today and the candidates were Rudolph Giuliani the Republican, and Sal Albanese the Democrat, for whom would you vote? Tot Wht Blk His Men Wom Giuliani 59% 69% 35% 59% 65% 53% Albanese 23 17 41 26 21 26 SOMEONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - 3 2 1 1 WOULDN'T VOTE(VOL) 4 2 5 6 3 5 DK/NA 13 11 15 7 10 15 8. If the 1997 election for Mayor were being held today and the candidates were Rudolph Giuliani the Republican, and Ruth Messinger the Democrat, for whom would you vote? Tot Wht Blk His Men Wom Giuliani 53% 66% 30% 42% 62% 44% Messinger 35 24 58 44 29 41 SOMEONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - 1 1 - 1 WOULDN'T VOTE (VOL) 3 2 2 5 3 2 DK/NA 9 8 9 9 6 12 9. If the 1997 election for Mayor were being held today and the candidates were Rudolph Giuliani the Republican, and Al Sharpton the Democrat, for whom would you vote? Tot Wht Blk His Men Wom Giuliani 70% 86% 33% 74% 75% 66% Sharpton 17 5 47 12 15 19 SOMEONE ELSE(VOL) 2 1 6 2 2 2 WOULDN'T VOTE (VOL) 6 5 7 6 6 6 DK/NA 5 3 7 5 2 8 11a. What do you think is the most important problem facing New York City today? Tot Wht Blk His Men Wom CRIME/VIOLENCE 18% 19% 18% 15% 20% 16% DRUGS 3 4 3 4 3 4 GUNS/GUN CONTROL - - 1 - - 1 TERRORISM - - - 1 - - MORE POLICE - - - - - 1 POLICE BRUTALITY 1 - 1 - - 1 CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM - - 1 - 1 - ECONOMY 3 3 4 4 4 2 UNEMPLOYMENT/JOBS 8 3 15 12 7 8 COST OF LIVING 1 1 - 1 1 1 TAXES 2 2 2 2 2 2 STATE/CITY INCOME TAX - - - 1 1 - BUDGET DEFICIT/ BALANCED BUDGET/ BUDGET 2 3 2 - 4 - SPENDING PRIORITIES 1 1 2 2 1 1 POVERTY/HOMELESSNESS 5 5 4 4 4 6 HOUSING COSTS/ AVAILABILITY 4 4 4 5 3 4 RENT CONTROL/ STABALIZATION 1 1 - 3 1 1 OVERCROWDING 1 1 - 2 1 1 WELFARE 2 2 1 2 2 2 CLASS INEQUALITY/ INCOME DISPARITY 2 2 1 - 2 2 WORKFARE 1 - 1 3 - 1 BUDGET CUTS/CUTS IN SERVICES - - 1 - - 1 IMMIGRATION PROBLEMS 2 4 1 - 2 3 CHILD ABUSE/NEGLECT - - 1 1 - 1 CHILDREN'S ISSUES 1 1 3 1 1 2 HEALTHCARE/COSTS/ INSURANCE - - 1 - - 1 EDUCATION 16 16 15 21 16 17 COLLEGE TUITION - - - 1 - 1 FUNDING PUBLIC SHOOLS 3 3 4 3 3 3 QUALITY OF LIFE 1 2 - - 2 - ENVIRONMENT/ POLLUTION 1 1 - 1 1 - WATER/SEWER LINES - 1 - - 1 - RACISM/RACE RELATIONS 3 3 5 1 3 3 MASS TRANSIT/PUBLIC TRANS 1 2 - 1 1 1 TRAFFIC 1 1 - - 1 1 ROADS - - 1 - 1 - POLITICIANS/ GOVERNMENT 1 1 - 2 1 - POLITICAL CORRUPTION - - 1 - 1 - MAYOR GIULIANI 1 - 1 - 1 - THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS 1 1 - - 1 - OTHER 5 4 5 1 4 5 DK/NA 6 6 4 4 5 6 12. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mayor Giuliani is handling the city budget? Tot Wht Blk His Men Wom Approve 42% 53% 25% 36% 49% 35% Disapprove 35 24 54 44 31 39 DK/NA 23 23 21 21 19 26 13. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mayor Giuliani is handling crime? Tot Wht Blk His Men Wom Approve 82% 87% 69% 85% 85% 78% Disapprove 15 10 27 11 12 17 DK/NA 4 3 4 4 3 5 14. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mayor Giuliani is handling the economy and jobs? Tot Wht Blk His Men Wom Approve 51% 65% 28% 43% 57% 45% Disapprove 37 24 62 45 32 42 DK/NA 12 11 10 12 10 13 15. And do you approve or disapprove of the way Mayor Giuliani is handling education? Tot Wht Blk His Men Wom Approve 38% 46% 22% 33% 44% 31% Disapprove 50 42 66 57 45 54 DK/NA 12 12 11 10 10 14 16. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mayor Giuliani is handling taxes? Tot Wht Blk His Men Wom Approve 46% 55% 32% 39% 52% 41% Disapprove 37 28 54 48 34 41 DK/NA 17 16 14 13 15 18 17. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mayor Giuliani is handling poverty and homelessness? Tot Wht Blk His Men Wom Approve 30% 38% 14% 26% 37% 24% Disapprove 56 46 76 60 50 62 DK/NA 14 16 9 14 13 14 18. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mayor Giuliani is handling welfare? Tot Wht Blk His Men Wom Approve 45% 50% 38% 44% 53% 36% Disapprove 39 31 50 46 33 45 DK/NA 16 19 12 11 14 18 19. I'm going to read off some personal characteristics and qualities. As I read each one, tell me if you think it applies to Rudolph Giuliani or not? Would you say that Rudolph Giuliani -- can get things done or not? Tot Wht Blk His Men Wom Yes 86% 95% 71% 83% 88% 84% No 11 3 24 13 10 11 DK/NA 4 2 5 4 2 5 20. Would you say that Rudolph Giuliani has a likable personality or not? Tot Wht Blk His Men Wom Yes 47% 55% 29% 55% 48% 47% No 47 39 66 42 46 47 DK/NA 6 6 5 3 6 6 21. Would you say that Rudolph Giuliani has strong leadership qualities or not? Tot Wht Blk His Men Wom Yes 81% 88% 73% 79% 85% 78% No 15 10 21 17 14 17 DK/NA 3 2 6 4 1 5 22. Would you say that Rudolph Giuliani is honest and trustworthy or not? Tot Wht Blk His Men Wom Yes 60% 76% 37% 50% 67% 54% No 29 17 45 39 24 33 DK/NA 11 7 18 12 8 14 23. Would you say that Rudolph Giuliani is sympathetic to the problems of the poor or not? Tot Wht Blk His Men Wom Yes 38% 48% 22% 31% 44% 32% No 54 42 72 61 49 58 DK/NA 8 9 6 8 6 10 24. Would you say that Rudolph Giuliani works well with other political leaders or not? Tot Wht Blk His Men Wom Yes 43% 49% 29% 46% 46% 41% No 47 42 59 43 47 46 DK/NA 10 8 12 10 7 13 25. Is your opinion of City Controller Alan Hevesi favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Wht Blk His Men Wom Favorable 30% 34% 24% 23% 34% 26% Unfavorable 4 5 4 4 6 3 Mixed 12 11 12 17 11 14 Haven't heard enough 53 49 59 55 48 57 REFUSED 1 1 - 1 2 - 26. Is your opinion of Brooklyn Assemblyman Roger Green favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Wht Blk His Men Wom Favorable 9% 6% 15% 10% 9% 9% Unfavorable 2 1 5 5 2 2 Mixed 5 4 6 6 4 6 Haven't heard enough 83 88 75 78 84 82 REFUSED 1 1 - 1 1 - 27. Is your opinion of Public Advocate Mark Green favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Wht Blk His Men Wom Favorable 41% 42% 42% 34% 43% 38% Unfavorable 7 9 3 6 9 5 Mixed 14 15 13 15 13 14 Haven't heard enough 38 32 42 43 33 42 REFUSED 1 1 1 2 1 1 31. If the 1997 Democratic primary for Mayor were being held today and the candidates were Sal Albanese, Ruth Messinger, and Al Sharpton for whom would you vote? Registered Democrats Sal Albanese 16% Ruth Messinger 52 Al Sharpton 12 SOMEONE ELSE(VOL) 2 WOULDN'T VOTE(VOL) 6 DK/NA 11 33. If the 1997 Democratic primary for New York City Public Advocate were being held today and the candidates were Brooklyn Assemblyman Roger Green and incumbent Mark Green for whom would you vote? Registered Democrats Assemblyman Roger Green 8% Incumbant Mark Green 57 SOMEONE ELSE(VOL) 1 WOULDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 DK/NA 30
