June 25, 2003 - Pataki Approval Levels Off, Despite Budget Battle, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Governor Is Likable, Voters Say, But No Fun At Dinner New York voters give Gov. George Pataki low marks for his handling of key issues, but they still say their Governor has strong leadership qualities and his overall approval remains at 43 - 45 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Gov. Pataki first hit this 43 - 45 percent mark, his lowest net approval ever, in an April 23 poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. "Talk about Teflon: Gov. Pataki strikes out on every how's-he-doing question, except the big one. Unlike governors in New Jersey and Connecticut who are looking at big disapproval ratings, Pataki gets a split on his overall performance score," said Maurice Carroll director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. Voters say 65 - 27 percent that Pataki has a "likable personality," but only 42 percent say he "would be fun to have dinner with." "Pataki came out of the budget fight with a mixed result, but slightly ahead. While he insisted he was holding the line on taxes, New Yorkers aren't convinced. Even though he lost the budget battle with the State Legislature, he's winning the war. New Yorkers still think he's a strong leader. And despite the harsh words volleyed back and forth, New Yorkers say their Governor is likable," Carroll said. "For New Yorkers, however, likable does not translate to being a fun dinner companion," Carroll added. Only 39 percent of voters say Pataki's veto of the state budget shows he is "dedicated to holding taxes down," but 48 percent disagree. Only 27 percent of voters say the State Legislature's override of Pataki's budget veto shows that he's an ineffective leader, while 63 percent disagree. Pataki gets a 26 - 66 percent negative approval for his handling of the state budget. His negative ratings on other issues are: 30 - 62 percent for handling education; 28 - 66 percent for handling taxes; 29 - 63 percent for handling the economy and jobs; 36 - 44 percent for dealing with the State Legislature. The State Legislature gets a negative 32 - 51 percent overall approval rating and an even bigger negative 20 - 66 percent for handling the state budget. Meanwhile, Sen. Charles Schumer cruises along with a 57 - 23 percent approval and Sen. Hillary Clinton has a 57 - 34 percent approval, both scores little changed from prior Quinnipiac University polls. Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has the best score in Albany, a 57 - 14 percent approval, while Comptroller Alan Hevesi has 40 - 18 percent, with 42 percent undecided. From June 18 - 23, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,095 New York State registered voters, with a margin of error of +/- 3 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. For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu or call (203) 582-5201 Do you approve or disapprove of the way George Pataki is handling his job as Governor of New York? App Dis DK/NA June 25, 2003 43 45 11 April 23, 2003 43 45 12 February 12,2003 49 41 10 December 19, 2002 58 31 11 September 25, 2002 62 26 12 July 2, 2002 66 18 17 September 25, 2002 62 26 12 July 2, 2002 66 18 17 May 1, 2002 67 19 14 April 18, 2002 66 19 15 February 27, 2002 70 18 13 January 23, 2002 70 16 14 November 14, 2001 78 12 10 October 2, 2001 81 12 7 June 26, 2001 56 30 14 April 24, 2001 58 27 15 March 28, 2001 61 24 16 February 14, 2001 57 28 15 December 14, 2000 66 23 11 August 10, 2000 61 24 15 July 13, 2000 60 27 12 June 7, 2000 62 25 13 May 16, 2000 63 27 10 May 2, 2000 58 29 12 April 6, 2000 56 31 13 March 2, 2000 57 31 12 February 10, 2000 57 32 12 January 20, 2000 60 29 11 December 14, 1999 60 29 11 November 11, 1999 60 29 12 October 5, 1999 57 31 11 September 15, 1999 60 27 12 August 2, 1999 56 34 10 July 1, 1999 54 35 11 May 24, 1999 58 32 10 April 25, 1999 57 31 12 April 15, 1999 59 31 10 March 24, 1999 60 30 11 February 24, 1999 60 27 13 February 4, 1999 64 27 8 October 28, 1998 64 25 11 October 15, 1998 63 26 11 September 27, 1998 62 26 11 June 17, 1998 64 29 7 March 25, 1998 69 24 7 February 25, 1998 70 22 8 December 10, 1997 62 30 7 September 24, 1997 60 35 6 July 22, 1997 52 41 7 April 24, 1997 54 35 11 March 4, 1997 56 34 10 October 30, 1996 53 31 16 September 22, 1996 51 35 14 June 18, 1996 46 45 9 April 28, 1996 48 40 12 March 4, 1996 47 41 12 Do you approve or disapprove of the way George Pataki is handling his job as Governor of New York? App Dis DK/NA December 11, 1995 46 40 14 November 6, 1995 42 41 18 April 27, 1995 41 40 20 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charles Schumer is handling his job as United States Senator? App Dis DK/NA June 25, 2003 57 23 21 April 24, 2003 59 22 19 February 12, 2003 56 22 22 December 19, 2002 57 22 21 September 26, 2002 58 17 25 July 3, 2002 61 17 22 May 1, 2002 58 18 24 April 18, 2002 60 17 23 February 27, 2002 61 16 23 January 25, 2002 63 17 21 November 14, 2001 64 16 20 October 2, 2001 69 11 19 June 28, 2001 60 18 22 April 26, 2001 61 17 22 March 28, 2001 60 18 22 February 14, 2001 56 21 23 December 13, 2000 62 19 19 May 2, 2000 52 18 30 November 11, 1999 55 19 26 September 16, 1999 55 18 27 April 15, 1999 51 22 28 March 23, 1999 52 20 28 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Hillary Rodham Clinton is handling her job as United States Senator? App Dis DK/NA June 25, 2003 57 34 9 April 24, 2003 52 36 12 February 12, 2003 56 34 9 December 19, 2002 57 31 12 September 26, 2002 53 35 12 July 3, 2002 56 31 13 May 1, 2002 57 30 13 April 18, 2002 58 28 13 February 27, 2002 58 32 10 January 25, 2002 55 31 14 November 14, 2001 54 34 13 October 2, 2001 59 28 12 June 28, 2001 52 31 17 April 26, 2001 47 34 19 March 28, 2001 40 38 23 February 14, 2001 38 30 33 In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in New York State today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? Very Smwht Smwht Very Sat Sat DisSat DisSat DK/NA June 25, 2003 4 33 37 25 1 April 23, 2003 5 32 32 29 2 February 12, 2003 4 40 33 22 1 December 19, 2002 7 44 27 21 - September 26, 2002 8 54 23 14 1 January 24, 2002 12 58 21 8 1 December 27, 2000 13 57 20 8 1 March 25, 1998 12 55 23 9 1 February 25, 1998 13 60 20 7 1 December 10, 1997 9 51 27 12 1 1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George Pataki is handling his job as Governor? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Approve 43% 65% 33% 39% 49% 39% 42% Disapprove 45 23 60 47 40 49 48 DK/NA 11 12 7 14 11 12 11 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr total NYC Sub Approve 42% 42% 42% 38% 56% Disapprove 44 46 45 53 32 DK/NA 14 12 13 9 13 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charles Schumer is handling his job as United States Senator? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Approve 57% 47% 64% 58% 56% 58% 50% Disapprove 23 35 16 19 26 20 26 DK/NA 21 18 19 23 19 22 24 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr total NYC Sub Approve 52% 55% 54% 59% 58% Disapprove 26 22 23 22 24 DK/NA 22 23 23 19 18 3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Hillary Rodham Clinton is handling her job as United States Senator? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Approve 57% 28% 78% 56% 51% 61% 57% Disapprove 34 65 12 33 39 30 31 DK/NA 9 7 9 10 9 9 13 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr total NYC Sub Approve 55% 48% 50% 70% 47% Disapprove 35 42 40 19 48 DK/NA 11 9 10 11 5 5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Eliot Spitzer is handling his job as State Attorney General? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Approve 57% 59% 57% 59% 61% 53% 55% Disapprove 14 17 15 9 14 14 13 DK/NA 29 25 28 31 25 33 32 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr total NYC Sub Approve 55% 61% 59% 56% 55% Disapprove 15 10 11 17 13 DK/NA 30 30 30 27 32 6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Alan Hevesi is handling his job as State Comptroller? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Approve 40% 37% 47% 36% 41% 40% 41% Disapprove 18 19 14 23 18 18 20 DK/NA 42 43 39 41 41 42 39 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr total NYC Sub Approve 31% 34% 33% 51% 37% Disapprove 20 14 16 19 19 DK/NA 50 51 51 30 43 7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Sheldon Silver is handling his job as State Assembly Speaker? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Approve 33% 25% 39% 31% 31% 35% 32% Disapprove 25 34 19 26 29 22 27 DK/NA 42 41 42 43 40 43 41 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr total NYC Sub Approve 36% 32% 33% 39% 23% Disapprove 28 30 29 21 26 DK/NA 37 38 38 40 51 8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joseph Bruno is handling his job as State Senate Majority Leader? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Approve 32% 35% 32% 30% 34% 30% 30% Disapprove 25 24 27 24 27 24 24 DK/NA 43 40 41 46 39 46 46 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr total NYC Sub Approve 31% 36% 34% 31% 29% Disapprove 26 26 26 26 23 DK/NA 43 39 40 43 47 17. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in New York State today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Very satisfied 4% 7% 4% 1% 4% 3% 3% Smwht satisfied 33 45 26 32 35 30 28 Smwht dissatisfied 37 30 36 41 35 39 37 Very dissatisfied 25 18 32 26 25 26 31 DK/NA 1 1 2 - 1 2 1 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr total NYC Sub Very satisfied 4% 3% 3% 3% 5% Smwht satisfied 26 34 32 25 47 Smwht dissatisfied 43 38 39 36 35 Very dissatisfied 24 25 24 34 13 DK/NA 3 1 1 2 - 18. Would you say that George Pataki - has strong leadership qualities or not? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Yes 62% 77% 55% 60% 66% 57% 63% No 32 20 36 38 28 36 32 DK/NA 6 3 8 2 5 7 5 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr total NYC Sub Yes 65% 61% 62% 57% 68% No 28 31 30 36 29 DK/NA 7 8 8 6 3 19. Would you say that George Pataki is honest and trustworthy or not? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Yes 55% 74% 47% 52% 59% 51% 48% No 35 19 41 40 32 37 39 DK/NA 10 6 12 8 9 12 13 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr total NYC Sub Yes 53% 54% 54% 49% 67% No 34 34 34 40 25 DK/NA 12 11 12 10 8 20. Would you say that George Pataki cares about the needs and problems of people like you or not? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Yes 42% 63% 30% 41% 49% 36% 38% No 48 30 60 52 41 55 51 DK/NA 9 7 10 7 10 9 11 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr total NYC Sub Yes 43% 42% 42% 32% 58% No 53 47 49 57 34 DK/NA 5 11 9 10 8 21. Would you say that George Pataki has a likable personality or not? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Yes 65% 77% 58% 67% 70% 60% 68% No 27 15 35 26 23 30 25 DK/NA 8 7 8 7 7 10 6 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr total NYC Sub Yes 58% 69% 66% 60% 72% No 29 21 23 33 24 DK/NA 13 10 11 8 4 22. Would you say that George Pataki - would be fun to have dinner with or not? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Yes 42% 51% 36% 42% 46% 38% 42% No 48 38 55 47 45 50 50 DK/NA 10 11 9 11 9 11 9 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr total NYC Sub Yes 42% 41% 42% 40% 45% No 46 47 47 51 45 DK/NA 12 12 12 9 10 23. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George Pataki is handling the state budget? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Approve 26% 43% 18% 19% 33% 19% 26% Disapprove 66 48 74 74 62 69 67 DK/NA 8 9 8 7 5 12 7 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr total NYC Sub Approve 19% 24% 23% 20% 39% Disapprove 73 67 69 74 48 DK/NA 8 9 9 6 12 24. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George Pataki is handling education? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Approve 30% 49% 19% 25% 33% 27% 25% Disapprove 62 43 72 66 60 63 67 DK/NA 8 8 8 9 7 10 8 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr total NYC Sub Approve 30% 29% 29% 26% 38% Disapprove 63 63 63 65 54 DK/NA 7 8 8 9 8 25. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George Pataki is handling taxes? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Approve 28% 44% 19% 27% 34% 22% 31% Disapprove 66 49 77 66 60 71 64 DK/NA 6 7 4 8 6 7 5 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr total NYC Sub Approve 22% 22% 22% 25% 44% Disapprove 72 69 70 71 50 DK/NA 5 9 8 5 6 26. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George Pataki is handling the economy and jobs? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Approve 29% 46% 18% 25% 35% 24% 29% Disapprove 63 43 75 68 60 66 64 DK/NA 8 10 7 7 5 10 7 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr total NYC Sub Approve 19% 28% 26% 24% 43% Disapprove 71 62 65 71 48 DK/NA 10 9 10 5 9 27. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George Pataki is dealing with the state legislature? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Approve 36% 52% 28% 33% 40% 32% 32% Disapprove 44 28 52 48 42 45 45 DK/NA 21 20 19 20 18 23 23 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr total NYC Sub Approve 28% 33% 32% 33% 47% Disapprove 56 46 49 48 28 DK/NA 17 21 19 19 25 28. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Approve 32% 31% 34% 29% 32% 32% 31% Disapprove 51 53 49 56 55 48 51 DK/NA 17 17 17 15 14 21 18 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr total NYC Sub Approve 26% 31% 30% 34% 32% Disapprove 58 52 54 51 45 DK/NA 16 17 16 15 23 9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling the state budget? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Approve 20% 22% 22% 18% 24% 18% 24% Disapprove 66 64 64 71 65 67 64 DK/NA 14 14 14 11 11 16 13 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr total NYC Sub Approve 19% 21% 20% 21% 20% Disapprove 70 67 67 65 65 DK/NA 11 12 12 15 15 30. Does Governor Pataki's veto of the state budget make you think that he is dedicated to holding down taxes or not? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Yes 39% 54% 28% 42% 48% 31% 38% No 48 32 60 48 42 54 52 DK/NA 13 14 12 10 10 14 10 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr total NYC Sub Yes 37% 40% 39% 31% 51% No 50 48 49 54 38 DK/NA 13 12 12 14 11 31. As you may know, the state legislature overrode Pataki's veto of the state budget. Does this make you think that Pataki is an ineffective leader or not? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds Yes 27% 19% 35% 25% 24% 31% 27% No 63 72 53 68 68 59 65 DK/NA 10 9 11 6 8 10 7 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr total NYC Sub Yes 30% 25% 27% 31% 24% No 63 63 63 61 67 DK/NA 8 12 11 8 9
