April 6, 2000 - Gore Has Big Lead In New York Presidential Race, Quinnipiac College Poll Finds; Voters Back Pataki On Gun Control New York State voters give Democratic Vice President Al Gore a commanding 53 - 36 percent lead over Texas Gov. George W. Bush, the Republican candidate for President, according to a Quinnipiac College poll released today. With Pat Buchanan running on the reform ticket, Gore gets 52 percent, to 34 percent for Bush and 4 percent for Buchanan. In a March 30 poll of New Jersey voters by the independent Quinnipiac College, the Vice President had a 50 - 37 percent lead over Gov. Bush in New Jersey. In this latest survey, Quinnipiac College surveyed 1,058 New York State registered voters March 28 - April 3. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 3 percent. "When Vice President Gore or Gov. Bush come to New York, they probably will be looking for money, not votes. The Republican will have to stage a major come-from-behind coup to upset New York's Democratic tilt," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac College Polling Institute. By a 56 - 31 percent margin, New Yorkers approve of the job George Pataki is doing as Governor. But only 31 percent of voters, including 49 percent of Republicans, would like to see him run as GOP vice presidential candidate. If Pataki were the Republican running mate, 15 percent of New York voters would be more likely to vote Republican, while 22 percent would be less likely and 62 percent say it would make no difference in their decision. "If Bush is looking for a northeastern, pro-choice Catholic for Vice President, New Yorkers say, `Don't look at Albany,'" Carroll said. By a 37 - 25 percent margin, voters statewide have a favorable opinion of Gore, with 31 percent mixed and 6 percent saying they don't know enough to form an opinion. This compares to a 33 - 28 favorability rating for Gore in a March 1 Quinnipiac College poll. Bush's favorability is 26 - 39 percent, with 28 percent mixed and 6 percent saying they don't know enough to form an opinion. This is an improvement on his 24 - 44 percent rating in the March 1 poll, when he was locked in a primary battle with Arizona Sen. John McCain. By a 72 -22 percent margin, New Yorkers say controlling gun ownership is more important than protecting Americans' right to own guns. New York voter support for gun-control proposals advanced by Pataki is: 76 - 22 percent for a ban on the sale of assault weapons; 90 - 7 percent for requiring childproof trigger locks; 81 - 15 percent for raising the legal age for gun purchases from 18 to 21; 96 - 3 percent for requiring background checks for gun purchases at gun shows. Only 54 percent of New Yorkers have heard of read anything about "ballistic fingerprinting" for guns. Of that group, 85 percent are in favor. "When it comes to gun control, Gov. Pataki is on the right side with New York State voters. He might want to do a little more educating on the `ballistic fingerprinting' idea," Carroll said. "New Yorkers split 49 - 48 percent on an outright ban on handgun sales, something Pataki has not proposed, but they're heavily in favor of other limitations on weaponry." 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. For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu or (203) 287-5201. 1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George Pataki is handling his job as Governor of New York? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Men Wom Approve 56% 56% 46% 68% 77% 46% 55% 60% 35% 62% 51% Disapprove 31 30 41 22 16 41 31 27 55 28 34 DK/NA 13 15 13 9 7 13 14 13 10 10 16 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Clinton is handling his job as President? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Men Wom Approve 63% 54% 78% 60% 32% 85% 62% 57% 91% 57% 68% Disapprove 33 42 20 35 66 12 33 39 6 39 28 DK/NA 4 4 3 5 2 3 5 4 3 4 4 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Eliot Spitzer is handling his job as State Attorney General? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Men Wom Approve 51% 52% 49% 53% 49% 54% 54% 52% 56% 52% 50% Disapprove 14 13 18 11 19 12 11 12 17 18 10 DK/NA 35 36 33 36 32 34 35 36 27 29 40 4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way H.Carl McCall is handling his job as State Controller? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Men Wom Approve 50% 48% 53% 52% 48% 54% 52% 48% 73% 53% 48% Disapprove 11 11 12 9 13 10 10 10 12 14 9 DK/NA 38 41 35 39 38 36 38 42 15 33 43 12. How much attention have you been paying to the election campaign for President -- a lot, some, only a little, or none at all? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Men Wom A lot 48% 48% 46% 52% 57% 46% 48% 50% 49% 56% 42% Some 39 39 42 33 34 42 37 38 39 33 43 Only a little 11 10 8 14 8 10 12 10 9 9 12 None at all 3 3 3 1 2 2 3 2 4 2 3 DK/NA - - - - - - - - - - - 13. Is your opinion of Al Gore favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Men Wom Favorable 37% 29% 52% 33% 12% 63% 29% 33% 69% 33% 41% Unfavorable 25 33 16 25 55 7 25 28 10 33 19 Mixed 31 31 26 36 28 24 40 33 18 29 32 Hvn't hrd enough 6 7 6 5 5 6 6 5 3 5 7 REFUSED 1 - 1 1 - - - 1 - - 1 14. Is your opinion of George W. Bush favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Men Wom Favorable 26% 34% 19% 22% 58% 11% 20% 28% 12% 31% 22% Unfavorable 39 29 51 38 12 61 35 36 56 36 41 Mixed 28 30 23 32 26 22 37 30 22 27 29 Hvn't hrd enough 6 6 6 7 4 5 8 6 7 5 7 REFUSED 1 - 1 1 - - - 1 3 1 1 15. Is your opinion of Pat Buchanan favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Men Wom Favorable 5% 6% 4% 2% 7% 3% 4% 5% 4% 4% 5% Unfavorable 56 49 62 61 52 62 56 60 50 64 50 Mixed 17 19 13 19 25 12 19 18 14 16 18 Hvn't hrd enough 20 24 19 16 15 23 20 17 31 14 26 REFUSED 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 16. If the election for President were being held today and the candidates were Al Gore the Democrat and George W. Bush the Republican for whom would you vote? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Men Wom Gore 53% 40% 71% 53% 13% 86% 48% 48% 84% 49% 57% Bush 36 47 20 36 81 9 35 41 10 42 30 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 1 1 - - 2 1 2 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 2 2 1 1 3 2 - 2 1 DK/NA 8 10 6 7 4 5 12 9 4 5 11 17. If the election for President were being held today and the candidates were Al Gore the Democrat, George W. Bush the Republican and Pat Buchanan the Reform Party candidate for whom would you vote? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Men Wom Gore 52% 38% 69% 53% 13% 83% 48% 46% 79% 47% 56% Bush 34 43 19 37 77 8 32 39 9 41 28 Buchanan 4 6 3 1 4 2 5 4 5 4 3 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - 1 1 - - 2 - 2 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 - 2 2 DK/NA 9 12 6 6 6 6 12 9 6 5 12 18. Would you like to see George Pataki run as the Republican candidate for Vice-President or not? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Men Wom Yes 31% 33% 23% 36% 49% 24% 28% 34% 18% 33% 28% No 53 53 58 47 41 58 54 50 65 53 53 DK/NA 16 14 19 17 10 18 18 16 17 14 18 19. If George Pataki were the Republican Vice-Presidential candidate, would that make you more likely to vote for the Republican ticket, less likely, or wouldn't it make a difference? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Men Wom More likely 15% 16% 9% 19% 25% 8% 14% 16% 8% 16% 13% Less likely 22 19 27 20 12 31 19 19 39 19 25 Wldn't make diff 62 62 63 60 61 61 66 63 52 64 61 DK/NA 2 3 1 1 2 - 2 2 1 2 2 22. What do you think is more important: To protect the right of Americans to own guns or to control gun ownership? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Men Wom Protect rights 22% 33% 10% 18% 38% 10% 22% 25% 9% 31% 14% Control ownership 72 60 84 77 54 87 71 69 87 64 79 DK/NA 6 7 6 5 7 3 7 6 5 5 6 23. Which political party, the Democrats or the Republicans, do you trust to do a better job handling the issue of gun control? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Men Wom Democrats 50% 36% 68% 51% 17% 81% 44% 45% 76% 47% 53% Republicans 24 31 14 25 62 5 21 28 5 31 18 BOTH(VOL) 2 2 2 2 1 2 3 2 3 2 2 NEITHER(VOL) 10 11 7 11 10 4 13 10 10 11 9 DK/NA 13 19 9 11 9 7 18 15 6 8 18 24. Do you favor or oppose banning the sale of all handguns, except those that are issued to law enforcement officers and military? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Men Wom Favor 49% 37% 59% 57% 39% 64% 42% 46% 64% 40% 57% Oppose 48 60 39 40 58 35 56 51 34 58 40 DK/NA 3 3 2 3 3 2 2 3 2 2 3 25. Do you favor or oppose banning the sale of assault weapons? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Men Wom Favor 76% 75% 73% 81% 75% 79% 76% 79% 71% 75% 77% Oppose 22 23 24 16 23 20 21 19 29 23 21 DK/NA 3 2 3 3 2 1 3 3 - 2 3 26. Do you favor or oppose requiring childproof trigger locks on guns? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Men Wom Favor 90% 89% 92% 91% 82% 96% 90% 90% 96% 88% 93% Oppose 7 8 5 7 15 2 7 7 3 10 4 DK/NA 3 3 3 3 4 2 2 3 1 2 3 27. Do you favor or oppose raising the legal age for gun purchases from 18 to 21? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Men Wom Favor 81% 75% 84% 88% 78% 89% 78% 80% 89% 76% 86% Oppose 15 20 14 10 19 10 18 16 9 20 11 DK/NA 3 5 2 2 3 1 4 4 3 4 3 28. Do you favor or oppose requiring background checks on gun buyers at gun shows? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Men Wom Favor 96% 95% 96% 97% 95% 99% 95% 96% 96% 95% 97% Oppose 3 3 3 2 3 1 3 2 2 4 2 DK/NA 1 2 1 1 2 - 1 1 2 1 1 29. Have you heard or read anything about ballistics fingerprinting? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Men Wom Yes 54% 55% 53% 53% 52% 50% 57% 54% 50% 61% 48% No 45 44 45 46 47 49 41 45 49 38 51 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 29. (If "yes" Q29) Do you favor or oppose requiring ballistics fingerprinting of all new guns sold in New York? Heard or read about ballistics fingerprinting (Q29) Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Men Wom Favor 85% 79% 89% 91% 81% 93% 83% 85% 93% 82% 89% Oppose 10 13 7 7 13 5 11 10 6 13 6 DK/NA 5 8 4 2 6 3 6 5 2 5 5 31. Is your opinion of the National Rifle Association favorable, unfavorable, mixed or haven't you heard enough about it? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Men Wom Favorable 17% 25% 9% 14% 32% 8% 16% 20% 9% 24% 12% Unfavorable 38 26 48 44 24 52 36 40 36 35 41 Mixed 28 32 25 26 31 22 31 29 24 31 26 Hvn't hrd enough 16 16 17 14 13 18 16 11 29 10 21 DK/NA 1 1 1 2 - 1 1 1 1 - 1
