September 16, 1999 - New York Voters Nix President's F.A.L.N. Clemency Bid, Quinnipiac College Poll Finds; But Clinton-Giuliani Senate Race Is Locked In Dead Heat By a 52 - 12 percent margin, New York State voters disapprove of President Clinton's decision to free Puerto Rican prisoners convicted of crimes linked to terror bombings, according to a Quinnipiac College poll released today. Another 35 percent say they don't know enough about the subject to offer an opinion. Despite the controversy, the undeclared Senate race between First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani remains locked in a dead heat, with 45 percent for Mrs. Clinton and 44 percent for Mayor Giuliani, the independent Quinnipiac College Poll finds. A July 29 Quinnipiac College Poll showed them in a 45 - 45 percent tie. This latest poll of 911 New York State registered voters was conducted September 7 - 13 and has a margin of error of +/- 3.3 percent. Mrs. Clinton's opposition to clemency makes 15 percent of New York voters more likely to vote for her, while 10 percent are less likely and 71 percent say it won't influence their vote. "The Puerto Rican clemency issue, which has dominated political news in New York for weeks, has left the head-to-head Senate race unchanged. Fully one-third of the voters have no opinion on the President's decision and two-thirds say Hillary Clinton's opposition makes no difference," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac College Polling Institute. "The other big political development, the Clintons' purchase of a real New York home, also has barely helped Mrs. Clinton with her `carpetbagger' problem. New Yorkers split 49 - 50 percent on whether it bothers them that Mrs. Clinton is not currently a resident of New York, compared to 52 - 46 percent in the July 29 poll. "The good news for Mrs. Clinton is that New Yorkers apparently like politicians who listen, " Carroll added. Candidates should spend more time listening to the voters, according to 54 percent of New Yorkers, while 32 percent say candidates should spend more time explaining their positions. By a 37 - 34 percent margin, New Yorkers have a favorable opinion of Clinton, with 22 percent mixed and 6 percent who haven't heard enough to form an opinion. Giuliani's favorability ratings are 37 - 27 percent, with 25 percent mixed and 11 percent who haven't heard enough to form an opinion. Clinton "cares about the needs and problems of people like you," New Yorkers say 60 - 35 percent. But only 39 percent of voters say she "understands the issues and problems facing New York State," while 53 percent say she does not understand. By a smaller 55 - 34 percent margin, New Yorkers say Giuliani "cares about the needs and problems of people like you," but by a big 66 - 26 percent margin, they say he "understands the issues and problems facing New York State." "We see a split where Mrs. Clinton gets credit for `caring' at a personal level, while Mayor Giuliani is way ahead on understanding New York State issues," Carroll said. "Voters also trust Giuliani more, but like Clinton better." New Yorkers split 48 - 43 percent on whether Clinton is "honest and trustworthy," while they say 59 - 29 percent that Giuliani is "honest and trustworthy." By a 69 - 26 percent margin, New York State voters say Clinton has a "likable personality," and by a 66 - 24 percent they say she would make a good neighbor. New Yorkers split 45 - 44 percent on whether Giuliani has a "likable personality," and by a 57 - 31 percent margin, they say he would make a good neighbor. 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 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charles Schumer is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 55% 50% 62% 55% 46% 70% 53% 55% 55% Disapprove 18 18 17 18 27 11 17 20 16 DK/NA 27 32 21 27 28 19 30 25 29 3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Daniel Patrick Moynihan is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 59% 59% 57% 61% 50% 67% 62% 61% 57% Disapprove 21 20 20 23 33 13 18 23 19 DK/NA 20 21 23 16 17 19 20 15 24 4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Clinton is handling his job as President? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 60% 54% 74% 53% 34% 87% 57% 58% 62% Disapprove 36 42 22 44 63 11 38 39 34 DK/NA 4 4 4 3 2 2 6 3 4 6. How much attention have you been paying to the election campaign for United States Senator from New York in the year 2000 -- a lot, some, only a little, or none at all? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom A lot 35% 31% 36% 39% 36% 34% 35% 38% 32% Some 34 36 34 32 34 38 32 29 38 Only a little 23 25 21 22 22 22 24 23 23 None at all 8 8 8 7 7 7 8 8 7 DK/NA - - - 1 1 - 1 1 - 7. Is your opinion of First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about her? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 37% 32% 51% 30% 16% 61% 31% 32% 41% Unfavorable 34 37 24 40 58 12 35 40 28 Mixed 22 25 18 24 19 21 28 18 26 Hvn't hrd enough 6 6 6 6 6 5 6 9 4 REFUSED 1 1 1 - 1 1 - 1 1 8. Is your opinion of New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 37% 32% 35% 47% 62% 21% 33% 44% 32% Unfavorable 27 17 43 22 9 42 26 25 28 Mixed 25 26 20 29 17 26 30 21 27 Hvn't hrd enough 11 24 1 2 10 10 11 9 12 REFUSED 1 1 1 - 1 1 - 1 1 9. If the election for United States Senator in the year 2000 were being held today and the candidates were Hillary Rodham Clinton the Democrat, and Rudolph Giuliani the Republican, for whom would you vote? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Rodham Clinton 45% 40% 60% 34% 12% 78% 38% 38% 50% Giuliani 44 48 31 53 77 15 47 52 37 SOMEONE ELSE (VOL) 2 2 2 3 3 1 3 2 2 WOULDN'T VOTE (VOL) 2 3 - 2 2 1 2 1 2 DK/NA 7 8 6 8 6 6 10 7 8 10. Which would you rather see a candidate for United States Senate spend their time doing - listening to what voters have to say, or explaining their positions to voters? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Listening 54% 59% 52% 49% 56% 55% 50% 51% 56% Explaining 32 29 31 39 33 28 34 36 29 BOTH(VOL) 12 10 14 13 9 16 12 9 14 DK/NA 2 3 3 - 2 1 3 4 1 11. I'm going to read off some personal characteristics and qualities. As I read each one, tell me if you think it applies to Hillary Rodham Clinton or not? Would you say that Hillary Rodham Clinton -- cares about the needs and problems of people like you or not? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 60% 57% 66% 58% 42% 81% 54% 52% 66% No 35 39 28 36 50 15 41 44 27 DK/NA 5 5 6 6 8 4 5 4 7 12. Would you say that Hillary Rodham Clinton -- is honest and trustworthy or not? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 48% 42% 59% 42% 27% 74% 40% 43% 51% No 43 47 33 47 64 17 49 49 38 DK/NA 10 11 8 11 8 9 11 8 11 13. Would you say that Hillary Rodham Clinton -- has a likeable personality or not? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 69% 69% 74% 64% 56% 85% 69% 66% 72% No 26 26 20 35 41 12 25 29 24 DK/NA 4 6 5 2 3 3 6 5 4 14. Would you say that Hillary Rodham Clinton -- understands the issues and problems facing New York State or not? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 39% 32% 50% 36% 19% 62% 33% 31% 45% No 53 60 42 55 75 28 58 61 46 DK/NA 9 9 8 9 6 10 9 8 9 15. Would you say that Hillary Rodham Clinton -- would make a good neighbor or not? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 66% 60% 74% 68% 49% 82% 68% 65% 67% No 24 28 18 26 42 10 23 27 23 DK/NA 9 12 8 6 9 8 9 8 10 16. 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 -- cares about the needs and problems of people like you or not? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 55% 51% 47% 73% 72% 44% 53% 57% 54% No 34 31 48 22 19 48 33 34 35 DK/NA 10 18 4 5 9 8 14 9 11 17. Would you say that Rudolph Giuliani -- is honest and trustworthy or not? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 59% 57% 53% 70% 78% 48% 58% 65% 54% No 29 22 42 24 13 41 29 27 31 DK/NA 12 21 5 6 9 12 14 8 15 18. Would you say that Rudolph Giuliani -- has a likeable personality or not? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 45% 54% 28% 53% 65% 32% 42% 48% 43% No 44 28 68 41 23 59 47 45 44 DK/NA 11 19 4 7 13 8 11 7 13 19. Would you say that Rudolph Giuliani -- understands the issues and problems facing New York State or not? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 66% 59% 62% 83% 84% 55% 66% 72% 62% No 26 28 34 13 9 37 26 22 29 DK/NA 8 13 5 4 8 8 8 6 9 20. Would you say that Rudolph Giuliani -- would make a good neighbor or not? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 57% 57% 50% 66% 77% 44% 57% 60% 54% No 31 23 45 27 13 44 30 30 32 DK/NA 12 20 5 7 10 13 13 9 14 21. If Hillary Rodham Clinton were to run for the United States Senate in New York, would the fact that she is not currently a resident of New York bother you or not bother you? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes, would bother me 49% 56% 36% 55% 75% 24% 55% 53% 46% No, wouldn't bother me 50 43 64 43 23 74 44 45 53 DK/NA 1 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 2 30. President Clinton has offered clemency to 16 jailed Puerto Rican nationalists serving federal prison sentences for terrorism. Do you approve or disapprove of President Clinton's offer of clemency, or haven't you heard enough about it? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 12% 6% 20% 11% 8% 17% 12% 14% 11% Disapprove 52 54 42 61 69 35 58 58 48 Haven't hrd enough 35 38 35 28 22 46 29 28 40 REFUSED 1 1 2 - - 2 1 1 2 31. Hillary Rodham Clinton opposes clemency for the 16 jailed Puerto Rican nationalists serving federal prison sentences for terrorism. Does this make you more likely to vote for Hillary Rodham Clinton for Senator, less likely, or doesn't it make a difference? Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More likely 15% 14% 15% 18% 13% 19% 12% 14% 16% Less likely 10 8 11 12 16 5 12 12 8 No diff 71 74 69 67 67 74 70 70 71 DK/NA 4 4 5 4 4 2 5 4 4
