October 14, 1998 - Voters Like D'Amato And Schumer Less, But Race Is Tied, Quinnipiac College Poll Finds; New Yorkers Don't Trust Candidates' Ads The U.S. Senate race in New York is dead even, with 46 percent of likely voters for Rep. Charles Schumer, the Democratic challenger, and 45 percent for Republican incumbent Alfonse D'Amato, according to a Quinnipiac College Poll released today. D'Amato leads 57 - 38 percent among likely voters upstate, and holds a razor-thin 51 - 46 percent lead among suburban likely voters. Schumer takes New York City 60 - 31 percent. Both candidates have dropped in favorability among registered voters, as the campaign takes its toll. Schumer's favorability rating is 22 - 19 percent, with 20 percent mixed and 37 percent who say they haven't heard enough to form an opinion. This is down from a September 24 poll by the independent Quinnipiac College, when Schumer's favorability was 30 -11 percent, with 15 percent mixed and 42 percent with no opinion. D'Amato's favorability is negative 30 - 39 percent, with 23 percent mixed and 7 percent who haven't formed an opinion. This is down from the September 24 positive rating of 37 - 32 percent, with 21 percent mixed and 9 percent with no opinion. "In a mud fight, everyone gets dirty. The negative advertising barrage leveled at and by both candidates is scoring hits, as the favorability rating of Sen. D'Amato and Rep. Schumer is dropping," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac College Polling Institute. "At least the media gurus can tell the candidates that most people have seen the ads." D'Amato's approval rating is 44 - 47 percent among registered voters, down from his 48 - 38 percent approval September 24. By a 66 - 21 percent margin, registered voters say D'Amato spends more time attacking Schumer than explaining what he would do if reelected. By a 60 - 24 percent margin, voters say Schumer spends more time attacking D'Amato than explaining. Of the 78 percent of voters who have seen D'Amato's ads, 31 percent say they are mostly accurate while 53 percent say they are mostly misleading, with 30 percent finding them useful and 64 percent saying they are not useful. Of the 74 percent of voters who have seen Schumer's ads, 36 percent say they are mostly accurate while 46 percent say they are mostly misleading, with 36 percent finding them useful and 58 percent saying they are not useful. "New Yorkers see no difference between D'Amato and Schumer on the impeachment question: 38 percent trust Schumer to make the right decision about possible impeachment and removal of President Clinton, and 35 percent trust D'Amato," Carroll said. "Voters' message to Congressional and Senate candidates remains: Stay away from impeachment. It will hurt you more than help you." If a House or Senate candidate says Clinton should be impeached, 11 percent of voters say they would be more likely to vote for the candidate, while 36 percent would be less likely to back that candidate and 50 percent say the impeachment stand would make no difference. President Clinton's approval among registered voters is 65 - 33 percent, with women voters approving 70 - 27 percent and men approving 59 - 40 percent. Asked what Congress should do; 23 percent say Congress should impeach Clinton and remove him from office; 35 percent say Congress should censure Clinton; 41 percent say Congress should drop the matter; From October 7 -12, Quinnipiac College surveyed 1,096 New York State registered voters, including 583 likely voters. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3 percent for registered voters and 4.1 percent for likely voters. 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 Alfonse D'Amato is handling his job as United States Senator? Sep 24 Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom 1998 Approve 44% 45% 39% 49% 50% 39% 48% Disapprove 47 44 53 46 44 51 38 DK/NA 9 11 8 6 7 11 14 3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Daniel Patrick Moynihan is handling his job as United States Senator? Jun 18 Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom 1998 Approve 62% 64% 58% 65% 64% 61% 62% Disapprove 20 19 21 21 22 19 18 DK/NA 18 17 21 14 14 21 20 4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Clinton is handling his job as President? Sep 24 Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom 1998 Approve 65% 59% 76% 60% 59% 70% 67% Disapprove 33 38 22 39 40 27 29 DK/NA 2 3 2 1 2 3 4 16. Is your opinion of Charles Schumer favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? Sep 24 Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom 1998 Favorable 22% 12% 32% 28% 23% 22% 30% Unfavorable 19 22 14 21 26 13 11 Mixed 20 18 24 21 19 22 15 Haven't heard enough 37 48 30 28 31 42 42 Refused 1 - 1 1 1 1 1 17. Is your opinion of Alfonse D'Amato favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? Sep 24 Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom 1998 Favorable 30% 30% 25% 37% 37% 25% 37% Unfavorable 39 36 42 40 38 39 32 Mixed 23 24 25 19 20 26 21 Haven't heard enough 7 10 7 4 5 9 9 Refused 1 - 1 - - 1 1 18. If the 1998 election for United States Senator were being held today, would you vote for Charles Schumer the Democratic candidate or Alfonse D'Amato the Republican candidate? Sep 24 Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom 1998 Charles Schumer 46% 36% 59% 44% 42% 49% 44% Alfonse D'Amato 41 47 29 47 48 35 42 SOMEONE ELSE (VOL) 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 WON'T VOTE (VOL) 3 3 3 2 2 3 2 DK/NA 10 12 9 6 7 12 12 18. If the 1998 election for United States Senator were being held today, would you vote for Charles Schumer the Democratic candidate or Alfonse D'Amato the Republican candidate? (Likely Voters) LIKELY VOTERS Sep 24 Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom 1998 Charles Schumer 46% 38% 60% 46% 42% 51% 47% Alfonse D'Amato 45 51 31 51 53 37 43 SOMEONE ELSE (VOL) 1 1 1 1 - 2 1 DK/NA 7 10 9 2 5 11 9 19. Is your mind made up, or do you think you might change your mind before the election? LIKELY VOTERS Schumer D'Amato Voters Voters Mind made up 81% 78% Might change mind 19 21 DK/NA - - 20. Would you describe your support for (candidate's name) as strongly favoring him, or do you like him but with reservations, or do you support him because you dislike (other candidate's name)? LIKELY VOTERS Schumer D'Amato Voters Voters Strongly favor 39% 48% Like, but with reservations 25 42 Dislike other candidate 34 9 DK/NA 2 1 28. Would you say that Alfonse D'Amato can get things done or not? Apr 23 Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom 1997 Yes 73% 71% 68% 83% 81% 67% 71% No 19 19 24 14 15 23 19 DK/NA 8 10 8 3 4 11 9 29. Would you say that Alfonse D'Amato cares about the needs and problems of New York City residents or not? Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom Yes 62% 70% 50% 65% 69% 56% No 28 17 41 29 23 31 DK/NA 10 13 9 6 7 13 30. Would you say that Alfonse D'Amato is honest and trustworthy or not? Apr 23 Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom 1997 Yes 38% 38% 32% 44% 42% 34% 34% No 49 47 52 48 48 50 53 DK/NA 13 15 16 8 10 16 13 31. Would you say that Alfonse D'Amato cares about the needs and problems of upstate residents or not? Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom Yes 51% 49% 54% 52% 57% 47% No 33 40 23 34 30 35 DK/NA 16 12 23 14 13 18 32. Would you say that Charles Schumer can get things done or not? Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom Yes 45% 35% 59% 45% 47% 44% No 21 22 15 26 25 17 DK/NA 34 43 26 29 28 39 33. Would you say that Charles Schumer cares about the needs and problems of New York City residents or not? Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom Yes 61% 59% 66% 60% 65% 58% No 12 7 15 15 13 11 DK/NA 27 34 19 26 22 31 34. Would you say that Charles Schumer is honest and trustworthy or not? Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom Yes 46% 37% 56% 49% 49% 44% No 21 19 19 25 24 18 DK/NA 33 44 25 26 27 39 35. Would you say that Charles Schumer cares about the needs and problems of upstate residents or not? Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom Yes 37% 27% 48% 39% 36% 37% No 28 36 20 25 33 23 DK/NA 35 37 32 36 30 39 36. Do you think of Charles Schumer more as a liberal, moderate, or conservative? Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom Liberal 37% 34% 35% 44% 47% 28% Moderate 29 25 34 28 26 31 Conservative 10 8 14 6 9 10 DK/NA 25 33 17 22 18 31 37. Do you think of Alfonse D'Amato more as a liberal, moderate, or conservative? Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom Liberal 16% 16% 19% 10% 13% 17% Moderate 27 27 22 32 30 24 Conservative 46 42 45 53 50 43 DK/NA 12 14 14 5 7 15 38. What do you think Alfonse D'Amato is spending more time doing in his campaign - explaining what he would do if re-elected Senator or attacking Charles Schumer? Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom Explaining 21% 21% 18% 24% 23% 19% Attacking 66 64 69 66 66 66 DK/NA 13 16 13 10 11 15 39. What do you think Charles Schumer is spending more time doing in his campaign - explaining what he would do if elected Senator or attacking Alfonse D'Amato? Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom Explaining 24% 20% 32% 20% 20% 27% Attacking 60 63 53 65 66 55 DK/NA 16 18 15 15 14 18 40. Have you seen any of Alfonse D'Amato's television ads for this year's election? Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom Yes 78% 77% 80% 80% 80% 77% No 20 20 20 20 19 21 DK/NA 2 3 1 - 1 2 41. Do you think D'Amato's television ads are mostly accurate or mostly misleading? SEEN ADS Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom Accurate 31% 33% 28% 31% 35% 27% Misleading 53 49 58 53 50 56 DK/NA 16 18 14 16 15 18 42. Have you found the information provided in D'Amato's television ads useful or not useful? SEEN ADS Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom Useful 30% 33% 29% 27% 33% 27% Not useful 64 61 66 68 62 66 DK/NA 6 6 6 5 5 7 43. Have D'Amato's television ads made you more likely to vote for D'Amato, less likely to vote for D'Amato, or haven't they had any affect? SEEN ADS Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom More likely 11% 13% 9% 12% 13% 10% Less likely 28 26 35 23 27 29 No affect 59 59 54 65 59 59 DK/NA 2 2 2 1 1 2 44. Have you seen any of Charles Schumer's television ads for this year's election? Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom Yes 74% 71% 76% 74% 74% 73% No 25 28 22 24 24 25 DK/NA 1 1 2 2 2 1 45. Do you think Schumer's television ads are mostly accurate or mostly misleading? SEEN ADS Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom Accurate 36% 31% 43% 35% 36% 36% Misleading 46 46 42 49 49 43 DK/NA 18 23 15 15 16 21 46. Have you found the information provided in Schumer's television ads useful or not useful? SEEN ADS Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom Useful 36% 35% 41% 30% 34% 37% Not useful 58 56 53 66 61 55 DK/NA 7 8 7 4 5 8 47. Have Schumer's television ads made you more likely to vote for Schumer, less likely to vote for Schumer, or haven't they had any affect? SEEN ADS Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom More likely 18% 17% 23% 16% 16% 21% Less likely 23 26 17 25 27 19 No affect 57 55 59 57 56 57 DK/NA 2 2 1 2 1 2 48. Is your opinion of Bill Clinton favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? Mar 25 Sep 19 Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom 1998 1996 Favorable 45% 40% 58% 39% 40% 50% 57% 52% Unfavorable 35 40 23 42 43 28 23 24 Mixed 18 19 17 17 16 20 19 22 Hvn't hrd enough 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 Refused 1 - 1 1 - 1 - - 49. Given what you know right now, do you think Congress should: (A) Impeach and remove President Clinton from office, (B) Censure President Clinton - that is formally criticize him, or (C) Drop the matter. Sep 24 Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom 1998 A) Impeach and remove President Clinton from office 23% 27% 14% 27% 28% 18% 20% B) Censure President Clinton - that is formally criticize him 35 33 30 42 34 35 34 C) Drop the matter 41 38 54 29 35 46 41 DK/NA 2 2 2 2 2 1 4 50. Given what you know right now, do you think it would be better for the country if Bill Clinton resigned from office, or do you think it would be better for the country if Bill Clinton finished his term as President? Sep 24 Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom 1998 Resign 30% 35% 17% 36% 35% 25% 29% Finish his term 69 63 81 62 63 73 68 DK/NA 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 51. Do you think Bill Clinton shares the moral values most Americans try to live by, or not? Sep 24 Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom 1998 Yes, shares values 36% 29% 50% 30% 33% 38% 33% No, doesn't share values 57 66 41 63 61 54 58 DK/NA 7 5 9 7 5 8 8 52. If a candidate for Congress or Senate says President Clinton should be impeached and removed from office, would that make you more likely to vote for that candidate, less likely, or wouldn't it affect your decision? Sep 24 Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom 1998 More likely 11% 13% 8% 13% 13% 10% 10% Less likely 36 32 45 33 34 38 37 No affect on decision 50 54 44 53 50 51 50 DK/NA 2 2 2 2 3 1 3 55. Who do you trust more to make the right decision regarding the possible impeachment and removal of President Clinton -Alfonse D'Amato or Charles Schumer? Tot Ups NYC Sub Men Wom D'Amato 35% 40% 27% 40% 42% 30% Schumer 38 30 48 39 36 40 DK/NA 27 31 25 22 23 30
