New York City (NYC) Poll * May 23, 2007 * Mayor's Approval Remains At Ne - Quinnipiac University

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May 23, 2007 - Mayor's Approval Remains At Near Record High, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; More Would Back Him For Governor Than President

Word format New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's approval record is at a near record high 74 - 19 percent, and he leads the list when New Yorkers are asked whom they would like to see elected Mayor in 2009, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
The Mayor's previous high 75 - 16 percent approval in a January 16 independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll had dipped slightly 73 - 19 percent March 14.
In this latest survey, black voters approve of Bloomberg 77 - 18 percent, while white voters approve 80 - 13 percent and Hispanic voters approve 63 - 28 percent.
In an open-ended question, where respondents can give any answer, 22 percent of New York City voters say they would like to see Bloomberg elected Mayor in 2009, despite term limits. Results for other possible candidates are:
3 percent each for Sen. Hillary Clinton and former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani; 2 percent each for Comptroller William Thompson, U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly; 1 percent each for Council Speaker Christine Quinn and former mayoral candidates Mark Green and Rev. Al Sharpton.
"Mayor Mike is on a run that just won't quit, with another 70 plus approval rating. Not only do they like the job Bloomberg is doing now, many New Yorkers would like him to do it for four more years, even though term limits won't let him," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
If Bloomberg runs for President, 37 percent of New York City voters say they "definitely" or "probably" will vote for him, while 54 percent say they "probably" or "definitely" won't vote for him.
But if he runs for Governor, 60 percent of New Yorkers say they "definitely" or "probably" will vote for him, with 33 percent who say they "probably" or "definitely" won't.
"Mayor Bloomberg is like the Energizer Bunny: He keeps running and running. But what is he running for? While the press speculates, the public is divided - the White House or the Executive Mansion? Albany beats Washington as the favored destination for a post-mayoral Mike," Carroll added.
New York City voters approve 42 - 15 percent of the job Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum is dong, with 44 percent undecided. But only 30 percent say she would be a good mayor, with 34 percent who say she would not be a good mayor and 36 percent undecided.
Approval ratings for other New York City leaders are:
47 - 13 percent for Speaker Quinn; 46 - 12 percent for Comptroller Thompson; 58 - 27 percent for Police Commissioner Kelly; 37 - 39 percent for Schools Chancellor Joel Klein.
"New Yorkers are skeptical about Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum's possible performance as mayor. A third of them don't want to predict how she'd do if Bloomberg left and she took over. Of the rest, she draws more negative than positive predictions," Carroll said. "Gotbaum's job approval numbers are positive. But a lot of New Yorkers don't know much about her."
"Police Commissioner Kelly dropped from a 70 percent approval rating to 52 percent in the wake of the Sean Bell shooting. Now he's at 58 -27 percent, with a split 43 - 32 percent score among blacks."
From May 15 - 21, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,018 New York City registered voters, with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and nationwide as a public service and for research. For more data -- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x271.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.
1. The next mayoral election will be held in about two and a half years. Who would you like to see elected Mayor in the year 2009?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Michael Bloomberg 22% 22% 23% 21% 24% 22% 17% Hillary Clinton 3 3 3 1 - 7 3 Rudy Giuliani 3 4 2 6 3 2 5 Mark Green 1 - 1 - 1 - - Ray Kelly 2 4 1 3 2 2 1 Christine Quinn 1 - 2 1 2 1 - Al Sharpton 1 - 1 1 - 2 1 William(Bill) Thompson 2 1 2 1 1 5 1 Anthony Weiner 2 2 3 3 3 2 2 OTHER SPECIFY 5 6 5 6 6 4 5 DK/NA 57 55 55 57 56 50 63
2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Michael Bloomberg is handling his job as Mayor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Approve 74% 78% 74% 72% 80% 77% 63% Disapprove 19 13 19 19 13 18 28 DK/NA 7 9 6 10 7 6 9 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 72% 68% 80% 76% 75% 81% 68% Disapprove 18 23 15 17 18 15 21 DK/NA 11 9 4 7 7 4 10
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Michael Bloomberg is handling his job as Mayor? * - also 75% on 11/17/2005
Highest Lowest Approve Approve May 23 Mar 14 Jan 16 Nov 14 Jul 12 Jan 16 Jul 2 2007 2007 2007 2006 2006 2007* 2003 Approve 74 73 75 72 72 75 31 Disapprove 19 19 16 20 19 16 60 DK/NA 7 8 9 8 9 9 8
3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ray Kelly is handling his job as Police Commissioner?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Approve 58% 70% 55% 61% 73% 43% 50% Disapprove 27 14 31 26 13 42 35 DK/NA 14 16 14 13 14 15 14 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 46% 58% 67% 57% 66% 65% 52% Disapprove 41 26 20 29 23 24 30 DK/NA 13 17 13 15 11 11 18
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ray Kelly is handling his job as Police Commissioner? * - also 70% on 2/3/06
Highest Lowest Approve Approve May 23 Mar 15 Jan 16 Jul 12 Apr 13 Mar 9 Jan 16 2007 2007 2007 2006 2006 2006 * 2007 Approve 58 56 52 66 68 70 52 Disapprove 27 30 34 20 18 17 34 DK/NA 14 14 14 14 14 13 14
4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joel Klein is handling his job as New York City Schools Chancellor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Approve 37% 36% 40% 35% 42% 31% 39% Disapprove 39 39 38 43 34 46 46 DK/NA 23 25 22 22 24 23 15 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 32% 33% 48% 36% 39% 40% 35% Disapprove 48 40 31 39 46 38 41 DK/NA 20 27 21 25 15 22 24
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joel Klein is handling his job as New York City Schools Chancellor?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve May 23 Mar 15 Jul 12 Apr 12 Mar 8 Feb 26 Mar 15 2007 2007 2006 2006 2006 2003 2007 Approve 37 33 37 38 38 46 33 Disapprove 39 43 40 39 40 27 43 DK/NA 23 24 22 23 22 28 24
5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Betsy Gotbaum is handling her job as Public Advocate?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Approve 42% 30% 47% 38% 39% 49% 46% Disapprove 15 23 11 16 16 12 13 DK/NA 44 47 42 46 45 39 41 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 43% 42% 40% 42% 52% 38% 45% Disapprove 16 15 13 14 17 19 11 DK/NA 42 43 47 45 31 43 44
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Betsy Gotbaum is handling her job as Public Advocate?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve May 23 Mar 14 Nov 14 Nov 25 Jul 2 Jul 2 Feb 26 2007 2007 2006 2003 2003 2003 2003 Approve 42 41 38 41 43 43 34 Disapprove 15 19 18 19 22 22 17 DK/NA 44 40 44 40 35 35 49
6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christine Quinn is handling her job as City Council Speaker?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Approve 47% 35% 53% 43% 44% 48% 53% Disapprove 13 23 10 13 12 15 11 DK/NA 40 41 37 44 44 37 36 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 41% 48% 49% 46% 56% 50% 45% Disapprove 16 13 11 12 12 15 11 DK/NA 43 40 40 42 31 35 45
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christine Quinn is handling her job as City Council Speaker?
May 23 Mar 14 Nov 14 2007 2007 2006 Approve 47 51 47 Disapprove 13 12 12 DK/NA 40 37 41
7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way William Thompson is handling his job as City Comptroller?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Approve 46% 49% 46% 49% 43% 58% 45% Disapprove 12 12 12 12 6 16 19 DK/NA 42 38 42 40 51 27 36 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 47% 49% 44% 45% 46% 52% 42% Disapprove 16 12 10 12 12 12 12 DK/NA 38 39 45 43 42 36 46
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way William Thompson is handling his job as City Comptroller?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve May 23 Mar 14 Nov 14 Nov 25 Jul 2 May 23 Feb 26 2007 2007 2006 2003 2003 2007 2003 Approve 46 43 45 37 38 46 35 Disapprove 12 15 12 14 20 12 13 DK/NA 42 42 43 49 42 42 52
8. There has been a lot of talk about the possibility that Mayor Bloomberg might run for President. How likely do you think it is that he will run for President? Very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely at all?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Very likely 11% 20% 10% 9% 8% 15% 13% Smwht likely 35 30 38 33 35 36 37 Not too likely 29 27 29 29 37 24 24 Not likely at all 21 22 20 26 19 23 23 DK/NA 3 1 3 3 2 2 4 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Very likely 17% 12% 9% 12% 4% 10% 13% Smwht likely 40 32 34 38 36 34 36 Not too likely 22 33 33 24 31 32 26 Not likely at all 15 19 22 25 26 22 21 DK/NA 6 4 2 2 2 2 4
TREND: There has been a lot of talk about the possibility that Mayor Bloomberg might run for President. How likely do you think it is that he will run for President? Very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely at all?
May 23 Nov 14 Jul 12 2007 2006 2006 Very likely 11 10 11 Smwht likely 35 29 25 Not too likely 29 32 35 Not likely at all 21 26 27 DK/NA 3 4 2
9. If Mayor Bloomberg ran for President, how likely is it that you would vote for him? Would you definitely vote for him, probably vote for him, probably not vote for him, or definitely not vote for him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Definitely 13% 20% 11% 14% 11% 13% 16% Probably 24 31 21 26 28 26 16 Probably not 27 21 29 27 30 26 21 Definitely not 27 17 31 27 21 31 39 DK/NA 9 10 8 7 10 5 8 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Definitely 19% 7% 17% 15% 10% 16% 11% Probably 18 25 22 26 26 25 22 Probably not 25 28 31 23 26 28 26 Definitely not 25 31 22 30 28 25 30 DK/NA 13 8 8 6 10 6 11
TREND: If Mayor Bloomberg ran for President, how likely is it that you would vote for him? Would you definitely vote for him, probably vote for him, probably not vote for him, or definitely not vote for him?
May 23 Jul 12 2007 2006 Definitely 13 12 Probably 24 28 Probably not 27 22 Definitely not 27 26 DK/NA 9 11
10. If Mayor Bloomberg ran for governor, how likely is it that you would vote for him? Would you definitely vote for him, probably vote for him, probably not vote for him, or definitely not vote for him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Definitely 27% 49% 22% 26% 30% 20% 23% Probably 33 27 34 42 33 41 31 Probably not 17 13 19 14 20 17 15 Definitely not 16 7 19 14 11 18 24 DK/NA 6 4 6 4 6 4 7 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Definitely 29% 21% 26% 34% 26% 30% 24% Probably 27 38 33 32 33 31 35 Probably not 15 18 22 15 11 20 15 Definitely not 19 18 12 16 22 14 18 DK/NA 10 6 7 4 7 5 8
11. Should the next mayor be someone with - Business experience or Government experience?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Business 38% 56% 31% 45% 44% 29% 34% Government 44 34 50 39 41 53 46 DK/NA 18 10 19 16 15 18 20 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Business 33% 32% 45% 43% 42% 45% 33% Government 48 50 38 42 42 43 45 DK/NA 20 18 18 16 15 13 21
12. If Mayor Bloomberg leaves before his term expires, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum would become the Mayor. Do you think Betsy Gotbaum would make a good mayor or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Yes/Good Mayor 30% 19% 36% 24% 26% 35% 37% No/Not a good mayor 34 49 26 43 38 30 26 DK/NA 36 32 38 33 36 35 37 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Yes/Good Mayor 40% 28% 30% 27% 30% 30% 30% No/Not a good mayor 31 36 29 37 41 41 29 DK/NA 28 36 41 37 29 29 41