New York City (NYC) Poll * September 5, 2001 * Undecided Is Big Winner In Com - Quinnipiac University

Home> Institutes and Centers> Quinnipiac University Polling Institute> New York City (NYC)> Release Detail

September 5, 2001 - Undecided Is Big Winner In Comptroller Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; `Who Are These Guys?' Voters Ask In Advocate Race


Former Board of Education President William Thompson and City Council Finance Committee Chair Herbert Berman are tied among likely Democratic primary voters in their race for City Comptroller, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Thompson gets 24 percent to Berman's 22 percent.
More than half - 52 percent - of likely Democratic voters are undecided.
The seven-way race for Public Advocate is even more clouded, with no candidate getting 20 percent of the vote. Among likely Democratic voters:
Betsy Gotbaum gets 17 percent; Norman Siegel gets 14 percent; Stephen DiBrienza gets 10 percent; Scott Stringer gets 9 percent; Willie Colon gets 6 percent; Kathryn Freed gets 5 percent; Sheila Flaxman gets 2 percent; 36 percent remain undecided.
From August 27 - September 3, Quinnipiac University surveyed 303 New York City likely Democratic primary voters, with a margin of error of +/- 5.6 percent.
"In the races for City Comptroller and Public Advocate, the winner is - `Don't Know,'" said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"With only two candidates in the Comptroller's race, there can't be a runoff. But with the huge undecided bloc, this race is too close to call," Carroll added.
"Support in the seven-candidate Public Advocate race is all over the lot. A runoff seems inevitable."
Only 14 percent of likely Democratic primary voters say they are paying "a lot of attention to the Comptroller's race, while 35 percent say they are paying "some attention;" 33 percent say they are paying "only a little" attention and 18 percent say they are paying no attention to the race.
Results of voter attention to the Public Advocate's race are similar.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., 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 call (203) 582-5201
12. How much attention have you been paying to the campaign for City Comptroller? A lot, some, only a little, or none at all.
Likely Democratic Primary Voters A lot 14% Some 35 Only a little 33 None at all 18 DK/NA -
13. If the Democratic primary for City Comptroller were being held today and the candidates were William Thompson and Herbert Berman for whom would you vote?
Likely Democratic Primary Voters Thompson 24% Berman 22 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 DK/NA 52
14. How much attention have you been paying to the campaign for Public Advocate? A lot, some, only a little, or none at all.
Likely Democratic Primary Voters A lot 16% Some 35 Only a little 31 None at all 17 DK/NA 1
15. If the Democratic primary for Public Advocate were being held today and the candidates were Betsy Gotbaum, Stephen DiBrienza, Kathryn Freed, Scott Stringer, Norman Siegel, Willie Colon and Sheila Flaxman for whom would you vote?
Likely Democratic Primary Voters Gotbaum 17% DiBrienza 10 Freed 5 Stringer 9 Siegel 14 Colon 6 Flaxman 2 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 DK/NA 36
16. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Rudolph Giuliani is handling his job as Mayor?
Likely Democratic Primary Voters Approve 42% Disapprove 49 DK/NA 9