New York State (NY) Poll * June 19, 2007 * Spitzer Approval Bounces Back - Quinnipiac University

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June 19, 2007 - Spitzer Approval Bounces Back In New York, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; State Voters Prefer Congestion Pricing To Fare Hike

Word format New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer has a 60 - 22 percent approval rating, but only 22 percent of voters think his "Steamroller Style" is working, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
These numbers are up from a 48 - 27 percent Gov. Spitzer approval in an April 4 poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.
In this latest survey, Republican voters approve 53 - 30 percent of the job Spitzer is doing, while Democrats approve 66 - 18 percent and independent voters approve 60 - 17 percent.
New York State voters say 39 - 36 percent that Spitzer is a "steamroller." But only 22 percent say this tactic is working, while 42 percent say it contributes to legislative gridlock. Findings are similar among Democrats, Republicans and independent voters.
"Gov. Spitzer got his mojo back, regaining some of his approval rating, which tanked during budget negotiations," said Maurice Carroll, Director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "But there's not much enthusiasm for the governor's self-described role as some kind of 'steamroller.' Voters aren't sure whether he is or isn't but most think it's less likely to be an effective tactic than to tie up the Legislature."
Spitzer's dealings with the State Legislature are "mixed," 71 percent of voters say, with 10 percent saying the Governor is "successful" and 7 percent saying he is "unsuccessful."
"It's wait and see on Spitzer's dealings with the Legislature. A success? A flop? When the session is over, the electorate will decide," Carroll added.
Voters give legislative leaders very low marks, a negative 29 - 33 percent approval for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and a negative 26 - 34 percent for Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno. The State Legislature gets a negative 31 - 49 percent score.
New York City traffic congestion is a "very serious problem," 49 percent of voters statewide say, with 33 percent who say it is "somewhat serious."
Voters statewide oppose 52 - 31 percent Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposal to charge a fee for drivers entering Manhattan. Upstate voters oppose the idea 47 - 27 percent, while New York City voters oppose it 57 - 35 percent and suburban voters oppose it 54 - 34 percent.
But if the money from congestion pricing were used to prevent an increase in mass transit fares and bridge and tunnel tolls, voters statewide support the proposal 52 - 36 percent. Upstate voters would back the idea 50 - 33 percent, while New York City voters would back it 56 - 36 percent and suburban voters would back it 49 - 42 percent.
New York State voters who drive into Manhattan would back congestion pricing instead of a fare/toll hike 47 - 44 percent while voters who use mass transit to come to Manhattan would back this option 60 - 33 percent.
"Gov. Spitzer and Sen. Bruno like Mayor Bloomberg's congestion-pricing idea, but voters don't, particularly voters in the city where it would be used. But, offered proponents' claim that the congestion-pricing money would help mass transit, the numbers turn to approval," Carroll said.
"Are the Mayor and Governor ready to promise that congestion pricing means no hike in fares or tolls, and for how long?" Same Sex Marriage/Civil Unions
Same sex couple should be allowed to marry, 35 percent of New York State voters say, while 35 percent say these voters should be allowed to form civil unions but not legally marry, and 22 percent of voters say there should be no legal recognition of same sex relationships.
From June 12 - 17, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,369 New York State voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percent.
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.
22. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Eliot Spitzer is handling his job as Governor of New York?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 60% 53% 66% 60% 63% 57% Disapprove 22 30 18 17 22 21 DK/NA 19 17 16 23 15 22 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 55% 63% 62% 60% 56% Disapprove 31 22 23 21 20 DK/NA 14 15 15 20 24
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Eliot Spitzer is handling his job as Governor of New York?
Jun 19 Apr 4 Feb 13 2007 2007 2007 Approve 60 48 61 Disapprove 22 27 11 DK/NA 19 25 28
25. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 31% 32% 34% 26% 29% 33% Disapprove 49 52 46 51 54 44 DK/NA 20 16 20 23 16 23 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 22% 32% 30% 35% 29% Disapprove 61 53 55 43 47 DK/NA 17 15 15 22 24
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jun 19 Apr 4 Feb 13 Dec 14 Jun 21 Apr 4 Aug 11 2007 2007 2007 2006 2006 2007 2004 Approve 31 34 31 32 30 34 26 Disapprove 49 43 48 50 51 43 57 DK/NA 20 23 21 18 19 23 16
26. Do you approve or disapprove of the way David Paterson is handling his job as Lieutenant Governor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 23% 15% 28% 23% 24% 22% Disapprove 12 17 12 7 14 9 DK/NA 65 68 60 70 62 68 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 21% 20% 20% 30% 19% Disapprove 6 12 11 13 10 DK/NA 74 68 69 57 72
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way David Paterson is handling his job as Lieutenant Governor?
Jun 19 Apr 4 2007 2007 Approve 23 25 Disapprove 12 10 DK/NA 65 65
27. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Thomas DiNapoli is handling his job as State Comptroller?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 25% 26% 26% 28% 31% 21% Disapprove 14 17 14 9 15 14 DK/NA 61 57 60 62 55 66 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 24% 26% 25% 26% 25% Disapprove 17 14 15 14 13 DK/NA 59 60 60 60 62
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Thomas DiNapoli is handling his job as State Comptroller?
Jun 19 Apr 4 2007 2007 Approve 25 24 Disapprove 14 13 DK/NA 61 63
28. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling his job as State Attorney General?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 59% 51% 70% 56% 61% 58% Disapprove 18 31 11 16 22 15 DK/NA 23 18 19 28 17 27 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 64% 61% 61% 61% 53% Disapprove 20 17 17 15 25 DK/NA 17 22 21 24 23
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling his job as State Attorney General?
Jun 19 Apr 4 Feb 13 2007 2007 2007 Approve 59 53 42 Disapprove 18 17 16 DK/NA 23 30 42
29. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Sheldon Silver is handling his job as State Assembly Speaker?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 29% 26% 36% 23% 29% 30% Disapprove 33 39 27 40 45 24 DK/NA 37 35 37 37 27 46 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 19% 27% 25% 35% 29% Disapprove 44 38 39 28 31 DK/NA 38 36 36 37 40
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Sheldon Silver is handling his job as State Assembly Speaker?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jun 19 Apr 4 Feb 13 Dec 14 Jun 21 Oct 2 Aug 11 2007 2007 2007 2006 2006 2003 2004 Approve 29 30 28 29 32 35 26 Disapprove 33 30 37 33 35 26 33 DK/NA 37 40 35 38 33 39 41
30. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joseph Bruno is handling his job as State Senate Majority Leader?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 26% 30% 22% 25% 27% 25% Disapprove 34 32 36 37 44 26 DK/NA 40 38 42 38 29 50 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 25% 28% 28% 25% 24% Disapprove 42 36 37 31 34 DK/NA 34 36 36 44 42
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joseph Bruno is handling his job as State Senate Majority Leader?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jun 19 Apr 4 Feb 13 Dec 14 Jun 21 Oct 2 Feb 13 2007 2007 2007 2006 2006 2003 2007 Approve 26 27 25 28 29 36 25 Disapprove 34 34 39 32 35 25 39 DK/NA 40 39 36 40 36 39 36
35. Do you agree or disagree that Eliot Spitzer is a steamroller?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Agree 39% 47% 38% 39% 42% 37% Disagree 36 32 40 33 40 32 DK/NA 25 22 22 28 18 31 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Agree 41% 38% 39% 35% 47% Disagree 38 35 35 42 28 DK/NA 21 27 26 23 25
TREND: Do you agree or disagree that Eliot Spitzer is a steamroller?
Jun 19 Apr 4 Feb 13 2007 2007 2007 Agree 39 49 53 Disagree 36 28 22 DK/NA 25 23 25
36. Is it your sense that the governor's steamroller tactic is working or do you think it contributes to legislative gridlock?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Working 22% 20% 28% 19% 27% 18% Gridlock 42 49 38 43 43 41 DK/NA 36 31 34 38 30 41 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Working 15% 21% 20% 23% 25% Gridlock 50 43 44 40 39 DK/NA 35 36 36 36 36
TREND: Is it your sense that the governor's "steamroller" tactic is working or do you think it contributes to legislative gridlock?
Jun 19 Apr 4 2007 2007 Tactic is working 22 23 Contributes to gridlock 42 47 DK/NA 36 30
37. Historically, the Governor, the Senate Majority Leader, and the Assembly Speaker have made all the big decisions at the state Capitol in Albany with not much input from state legislators. Do you think that Albany's three men in a room decision-making is continuing or do you think that other legislators are more involved since Governor Spitzer took office?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Three men continues 34% 41% 28% 37% 43% 26% Others involved 35 36 42 26 34 36 DK/NA 31 22 30 36 23 38 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Three men continues 40% 34% 35% 33% 33% Others involved 28 33 33 38 34 DK/NA 32 33 32 29 32
TREND: Historically, the Governor, the Senate Majority Leader, and the Assembly Speaker have made all the big decisions at the state Capitol in Albany with not much input from state legislators. Do you think that Albany's 'three men in a room' decision-making is continuing or do you think that other legislators are more involved since Governor Spitzer took office?
Jun 19 Apr 4 2007 2007 Three men continues 34 32 Others involved 35 36 DK/NA 31 33
38. How would you describe Governor Spitzer's dealings with the state legislature - Successful, unsuccessful, or mixed?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Successful 10% 7% 13% 8% 11% 9% Unsuccessful 7 8 6 8 8 7 Mixed 71 74 70 70 72 69 DK/NA 12 11 11 14 9 15 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Successful 8% 9% 9% 13% 7% Unsuccessful 10 7 7 10 3 Mixed 71 74 74 66 73 DK/NA 11 11 11 12 17
39. How do you usually travel into and out of Manhattan, by car or mass transit?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Car 29% 33% 28% 29% 32% 26% Mass transit 47 38 55 43 47 47 OTHER (VOL) 8 7 6 10 7 9 DK/NA 16 22 11 18 14 18 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Car 34% 28% 29% 25% 34% Mass transit 20 29 28 68 54 OTHER (VOL) 16 13 13 4 4 DK/NA 30 30 30 4 8
40. How much of a problem do you think traffic congestion is in New York City? A very serious problem, somewhat serious, not very serious, or not a problem at all?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very serious 49% 52% 52% 47% 48% 50% Smwht serious 33 32 32 33 33 32 Not very serious 4 2 5 3 6 2 Not a problem at all 3 3 3 3 4 1 DK/NA 11 11 8 14 9 14 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Very serious 27% 46% 43% 57% 49% Smwht serious 26 26 26 34 43 Not very serious 6 4 4 5 3 Not a problem at all 5 2 3 3 2 DK/NA 37 21 24 - 4 Means of travel In/Out of Man Q39 Car PubTran Very serious 44% 55% Smwht serious 43 34 Not very serious 7 5 Not a problem at all 2 3 DK/NA 4 4
41. How much have you heard or read about congestion pricing, a plan adopted by some major cities to reduce traffic by charging a fee to drive into congested areas? A lot, some, not much, or nothing at all?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom A lot 31% 26% 38% 27% 35% 28% Some 30 36 28 32 28 33 Not much 13 14 12 14 13 13 Nothing at all 22 23 20 22 21 23 DK/NA 3 1 3 4 3 3 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub A lot 8% 13% 12% 52% 37% Some 35 27 28 28 39 Not much 7 19 17 7 14 Nothing at all 42 36 37 11 9 DK/NA 8 4 5 2 1 Means of travel In/Out of Man Q39 Car PubTran A lot 31% 37% Some 30 36 Not much 16 10 Nothing at all 20 17 DK/NA 3 1
42. The Bloomberg administration has suggested using congestion pricing to reduce traffic in New York City by charging a fee for vehicles that drive south of 86th Street in Manhattan. Do you support or oppose the Bloomberg administration's congestion pricing plan?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 31% 28% 34% 34% 35% 27% Oppose 52 54 53 47 52 52 DK/NA 17 18 13 19 13 21 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Support 23% 28% 27% 35% 34% Oppose 50 46 47 57 54 DK/NA 27 26 26 8 12 Means of travel In/Out of Man Q39 Car PubTran Support 27% 39% Oppose 62 50 DK/NA 11 11
43. Would you support congestion pricing if the money were used to prevent an increase in mass transit fares and bridge and tunnel tolls?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 52% 50% 56% 49% 51% 52% No 36 39 31 39 40 32 DK/NA 12 11 13 12 9 15 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Yes 37% 52% 50% 56% 49% No 36 32 33 36 42 DK/NA 27 16 17 8 9 Means of travel In/Out of Man Q39 Car PubTran Yes 47% 60% No 44 33 DK/NA 9 7
44. Do you think same-sex couples should be allowed legally to marry, should be allowed legally to form civil unions but not marry, or should not be allowed to obtain legal recognition of their relationships?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Marry 35% 15% 50% 34% 34% 36% Civil unions 35 42 25 41 35 34 No recognition 22 35 18 18 24 21 DK/NA 8 7 7 6 7 9 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Marry 31% 32% 32% 42% 30% Civil unions 36 34 35 29 44 No recognition 24 27 26 20 18 DK/NA 9 8 8 9 8