New York State (NY) Poll * March 20, 2008 * New York State Voters Have Hig - Quinnipiac University

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March 20, 2008 - New York State Voters Have High Hopes For New Gov, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Bloomberg Tops List For Next Governor

Word format New York State voters give their new Governor, David Paterson, a strong vote of confidence, with 75 percent saying he will govern effectively and 67 percent saying he will restore trust in state government, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Among black voters, 81 percent say he will govern effectively and 69 percent say he will restore trust in government.
By a 46 - 3 percent margin, voters have a favorable opinion of Gov. Paterson, with 51 percent saying they have not heard enough to form an opinion, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Favorability among black voters is 58 - 2 percent. In a separate question, 65 percent of voters knew the name of the new Governor.
Attitudes about Paterson shifted slightly on the last night of the survey, March 18, after media reports of his marital problems.
With four choices of whom they would like to see elected Governor in 2010, New York State voters say:
29 percent for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg; 27 percent for Paterson; 25 percent for former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani; 11 percent for Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.
"Gov. David Paterson begins with good wishes. By big margins, New Yorkers think he'll restore public trust - boy, can Albany use that - and be able to govern effectively," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"Paterson isn't anonymous, like former lieutenant governors. Two-thirds of New Yorkers knew his name even as he was sworn into the top job. Hardly anyone has a low opinion of him."
"Politics is a 365-day-a-year game (366 in leap years), and New Yorkers voiced opinions on whom they'd like to run for Governor in 2010. Mayor Bloomberg leads very slightly overall, but Giuliani is the favorite of almost half of Republicans. Paterson leads among Democrats, followed by Bloomberg," Carroll added.
Former Gov. Eliot Spitzer was right to resign, 81 percent of voters say, while 15 percent say he should have served his full term. Spitzer should be charged with a crime, 48 percent say, while 40 percent say resigning as governor is punishment enough.
By a 70 - 27 percent margin, state voters favor the current system where the Lieutenant Governor serves out the full term when the Governor leaves office, rather than holding a special election.
"New Yorkers split on former Gov. Eliot Spitzer. A lot think he should be charged with a crime, but a lot are inclined to let bygones be bygones - they think losing the job was punishment enough," Carroll said. Legalized Prostitution
By a 62 - 30 percent margin, New York State voters oppose legalized prostitution involving people over 18 years old. Men oppose legalization 54 - 38 percent, while women oppose it 68 - 23 percent. Opposition to legalized prostitution ranges from 57 - 33 percent in New York City to 65 - 27 percent among upstate voters.
Prostitution is not a victimless crime, voters say 66 - 26 percent. Men say 63 - 29 percent prostitution is not victimless, while women agree 68 - 23 percent.
There is a bigger gender gap on the question of whether people who patronize prostitutes should face the same punishment as prostitutes. Voters overall agree 73 - 19 percent that the penalty should be the same. Men support it 68 - 24 percent, while women support it 76 - 15 percent.
"New York City voters are slightly more tolerant of the world's oldest profession than voters upstate, and men are less opposed than women to the idea of legalized prostitution, but opposition is strong among all groups," Carroll said.
From March 16 - 18, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,528 New York State registered voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 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/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.
6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Eliot Spitzer handled his job as Governor of New York?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 31% 26% 36% 30% 32% 31% 28% 38% Disapprove 61 66 55 63 62 59 64 53 DK/NA 8 8 9 7 7 10 8 9 UpState..... UpState Age Age Urban Othr Total NYC Sub 18-44 45+ Approve 36% 29% 30% 33% 30% 33% 31% Disapprove 57 62 61 58 64 56 63 DK/NA 7 9 9 10 5 11 7
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Eliot Spitzer is handling his job as Governor of New York? * ...of the way Eliot Spitzer "handled" his job...
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Mar 20 Dec 12 Oct 2 Jul 31 Jun 19 Feb 13 Mar 20 2008* 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2008* Approve 31 37 47 48 60 61 31 Disapprove 61 48 34 28 22 11 61 DK/NA 8 15 20 25 19 28 8
20. Compared to elected officials in other states, do you think that New York's elected officials have more honesty and integrity, less honesty and integrity, or about as much honesty and integrity?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk More 5% 3% 9% 3% 6% 5% 4% 9% Less 20 25 17 21 21 19 19 24 About as much 68 62 69 70 67 68 71 58 DK/NA 7 10 5 6 6 8 6 9 UpState..... UpState Age Age Urban Othr Total NYC Sub 18-44 45+ More 1% 2% 2% 8% 7% 8% 4% Less 32 23 24 15 21 22 18 About as much 65 68 67 68 67 64 72 DK/NA 2 7 6 8 5 7 6
TREND: Compared to elected officials in other states, do you think that New York's elected officials have more honesty and integrity, less honesty and integrity, or about as much honesty and integrity?
Mar 20 Oct 2 Nov 6 2008 2007 2003 More 5 9 9 Less 20 11 17 About as much 68 75 70 DK/NA 7 5 5
21. Eliot Spitzer recently resigned as governor after news emerged of his involvement with prostitutes. How much have you heard or read about this - A lot, some, only a little or nothing at all?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk A lot 80% 78% 80% 82% 79% 81% 82% 78% Some 15 15 17 12 17 13 14 15 Only a little 4 5 3 5 2 6 3 7 Nothing at all 1 2 - 1 1 1 1 - DK/NA - 1 - - 1 - - - UpState..... UpState Age Age Urban Othr Total NYC Sub 18-44 45+ A lot 73% 79% 78% 79% 87% 72% 85% Some 26 14 16 16 9 20 11 Only a little 1 5 5 5 2 6 3 Nothing at all - 1 1 - 1 2 - DK/NA - - - 1 - - 1
22. Do you think Governor Spitzer should have resigned or do you think he should have served out his term in office?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Resigned 81% 88% 75% 86% 81% 82% 86% 73% Served out term 15 8 21 13 16 15 11 26 DK/NA 3 3 4 2 4 3 3 1 UpState..... UpState Age Age Urban Othr Total NYC Sub 18-44 45+ Resigned 78% 84% 83% 75% 88% 79% 83% Served out term 21 12 13 21 11 18 14 DK/NA 1 4 4 4 1 3 3
23. Do you think Eliot Spitzer should be charged with a crime or is resigning as Governor punishment enough?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Charged with crime 48% 61% 39% 50% 50% 47% 51% 36% Resigning is enough 40 28 49 40 40 41 36 56 DK/NA 11 11 12 10 10 13 13 8 UpState..... UpState Age Age Urban Othr Total NYC Sub 18-44 45+ Charged with crime 54% 59% 58% 37% 47% 55% 45% Resigning is enough 37 32 32 50 40 37 43 DK/NA 9 9 9 13 13 9 13
24. Do you think prostitution involving people over 18 should be legalized?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 30% 20% 33% 34% 38% 23% 31% 30% No 62 74 56 59 54 68 61 60 DK/NA 9 6 10 7 9 9 8 10 UpState..... UpState Age Age Urban Othr Total NYC Sub 18-44 45+ Yes 24% 27% 27% 33% 30% 26% 32% No 70 64 65 57 62 67 59 DK/NA 6 9 8 10 7 8 9
25. Do you that that prostitution is a victimless crime?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 26% 21% 28% 27% 29% 23% 23% 36% No 66 70 64 66 63 68 69 52 DK/NA 8 9 8 7 7 9 8 12 UpState..... UpState Age Age Urban Othr Total NYC Sub 18-44 45+ Yes 27% 23% 24% 31% 23% 24% 28% No 64 69 68 61 68 70 63 DK/NA 9 8 8 8 9 6 9
26. Do you think the people who patronize prostitutes should face the same punishment as prostitutes?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 73% 79% 69% 74% 68% 76% 75% 68% No 19 13 23 19 24 15 16 28 DK/NA 8 9 7 7 8 9 9 4 UpState..... UpState Age Age Urban Othr Total NYC Sub 18-44 45+ Yes 82% 75% 76% 72% 68% 76% 71% No 16 16 16 21 22 19 19 DK/NA 2 9 8 7 10 5 10
27. Do you happen to know the name of the new Governor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk David Paterson 65% 63% 63% 70% 65% 65% 66% 69% Basil Paterson - - - - - - - - Peterson 3 3 2 3 3 2 3 1 David 1 1 2 1 - 2 1 3 Lieutenant Governor 1 1 - 1 1 - 1 - He's black/He's blind 4 4 4 5 4 4 4 2 Other answer 2 2 2 2 3 1 2 - Don't Know 24 26 27 18 24 25 23 26 Refused - - - - - - - - UpState..... UpState Age Age Urban Othr Total NYC Sub 18-44 45+ David Paterson 66% 58% 59% 67% 72% 52% 71% Basil Paterson - - - - - - - Peterson 3 2 2 3 3 3 2 David 4 1 1 2 - 2 1 Lieutenant Governor - 1 1 - - 1 1 He's black/He's blind 2 5 5 4 3 3 5 Other answer - 3 3 1 1 2 2 Don't Know 25 29 29 22 20 37 18 Refused - - - - - - -
28. Under current law, if a Governor resigns or dies in office; the Lieutenant Governor takes over as Governor. Which would you prefer: (A) Continuing the current law OR (B) Changing the law so that if a Governor leaves office before the end of the term a special election is held to pick a new Governor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Continuing current law 70% 71% 71% 70% 69% 70% 71% 73% Special election 27 26 26 28 29 26 26 20 DK/NA 3 3 3 2 2 3 2 6 UpState..... UpState Age Age Urban Othr Total NYC Sub 18-44 45+ Continuing current law 64% 71% 70% 68% 73% 64% 73% Special election 34 26 27 29 25 34 24 DK/NA 2 2 2 4 2 2 3
29. Lieutenant Governor David Paterson is the new governor. Is your opinion of David Paterson favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Favorable 46% 41% 52% 44% 45% 47% 45% 58% Unfavorable 3 6 - 4 3 2 3 2 Hvn't hrd enough 51 53 47 52 52 50 51 39 REFUSED - 1 - - 1 - - - UpState..... UpState Age Age Urban Othr Total NYC Sub 18-44 45+ Favorable 48% 42% 43% 48% 50% 33% 54% Unfavorable 3 4 4 2 2 3 2 Hvn't hrd enough 48 53 52 50 48 63 43 REFUSED 1 1 1 - - - 1
30. Do you think that the new governor, David Paterson, will or will not be able to govern the state effectively?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Will govern effectively 75% 72% 80% 73% 77% 74% 76% 81% Will NOT govern effectively 6 7 5 6 8 4 5 5 DK/NA 19 21 15 21 15 22 19 15 UpState..... UpState Age Age Urban Othr Total NYC Sub 18-44 45+ Will govern effectively 73% 76% 75% 74% 78% 72% 78% Will NOT govern effectively 9 5 5 7 5 5 6 DK/NA 18 19 19 19 18 23 16
31. Do you think that the new governor, David Paterson, will or will not be able to restore public trust in state government?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Will restore trust in gov't 67% 64% 72% 62% 67% 66% 66% 69% Will NOT restore trust in gov't 15 18 13 18 17 13 16 8 DK/NA 18 19 16 20 16 21 18 23 UpState..... UpState Age Age Urban Othr Total NYC Sub 18-44 45+ Will restore trust in gov't 77% 65% 66% 68% 66% 62% 69% Will NOT restore trust in gov't 13 17 16 14 15 18 14 DK/NA 10 18 17 19 20 20 17
32. Now I'm going to name four people who might run for Governor in 2010. After I read all four names, please tell me which one you would most like to see elected Governor in 2010. Here are the choices: Governor David Paterson, State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, or former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Paterson 27% 14% 38% 21% 27% 26% 23% 54% Cuomo 11 6 15 10 10 13 12 9 Bloomberg 29 27 27 34 31 28 29 20 Giuliani 25 46 12 27 26 24 27 13 DK/NA 8 7 7 8 6 9 9 4 UpState..... UpState Age Age Urban Othr Total NYC Sub 18-44 45+ Paterson 38% 29% 30% 26% 20% 20% 30% Cuomo 16 13 13 10 8 11 11 Bloomberg 10 17 16 41 37 30 30 Giuliani 27 30 29 18 30 31 22 DK/NA 10 12 11 5 5 7 8