New York State (NY) Poll * March 30, 2006 * Cuomo Leads Among Dems In Atto - Quinnipiac University

Home> Institutes and Centers> Quinnipiac University Polling Institute> New York State (NY)> Release Detail

March 30, 2006 - Cuomo Leads Among Dems In Attorney General Race, Quinnipiac University New York State Poll Finds; Clinton Leads GOP Challengers 2 - 1

Former Federal Housing Secretary Andrew Cuomo leads among New York State Democrats in the race for State Attorney General with 37 percent, followed by former New York City Public Advocate Mark Green with 25 percent, as no other candidate gets more than 3 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll of New York State voters released today. Another 26 percent of Democrats are undecided.
In a general election matchup, Cuomo leads Westchester District Attorney Jeanine Pirro, the likely Republican candidate, 51 - 31 percent, while Green leads Pirro 47 - 31 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.
By a 24 - 18 percent margin, New York State voters have a favorable opinion of Cuomo, with 23 percent mixed and 34 percent who haven't heard enough to form an opinion. Green gets a 22 - 11 percent favorability rating, with 16 percent mixed and 51 percent who haven't heard enough to form an opinion. Pirro's favorability is a negative 16 - 18 percent, with 14 percent mixed and 52 percent who haven't heard enough to form an opinion. "Among Democrats, it's still a two-person race for attorney general and Cuomo has a double-digit lead over Green. But one out of four Democrats won't pick yet among the six candidates," said Maurice Carroll, Director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"Even though New York has a tradition of splitting the top state jobs between the parties, in this early match-up, Pirro gets only the generic Republican one-third against Cuomo or Green."
Former White House official Kathleen McFarland is the choice of 35 percent of New York State Republicans to challenge Democratic incumbent Sen. Hillary Clinton, followed by former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer with 22 percent. Among Republicans, 37 percent are undecided.
Sen. Clinton beats McFarland 60 - 29 percent in a general election matchup, and tops Spencer 60 - 30 percent.
"In the Senate race, there's a generic Republican vote of a bit less than a third. Clinton gets the rest," Carroll said.
Voters approve 57 - 35 percent of the job Sen. Clinton is doing. By a 48 - 29 percent margin, voters have a favorable opinion of her, with 18 percent mixed and 3 percent who haven't heard enough to form an opinion. For McFarland and Spencer, at least 71 percent of voters haven't heard enough to form an opinion.
Clinton's views are in the mainstream, according to 66 percent of New York State voters, including 38 percent of Republicans, while 26 percent of all voters and 55 percent of Republicans say her views are extreme.
Clinton is a liberal, 43 percent of voters say, with 38 percent who say she is a moderate and 10 percent who say she is conservative.
"Some left-wing Democrats have been picketing Mrs. Clinton lately. Some right- wing Republicans have never liked her. But two-thirds of New Yorkers think her views are in the mainstream," Carroll said.
New York State voters disapprove 69 - 28 percent of the job President George W. Bush is doing, a new low for the President.
From March 21 - 27, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,674 New York State registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.4 percentage points. The survey includes 548 Republicans with a margin of error of +/- 4.2 percent, and 702 Democrats with a margin of error of +/- 3.7 percent.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida and nationwide as a public service and for research.
2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Hillary Rodham Clinton is handling her job as United States Senator?
Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Approve 57% 29% 80% 50% 53% 60% 57% Disapprove 35 62 14 41 40 31 35 DK/NA 8 8 6 9 7 9 8 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 54% 49% 51% 67% 52% Disapprove 37 42 41 25 40 DK/NA 9 9 9 7 8
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Hillary Rodham Clinton is handling her job as United States Senator?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Mar 30 Jan 20 Dec 14 Oct 4 Aug 3 Feb 9 Feb 14 2006 2006 2005 2005 2005 2005 2001 Approve 57 60 62 63 63 65 38 Disapprove 35 32 32 31 29 27 30 DK/NA 8 8 6 6 8 8 33
3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charles Schumer is handling his job as United States Senator?
Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Approve 63% 50% 72% 64% 64% 63% 68% Disapprove 21 32 12 22 24 18 19 DK/NA 16 18 16 13 12 19 13 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 53% 58% 56% 70% 66% Disapprove 19 26 24 16 22 DK/NA 27 17 19 14 11
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charles Schumer is handling his job as United States Senator? (* = Also hit 69% on 10/02/01)
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Mar 30 Jan 20 Dec 14 Oct 4 Aug 3 Dec 8 Apr 15 2006 2006 2005 2005 2005 2004 * 1999 Approve 63 58 61 63 63 69 51 Disapprove 21 28 25 23 21 16 22 DK/NA 16 14 14 14 16 15 28
4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President?
Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Approve 28% 63% 11% 22% 30% 27% 25% Disapprove 69 31 88 74 68 69 72 DK/NA 3 6 1 4 3 4 3 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 26% 36% 33% 21% 29% Disapprove 69 60 62 77 68 DK/NA 4 4 4 2 3
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President? (* = Also hit 82% on 10/2/2001)
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Mar 30 Jan 20 Dec 14 Oct 5 Aug 3 Nov 14 Mar 30 2006 2006 2005 2005 2005 2001 * 2006 Approve 28 33 31 29 35 82 28 Disapprove 69 62 65 67 61 15 69 DK/NA 3 5 4 4 4 3 3
23. Is your opinion of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about her?
Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Favorable 48% 18% 72% 42% 45% 52% 51% Unfavorable 29 61 7 32 34 25 28 Mixed 18 16 17 23 17 19 18 Hvn't hrd enough 3 4 4 2 3 4 2 REFUSED 1 - - 1 1 - 1 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Favorable 50% 41% 43% 58% 43% Unfavorable 33 35 35 18 36 Mixed 14 21 19 16 20 Hvn't hrd enough 2 2 2 7 1 REFUSED 1 1 1 - -
TREND: Is your opinion of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about her?
Mar 30 Jan 20 May 5 Nov 14 Oct 2 Jun 28 Apr 26 2006 2006 2005 2001 2001 2001 2001 Favorable 48 51 53 37 43 39 39 Unfavorable 29 28 22 29 27 26 31 Mixed 18 17 19 17 16 19 16 Hvn't heard enough 3 4 5 15 14 15 13 REFUSED 1 - - 1 1 1 2
24. Is your opinion of former Reagan administration official Kathleen McFarland favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about her?
Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Favorable 9% 15% 6% 7% 12% 6% 7% Unfavorable 11 3 14 11 12 9 13 Mixed 9 10 8 9 9 8 9 Hvn't hrd enough 71 72 71 73 67 76 70 REFUSED 1 1 1 1 1 - - UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Favorable 9% 8% 8% 9% 8% Unfavorable 8 6 6 15 12 Mixed 8 11 10 6 9 Hvn't hrd enough 75 74 75 69 69 REFUSED - 1 1 - 1
25. Is your opinion of former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Favorable 8% 8% 9% 7% 10% 5% 7% Unfavorable 5 3 6 6 6 5 5 Mixed 5 6 6 5 4 7 5 Hvn't hrd enough 81 82 77 82 79 82 83 REFUSED 1 1 1 - 1 1 1 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Favorable 8% 7% 7% 8% 8% Unfavorable 3 4 4 4 10 Mixed 5 4 5 6 5 Hvn't hrd enough 83 84 84 81 74 REFUSED 1 1 1 1 2
TREND: Is your opinion of former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
Mar 30 Jan 20 2006 2006 Favorable 8 4 Unfavorable 5 4 Mixed 5 7 Hvn't heard enough 81 84 REFUSED 1 1
26. If the 2006 election for United States Senator were being held today and the candidates were Hillary Rodham Clinton the Democrat and Kathleen McFarland the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Clinton 60% 22% 87% 58% 58% 62% 61% McFarland 29 68 6 30 33 26 30 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 1 3 2 2 2 DK/NA 7 9 6 8 5 9 6 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Clinton 63% 51% 54% 73% 53% McFarland 28 39 36 17 36 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 3 1 2 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 2 2 2 - DK/NA 3 8 6 7 10
27. If the 2006 election for United States Senator were being held today and the candidates were Hillary Rodham Clinton the Democrat and John Spencer the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Clinton 60% 22% 88% 56% 58% 63% 61% Spencer 30 70 6 30 34 26 29 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 3 - 3 2 2 3 DK/NA 7 5 5 9 5 8 5 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Clinton 62% 50% 53% 74% 53% Spencer 28 40 37 18 36 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 3 1 2 - 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 2 2 2 1 DK/NA 4 7 6 6 8
TREND: If the 2006 election for United States Senator were being held today and the candidates were Hillary Rodham Clinton the Democrat and John Spencer the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Mar 30 Jan 20 2006 2006 Clinton 60 60 Spencer 30 30 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 2 DK/NA 7 7
28. Do you think of Hillary Rodham Clinton more as a liberal, moderate or conservative?
Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Liberal 43% 63% 34% 41% 45% 42% 39% Moderate 38 20 49 40 38 39 46 Conservative 10 7 11 10 9 10 9 DK/NA 8 10 7 8 7 10 6 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Liberal 43% 44% 44% 41% 46% Moderate 40 35 37 42 38 Conservative 8 11 10 9 9 DK/NA 9 10 10 8 7
TREND: Do you think of Hillary Rodham Clinton more as a liberal, moderate, or conservative?
Mar 30 Dec 14 Oct 4 Aug 3 May 5 Feb 9 Sep 27 2006 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2000 Liberal 43 41 42 46 52 52 62 Moderate 38 40 34 37 29 31 23 Conservative 10 9 13 10 10 8 8 DK/NA 8 9 11 8 8 9 7
29. Would you say that Hillary Rodham Clinton's views on the issues are in the mainstream or are they extreme?
Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Mainstream 66% 38% 85% 66% 65% 68% 68% Extreme 26 55 7 26 28 24 24 DK/NA 8 7 7 8 7 8 8 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Mainstream 68% 56% 59% 77% 63% Extreme 24 36 33 16 28 DK/NA 8 8 8 6 9
30. Do you think that the speculation about Hillary Rodham Clinton possibly running for President in 2008 is good or bad for New York State?
Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Good 52% 33% 70% 45% 51% 53% 54% Bad 32 56 15 36 34 30 33 DK/NA 16 12 15 19 15 17 13 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Good 53% 45% 47% 63% 45% Bad 31 37 35 24 39 DK/NA 16 18 18 14 16
34. Is your opinion of former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Andrew Cuomo favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Favorable 24% 20% 27% 24% 27% 22% 26% Unfavorable 18 26 11 20 23 14 18 Mixed 23 17 26 23 22 23 22 Hvn't hrd enough 34 37 34 32 28 39 34 REFUSED 1 - 1 - - 1 - UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Favorable 24% 21% 22% 25% 28% Unfavorable 18 18 18 18 19 Mixed 24 23 23 24 20 Hvn't hrd enough 34 37 36 32 33 REFUSED - 1 1 1 -
TREND: Is your opinion of former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Andrew Cuomo favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
Mar 30 Jan 20 Jul 2 May 1 Apr 18 Feb 27 Jan 23 2006 2006 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 Favorable 24 24 16 15 20 18 18 Unfavorable 18 21 24 28 18 19 18 Mixed 23 26 22 17 17 16 19 Hvn't heard enough 34 28 37 39 44 46 45 REFUSED 1 1 1 1 1 1 -
35. Is your opinion of former New York City Public Advocate Mark Green favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Favorable 22% 12% 30% 19% 26% 17% 26% Unfavorable 11 16 8 12 14 9 12 Mixed 16 15 16 16 14 17 14 Hvn't hrd enough 51 57 45 53 46 55 47 REFUSED 1 - 1 - - 1 - UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Favorable 11% 9% 9% 36% 23% Unfavorable 5 6 5 15 17 Mixed 11 7 8 22 20 Hvn't hrd enough 73 77 76 27 41 REFUSED - - - 1 -
TREND: Is your opinion of former New York City Public Advocate Mark Green favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? (* question wording did not include "former")
Mar 30 Jan 20 Jun 18 Mar 26 Feb 26 Dec 11 2006 2006 1998* 1998* 1998* 1997* Favorable 22 21 28 29 30 32 Unfavorable 11 12 6 7 8 6 Mixed 16 19 14 9 9 10 Hvn't heard enough 51 47 51 54 53 51 REFUSED 1 1 - 1 - 1
36. Is your opinion of Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about her?
Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Favorable 16% 26% 10% 15% 16% 15% 14% Unfavorable 18 7 25 19 21 16 18 Mixed 14 16 14 13 14 14 16 Hvn't hrd enough 52 51 50 53 49 54 52 REFUSED 1 - 1 - - 1 - UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Favorable 6% 13% 11% 16% 23% Unfavorable 15 13 13 24 18 Mixed 6 11 9 15 20 Hvn't hrd enough 73 63 66 44 39 REFUSED - 1 1 1 -
TREND: Is your opinion of Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about her?
Mar 30 Jan 20 May 5 2006 2006 2005 Favorable 16 18 17 Unfavorable 18 17 4 Mixed 14 16 10 Hvn't heard enough 52 48 68 REFUSED 1 1 1
37. If the election for State Attorney General were being held today and the candidates were Andrew Cuomo the Democrat and Jeanine Pirro the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Cuomo 51% 20% 74% 47% 50% 51% 51% Pirro 31 65 11 31 35 26 32 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 2 2 3 2 3 3 DK/NA 14 13 11 18 10 18 12 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Cuomo 56% 43% 46% 61% 44% Pirro 21 37 33 21 42 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 4 2 2 2 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 7 2 3 2 2 DK/NA 13 17 16 14 12
TREND: If the election for State Attorney General were being held today and the candidates were Andrew Cuomo the Democrat and Jeanine Pirro the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Mar 30 Jan 20 Dec 14 2006 2006 2005 Cuomo 51 48 49 Pirro 31 33 32 SMONE ELSE 2 2 1 WLDN'T VOTE 2 3 2 DK/NA 14 13 16
38. If the election for State Attorney General were being held today and the candidates were Mark Green the Democrat and Jeanine Pirro the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Green 47% 18% 71% 42% 50% 45% 50% Pirro 31 65 12 31 33 29 30 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 2 2 3 3 2 3 DK/NA 18 15 14 21 12 23 16 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Green 48% 33% 37% 66% 38% Pirro 22 36 32 20 45 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 2 2 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 5 3 3 3 1 DK/NA 23 26 25 10 15
TREND: If the election for State Attorney General were being held today and the candidates were Mark Green the Democrat and Jeanine Pirro the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Mar 30 Jan 20 Dec 14 2006 2006 2005 Green 47 42 43 Pirro 31 35 35 SMONE ELSE 1 1 2 WLDN'T VOTE 3 3 2 DK/NA 18 19 18
39. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling the situation with Iraq?
Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Approve 27% 59% 9% 25% 32% 23% 28% Disapprove 69 35 88 72 66 72 69 DK/NA 3 5 3 3 2 5 3 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 32% 35% 34% 19% 27% Disapprove 67 61 63 77 70 DK/NA 1 4 3 4 3
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling the situation with Iraq?
Mar 30 Jan 20 2006 2006 Approve 27 32 Disapprove 69 63 DK/NA 3 5
40. Do you think going to war with Iraq was the right thing for the United States to do or the wrong thing?
Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Right thing 34% 67% 14% 32% 38% 29% 33% Wrong thing 61 28 79 64 57 64 63 DK/NA 6 5 8 4 4 7 4 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Right thing 40% 43% 42% 23% 34% Wrong thing 59 51 53 71 60 DK/NA 2 6 5 7 6
TREND: Do you think going to war with Iraq was the right thing for the United States to do or the wrong thing?
Mar 30 Jan 20 Dec 14 Oct 5 Sep 15 Aug 13 2006 2006 2005 2005 2004 2004 Right thing 34 34 34 31 42 39 Wrong thing 61 57 61 64 52 57 DK/NA 6 9 6 5 6 4
42. (If registered Republican) If the 2006 Republican primary for United States Senator were being held today and the candidates were John Spencer and Kathleen McFarland for whom would you vote?
REGISTERED REPUBLICANS Tot Men Wom Spencer 22% 29% 14% McFarland 35 36 33 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 5 4 5 DK/NA 37 30 47
45. (If registered Democrat) If the 2006 Democratic primary for state Attorney General were being held today and the candidates were Mark Green, Andrew Cuomo, Charlie King, Denise O'Donnell, Richard Brodsky and Sean Patrick Maloney for whom would you vote?
REGISTERED DEMOCRATS Tot Men Wom Green 25% 26% 23% Cuomo 37 39 36 King 1 1 1 O'Donnell 3 4 3 Brodsky 2 4 1 Maloney 3 4 3 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 1 DK/NA 26 19 31