New York State (NY) Poll * May 18, 2006 * Bush Approval Drops To 22 Perc - Quinnipiac University

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May 18, 2006 - Bush Approval Drops To 22 Percent In New York, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; At 34 Percent, Cuomo Leads Dem Attorney General Pack

New York State voters today give President George W. Bush his lowest approval in any Quinnipiac University poll of any state or nationwide, 22 - 75 percent. The only lower approval rating for an elected official in 14 years of surveys is 19 - 75 percent for New Jersey Sen. Robert Torricelli on October 7, 2002. This was one week after Torricelli withdrew from the race for reelection in the wake of an ethics scandal.
Republican voters approve 50 - 46 percent of the job President Bush is doing, while Democrats disapprove 90 - 8 percent and independent voters disapprove 77 - 19 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.
Voters disapprove 74 - 22 percent of the way Bush is handling the war in Iraq and say 67 - 27 percent that going to war in Iraq was the wrong thing to do. The U.S. should remove all troops from Iraq, 39 percent of voters say, while 25 percent say decrease troop levels; 17 percent say maintain current troop levels and 12 percent say increase troop levels.
"President Bush just keeps going down-down-down in this oh-so-blue state. You have to wonder at what number he hits bottom," said Maurice Carroll, Director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
In the race for State Attorney General, former Federal Housing Secretary Andrew Cuomo leads among New York State Democrats with 34 percent, followed by former New York City Public Advocate Mark Green with 26 percent, as no other candidate gets more than 3 percent. Another 28 percent of Democrats are undecided.
In a general election matchup, Cuomo leads former Westchester District Attorney Jeanine Pirro, the likely Republican candidate, 49 - 33 percent, while Green leads Pirro 46 - 33 percent.
By a 27 - 20 percent margin, New York State voters have a favorable opinion of Cuomo, with 23 percent mixed and 30 percent who haven't heard enough to form an opinion. Green gets a 21 - 12 percent favorability rating, with 18 percent mixed and 48 percent who haven't heard enough to form an opinion. Pirro's favorability is a negative 15 - 17 percent, with 13 percent mixed and 53 percent who haven't heard enough to form an opinion.
"It's not clear whether the state Democratic convention will put both Cuomo and Green on the primary ballot, but it is clear that it's a two-candidate race and that Cuomo has the edge among Democrats," Carroll said.
In the U.S. Senate race, former Pentagon official Kathleen McFarland is the choice of 35 percent of Republicans while former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer gets 25 percent.
But incumbent Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton dominates the general election, beating McFarland 64 - 27 percent and topping Spencer 63 - 27 percent. In either matchup, Sen. Clinton gets 24 percent of the Republican vote.
The possibility that Clinton will run for President in 2008 leaves 18 percent of New Yorkers more likely to vote or her in this year's Senate race, with 16 percent less likely and 62 percent who say it doesn't make a difference in how they vote.
Voters approve 61 - 33 percent of the job Sen. Clinton is doing. By a 51 - 28 percent margin, voters have a favorable opinion of her, with 17 percent mixed and 4 percent who haven't heard enough to form an opinion. For McFarland and Spencer, at least 76 percent of voters haven't heard enough to form an opinion.
From May 8 - 14, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,154 New York State registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percentage points. The survey includes 357 Republicans with a margin of error of +/- 5.2 percent, and 499 Democrats with a margin of error of +/- 4.4 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.
For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu or call (203) 582-5201
2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Hillary Rodham Clinton is handling her job as United States Senator?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 61% 31% 81% 59% 51% 69% Disapprove 33 64 13 33 42 24 DK/NA 7 6 6 8 7 6 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 59% 53% 54% 68% 61% Disapprove 29 41 39 26 32 DK/NA 12 6 7 6 7
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Hillary Rodham Clinton is handling her job as United States Senator?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve May 18 Mar 30 Jan 20 Dec 14 Oct 4 Feb 9 Feb 14 2006 2006 2006 2005 2005 2005 2001 Approve 61 57 60 62 63 65 38 Disapprove 33 35 32 32 31 27 30 DK/NA 7 8 8 6 6 8 33
3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charles Schumer is handling his job as United States Senator?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 61% 48% 71% 61% 60% 61% Disapprove 25 38 15 27 31 21 DK/NA 14 14 14 12 9 18 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 59% 57% 57% 63% 65% Disapprove 25 25 25 25 28 DK/NA 16 18 18 13 8
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charles Schumer is handling his job as United States Senator? (* = Also 69% on 10/02/01)
Highest Lowest Approve Approve May 18 Mar 30 Jan 20 Dec 14 Oct 4 Dec 8 Apr 15 2006 2006 2006 2005 2005 2004 * 1999 Approve 61 63 58 61 63 69 51 Disapprove 25 21 28 25 23 16 22 DK/NA 14 16 14 14 14 15 28
4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 22% 50% 8% 19% 27% 17% Disapprove 75 46 90 77 72 78 DK/NA 3 4 2 4 2 5 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 16% 26% 24% 19% 22% Disapprove 81 70 72 78 75 DK/NA 3 4 4 3 2
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President? (* = Also 82% on 10/2/2001)
Highest Lowest Approve Approve May 18 Mar 30 Jan 20 Dec 14 Oct 5 Nov 14 May 18 2006 2006 2006 2005 2005 2001 * 2006 Approve 22 28 33 31 29 82 22 Disapprove 75 69 62 65 67 15 75 DK/NA 3 3 5 4 4 3 3
20. Is your opinion of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about her?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 51% 22% 74% 48% 44% 58% Unfavorable 28 60 7 29 37 19 Mixed 17 17 15 18 14 19 Hvn't hrd enough 4 2 4 4 4 3 REFUSED 1 - 1 - 1 - UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Favorable 51% 44% 46% 61% 48% Unfavorable 22 36 34 19 31 Mixed 20 18 18 15 17 Hvn't hrd enough 4 2 2 5 5 REFUSED 1 - 1 1 -
TREND: Is your opinion of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about her?
May 18 Mar 30 Jan 20 May 5 Nov 14 Oct 2 Jun 28 2006 2006 2006 2005 2001 2001 2001 Favorable 51 48 51 53 37 43 39 Unfavorable 28 29 28 22 29 27 26 Mixed 17 18 17 19 17 16 19 Hvn't heard enough 4 3 4 5 15 14 15 REFUSED 1 1 - - 1 1 1
21. Is your opinion of former Pentagon official Kathleen McFarland favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about her?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 7% 11% 6% 7% 8% 6% Unfavorable 7 5 8 6 9 5 Mixed 9 9 8 11 9 9 Hvn't hrd enough 76 74 78 75 72 79 REFUSED 1 2 - 1 2 - UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Favorable 4% 7% 6% 8% 8% Unfavorable 3 5 5 9 8 Mixed 13 9 10 8 10 Hvn't hrd enough 81 77 78 75 73 REFUSED - 2 2 - -
22. Is your opinion of former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 5% 7% 6% 5% 6% 5% Unfavorable 6 3 7 6 6 6 Mixed 8 6 10 8 8 8 Hvn't hrd enough 80 82 77 81 78 81 REFUSED 1 2 - 1 2 - UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Favorable 4% 4% 4% 6% 7% Unfavorable 6 4 4 5 10 Mixed 7 7 7 11 7 Hvn't hrd enough 82 83 83 79 75 REFUSED - 2 1 - -
23. 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?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Clinton 64% 24% 91% 60% 57% 70% McFarland 27 68 6 26 34 22 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - - 1 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 2 - 3 3 - DK/NA 7 6 3 10 6 7 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Clinton 66% 53% 55% 77% 60% McFarland 22 38 35 15 32 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - 1 1 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 2 2 2 1 DK/NA 10 7 7 6 7
TREND: 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?
May 18 Mar 30 2006 2006 Clinton 64 60 McFarland 27 29 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 2 DK/NA 7 7
24. 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?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Clinton 63% 24% 90% 60% 55% 71% Spencer 27 67 6 26 34 21 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - - 1 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 - 3 3 1 DK/NA 7 7 4 11 7 7 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Clinton 65% 54% 56% 73% 61% Spencer 24 38 35 16 31 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - 1 - 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 2 2 2 1 DK/NA 8 6 6 9 7
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?
May 18 Mar 30 Jan 20 2006 2006 2006 Clinton 63 60 60 Spencer 27 30 30 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - 1 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 2 2 DK/NA 7 7 7
25. Does the possibility that Hillary Rodham Clinton will run for President in 2008 make you more likely to vote for her for United States Senator in 2006, less likely to vote for her for United States Senator in 2006, or doesn't it make a difference?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More likely 18% 8% 27% 15% 14% 22% Less likely 16 33 7 18 17 15 Doesn't make a diff 62 56 63 63 65 60 DK/NA 4 3 3 3 4 3 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub More likely 20% 10% 12% 27% 15% Less likely 17 18 18 10 22 Doesn't make a diff 60 68 66 59 60 DK/NA 3 4 4 4 3
26. Is your opinion of former Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about her?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 15% 22% 13% 16% 19% 13% Unfavorable 17 7 24 18 21 14 Mixed 13 13 11 16 11 15 Hvn't hrd enough 53 56 51 50 48 58 REFUSED 1 1 - - 1 1 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Favorable 4% 10% 9% 18% 25% Unfavorable 12 13 13 20 21 Mixed 7 12 11 14 17 Hvn't hrd enough 77 63 66 49 36 REFUSED - 1 1 - 1
TREND: Is your opinion of former Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about her? (* did not include "former")
May 18 Mar 30 Jan 20 May 5 2006 2006* 2006* 2005* Favorable 15 16 18 17 Unfavorable 17 18 17 4 Mixed 13 14 16 10 Hvn't heard enough 53 52 48 68 REFUSED 1 1 1 1
27. Is your opinion of former New York City Public Advocate Mark Green favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 21% 15% 29% 17% 23% 19% Unfavorable 12 15 8 15 16 8 Mixed 18 11 24 17 19 18 Hvn't hrd enough 48 57 39 51 41 54 REFUSED 1 1 - 1 1 - UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Favorable 10% 9% 9% 30% 30% Unfavorable 7 5 6 17 16 Mixed 9 10 10 23 26 Hvn't hrd enough 74 73 73 30 28 REFUSED 1 2 2 - -
TREND: Is your opinion of former New York City Public Advocate Mark Green favorable, unfavorable,mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him? (* did not include "former")
May 18 Mar 30 Jan 20 Jun 18 Mar 26 Feb 26 Dec 11 2006 2006 2006 1998* 1998* 1998* 1997* Favorable 21 22 21 28 29 30 32 Unfavorable 12 11 12 6 7 8 6 Mixed 18 16 19 14 9 9 10 Hvn't heard enough 48 51 47 51 54 53 51 REFUSED 1 1 1 - 1 - 1
28. Is your opinion of former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Andrew Cuomo favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 27% 19% 38% 22% 26% 28% Unfavorable 20 29 16 20 27 15 Mixed 23 20 20 29 19 27 Hvn't hrd enough 30 32 27 28 28 31 REFUSED - - - - - - UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Favorable 27% 23% 24% 28% 32% Unfavorable 15 20 19 24 18 Mixed 25 24 24 19 26 Hvn't hrd enough 31 33 33 29 24 REFUSED 2 - 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?
May 18 Mar 30 Jan 20 Jul 2 May 1 Apr 18 Feb 27 2006 2006 2006 2002 2002 2002 2002 Favorable 27 24 24 16 15 20 18 Unfavorable 20 18 21 24 28 18 19 Mixed 23 23 26 22 17 17 16 Hvn't heard enough 30 34 28 37 39 44 46 REFUSED - 1 1 1 1 1 1
29. 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?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Cuomo 49% 18% 71% 44% 48% 50% Pirro 33 70 14 33 37 29 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 1 1 3 2 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 2 2 1 3 DK/NA 14 10 12 19 12 17 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Cuomo 49% 43% 44% 54% 50% Pirro 25 40 37 25 39 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 4 2 2 2 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 2 2 2 1 DK/NA 18 14 15 17 9
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?
May 18 Mar 30 Jan 20 Dec 14 2006 2006 2006 2005 Cuomo 49 51 48 49 Pirro 33 31 33 32 SMONE ELSE 2 2 2 1 WLDN'T VOTE 2 2 3 2 DK/NA 14 14 13 16
30. 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?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Green 46% 15% 71% 38% 47% 45% Pirro 33 69 14 32 35 31 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - - 3 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 3 1 2 3 2 DK/NA 18 13 14 24 15 20 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Green 39% 36% 36% 58% 44% Pirro 27 39 36 23 40 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 3 1 2 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 3 3 3 1 DK/NA 30 21 23 14 14
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?
May 18 Mar 30 Jan 20 Dec 14 2006 2006 2006 2005 Green 46 47 42 43 Pirro 33 31 35 35 SMONE ELSE 1 1 1 2 WLDN'T VOTE 2 3 3 2 DK/NA 18 18 19 18
31. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling the situation with Iraq?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 22% 53% 7% 17% 29% 15% Disapprove 74 42 89 78 68 79 DK/NA 4 5 3 5 2 6
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling the situation with Iraq?
May 18 Mar 30 Jan 20 2006 2006 2006 Approve 22 27 32 Disapprove 74 69 63 DK/NA 4 3 5
32. Do you think going to war with Iraq was the right thing for the United States to do or the wrong thing?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Right thing 27% 61% 10% 24% 33% 21% Wrong thing 67 33 86 70 62 72 DK/NA 6 6 4 6 5 7
TREND: Do you think going to war with Iraq was the right thing for the United States to do or the wrong thing?
May 18 Mar 30 Jan 20 Dec 14 Oct 5 Sep 15 Aug 13 2006 2006 2006 2005 2005 2004 2004 Right thing 27 34 34 34 31 42 39 Wrong thing 67 61 57 61 64 52 57 DK/NA 6 6 9 6 5 6 4
33. From what you have seen or heard about the situation in Iraq, what should the United States do? A) Should the U.S. increase the number of U.S. troops in Iraq, B) keep the same number of U.S. troops in Iraq as there are now, C) decrease the number of U.S. troops in Iraq, or D) remove all its troops from Iraq?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom A) Increase troops 12% 18% 7% 15% 16% 8% B) Keep same amount 17 30 11 15 21 13 C) Decrease troops 25 24 28 23 24 26 D) Remove all troops 39 22 48 37 31 45 DK/NA 8 6 6 10 7 8
36. (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?
REG REPUBLICANS.... Tot Men Wom Spencer 25% 26% 23% McFarland 35 35 35 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 2 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 3 2 DK/NA 36 33 39
37. (If registered Republican) When the Republican party nominates its candidate for United States Senator, which quality do you think should be more important - A) the candidate's ability to win the general election, or B) the candidate's views on the issues?
REG REPUBLICANS.... Tot Men Wom A) Ability to win 12% 19% 5% B) Views on issues 86 81 92 DK/NA 2 1 3
40. (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?
REG DEMOCRATS...... Tot Men Wom Green 26% 29% 25% Cuomo 34 33 35 King 2 2 2 O'Donnell 2 2 2 Brodsky 2 2 2 Maloney 3 4 2 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 2 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 3 1 DK/NA 28 23 31