New York State (NY) Poll * October 18, 2006 * GOP Challenger Gains Some Grou - Quinnipiac University

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

October 18, 2006 - GOP Challenger Gains Some Ground On Hevesi, Quinnipiac University New York State Poll Finds; Faso Still Trails Spitzer 3-1 In Governor's Race

New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi, a Democrat, has a 54 - 27 percent likely voter lead over Republican challenger J. Christopher Callaghan, with 19 percent undecided and 30 percent of voters who name a candidate saying they could change their mind before Election Day, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
This compares to a 59 -21 percent Hevesi lead in an October 4 poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.
In this latest survey, Hevesi leads 78 - 6 percent among Democrats and 51 - 24 percent among independent voters.
Callaghan leads 67 - 22 percent among Republicans, with 11 percent undecided, compared to 50 - 29 percent, with 19 percent undecided, October 4.
Fifty-two percent of likely voters say they have read or heard something about Hevesi using state employees to chauffeur his wife on private business. "The only New York statewide race where there's been movement is Christopher Callaghan's challenge to Comptroller Alan Hevesi. About half of New Yorkers have heard about the Comptroller using state employees to chauffeur his wife and his lead has been cut. But it's still huge, " said Maurice Carroll, Director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"With 20 days until the election, is there time enough for Callaghan to pull an upset? His recent move in the polls is the result of undecided Republicans coming home. Now, can he attract more Democrats or independent voters?" Carroll said.
Governor's Race
In the governor's race, State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, the Democrat, leads Republican John Faso 71 - 22 percent among likely voters, unchanged from Spitzer's 73 - 21 percent lead October 4.
Spitzer gets 38 percent of Republican likely voters, to Faso's 55 percent. Democrats back Spitzer 94 - 2 percent and independent voters back him 76 - 17 percent.
Only 7 percent of voters remain undecided and 17 percent of those who name a candidate say they might change their mind by Election Day.
New York State likely voters give Spitzer a 59 - 9 percent favorability rating, with 18 percent mixed and 12 percent who haven't heard enough to form an opinion.
For Faso, 52 percent haven't heard enough to form an opinion.
"Should Attorney General Spitzer send the campaign consultants home and bring in the design consultants for the Executive Mansion? The poll numbers say he's a shoo-in to move in," Carroll said.
From October 11 - 16 Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,053 New York State likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 3 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 additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu or call (203) 582-5201
1. If the 2006 election for governor were being held today and the candidates were Eliot Spitzer the Democrat and John Faso the Republican, for whom would you vote?(If undecided q1) As of today, do you lean more toward Spitzer or Faso? This table includes Leaners.
LIKELY VOTERS............................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Spitzer 71% 38% 94% 76% 70% 73% Faso 22 55 2 17 25 19 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - 1 - 1 - - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - - - - - - DK/NA 7 7 4 7 5 8 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Spitzer 80% 67% 70% 76% 68% Faso 17 24 23 18 25 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - - - 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - - - - - DK/NA 3 9 8 5 6
TREND: If the 2006 election for governor were being held today and the candidates were Eliot Spitzer the Democrat and John Faso the Republican, for whom would you vote?(If undecided) As of today, do you lean more toward Spitzer or Faso? This table includes Leaners.
LIKELY VOTERS Oct 18 Oct 4 2006 2006 Spitzer 71 73 Faso 22 21 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - - DK/NA 7 5
1a. (If candidate chosen q1) Is your mind made up, or do you think you might change your mind before the election?
LIKELY CHOOSING CAND Q1.. CAND OF CHOICE Q1 Tot ES JF Made up 81% 83% 76% Might change 17 15 24 DK/NA 1 1 -
TREND: (If candidate choice) Is your mind made up, or do you think you might change your mind before the election?
LIKELY VOTERS Oct 18 Oct 4 2006 2006 Made up 81 69 Might change 17 30 DK/NA 1 1
2. Is your opinion of Eliot Spitzer favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
LIKELY VOTERS............................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 59% 37% 75% 63% 61% 58% Unfavorable 9 24 1 7 11 8 Mixed 18 27 12 19 19 17 Hvn't hrd enough 12 12 10 9 8 15 REFUSED 2 - 2 1 1 2 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Favorable 53% 57% 56% 62% 61% Unfavorable 6 12 11 6 10 Mixed 18 19 19 18 17 Hvn't hrd enough 23 11 13 12 9 REFUSED - 1 1 2 3
TREND: Is your opinion of Eliot Spitzer favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
LIKELY VOTERS Oct 18 Oct 4 2006 2006 Favorable 59 57 Unfavorable 9 10 Mixed 18 17 Hvn't hrd enough 12 16 REFUSED 2 -
3. Is your opinion of John Faso favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
LIKELY VOTERS............................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 12% 30% 4% 8% 15% 10% Unfavorable 14 2 23 13 17 12 Mixed 19 19 15 22 19 19 Hvn't hrd enough 52 49 54 56 48 56 REFUSED 2 1 4 2 2 3 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Favorable 13% 18% 17% 8% 11% Unfavorable 13 11 12 20 11 Mixed 23 21 22 13 22 Hvn't hrd enough 50 47 48 58 52 REFUSED - 3 2 2 3
TREND: Is your opinion of John Faso favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
LIKELY VOTERS Oct 18 Oct 4 2006 2006 Favorable 12 11 Unfavorable 14 9 Mixed 19 10 Hvn't hrd enough 52 70 REFUSED 2 1
6. If the election for State Comptroller were being held today and the candidates were Alan Hevesi the Democrat and Christopher Callaghan the Republican, for whom would you vote?(If undecided q6) As of today, do you lean more toward Hevesi or Callaghan? This table includes Leaners.
LIKELY VOTERS............................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Hevesi 54% 22% 78% 51% 51% 56% Callaghan 27 67 6 24 32 23 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - - - - - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - - - - - - DK/NA 19 11 16 24 16 20 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Hevesi 46% 41% 42% 68% 54% Callaghan 34 35 34 17 31 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - - - - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - - - - - DK/NA 20 24 23 15 16
TREND: If the election for State Comptroller were being held today and the candidates were Alan Hevesi the Democrat and Christopher Callaghan the Republican, for whom would you vote?(If undecided) As of today, do you lean more toward Hevesi or Callaghan? This table includes Leaners.
LIKELY VOTERS Oct 18 Oct 4 2006 2006 Hevesi 54 59 Callaghan 27 21 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - 1 DK/NA 19 18
6a. (If candidate chosen q6) Is your mind made up, or do you think you might change your mind before the election?
LIKELY CHOOSING CAND Q6.. CAND OF CHOICE Q6 Tot AH CC Made up 69% 74% 58% Might change 30 25 42 DK/NA 1 1 -
TREND: (If candidate choice) Is your mind made up, or do you think you might change your mind before the election?
LIKELY VOTERS Oct 18 Oct 4 2006 2006 Made up 69 58 Might change 30 41 DK/NA 1 1
8. Have you heard or read anything about State Comptroller Alan Hevesi using state employees to chauffeur his wife on private business?
LIKELY VOTERS............................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 52% 54% 48% 57% 58% 48% No 46 44 50 43 41 51 DK/NA 2 2 2 1 1 2 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Yes 42% 59% 55% 52% 48% No 51 40 42 47 51 DK/NA 6 1 2 1 1