April 13, 2008

FREQUENCY QUESTIONNAIRE POLL RESULTS:
NY Voters Like Paterson But Want Options

Little Fallout from Scandals; Rivals would Offer Strong Challenges in 2010

by Erik Engquist

1. Are you registered to vote in New York State? IF YES: as a Democrat, Republican, Independent or something else?

• Not registered: 0%
• Yes, as a Democrat: 47%
• Yes, as a Republican: 28%
• Yes, as an Independent: 18%
• Yes, as something else: 7%

2. Is your opinion of David Paterson very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable or very unfavorable?

• Very favorable: 20%
• Somewhat favorable: 37%
• Somewhat unfavorable: 9%
• Very unfavorable: 3%
• Don’t Know/No Response/Refused: 31%

3. Is your opinion of Joseph Bruno very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable or very unfavorable?

• Very favorable: 10%
• Somewhat favorable: 27%
• Somewhat unfavorable: 17%
• Very unfavorable: 10%
• Don’t Know/No Response/Refused: 35%

4. Is your opinion of Rudolph Giuliani very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable or very unfavorable?

• Very favorable: 21%
• Somewhat favorable: 36%
• Somewhat unfavorable: 19%
• Very unfavorable: 19%
• Don’t Know/No Response/Refused: 6%

5. Is your opinion of Andrew Cuomo very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable or very unfavorable?

• Very favorable: 20%
• Somewhat favorable: 45%
• Somewhat unfavorable: 14%
• Very unfavorable: 8%
• Don’t Know/No Response/Refused: 12%

6. Is your opinion of Michael Bloomberg very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable or very unfavorable?

• Very favorable: 35%
• Somewhat favorable: 32%
• Somewhat unfavorable: 14%
• Very unfavorable: 5%
• Don’t Know/No Response/Refused: 14%

7. Democrats only: In September 2010, there will be a Democratic primary election for Governor of New York. If the Democratic primary for Governor was today and the candidates were Andrew Cuomo and David Paterson, for whom would you vote?

• David Paterson: 41%
• Andrew Cuomo: 34%
• Don’t know/No response/Refused: 24%

Republicans only: In September 2010, there will be a Republican primary election for Governor of New York. If the Republican primary for Governor was today and the candidates were Michael Bloomberg and Rudolph Giuliani, for whom would you vote?

• Rudolph Giuliani: 55%
• Michael Bloomberg: 35%
• Don’t know/No response/Refused: 10%

8. In November 2010, there will be a general election for Governor of New York. If the general election was today and the candidates were Democrat David Paterson and Republican Rudolph Giuliani, for whom would you vote?

• David Paterson: 47%
• Rudolph Giuliani: 41%
• Don’t know/No response/Refused: 12%

9. If the general election was today and the candidates were Democrat David Paterson and Republican Michael Bloomberg, for whom would you vote?

• Michael Bloomberg: 44%
• David Paterson: 41%
• Don’t know/No response/Refused: 16%

10. Did the press go too far in reporting on Governor David Patterson’s personal life? If Yes: regarding his extramarital affairs, his drug use, or both?

• No: 40%
• Yes, on extramarital affairs only: 11%
• Yes, on drug use only: 0%
• Yes, on both: 42%
• No response/Refused: 7%

11. Do you think the press should report if a married politician has an affair?

• In any circumstances: 33%
• If the politician used public money or campaign money for the affair: 34%
• If the politician had campaigned for family values: 15%
• If the politician did favors for the other person: 15%
• If the affair has no connection to government business: 11%
• None of these: 15%
• No response/Refused: 4%

12. Do you think the press should report if a married politician goes to a prostitute?

• In any circumstances: 53%
• If the politician broke Federal laws by hiding payments or transporting the prostitute across state lines: 26%
• If the politician campaigned against prostitution: 16%
• None of these: 9%
• No response/Refused: 4%

13. Do you think the press should report limited illegal drug use by a politician when they were much younger?

• In any circumstances: 40%
• If they used heroin: 13%
• If they used cocaine: 10%
• If they used marijuana: 3%
• None of these: 39%
• No response/Refused: 4%
  

 

The survey was designed by Charney Research for Crain's New York Business. Telephone interviews were conducted in English and Spanish by Opinion Access Corp. between March 31 and April 3, 2008, with a representative sample of 607 registered voters living in New York state households. Statistical results are weighted to correct known demographic discrepancies. The margin of sampling error for the complete set of weighted data is +/-4%.

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