What Does the Subway Series Do for the Senate race?

Lee M. Miringoff, director

Marist College Poll

10/19/00

If you haven’t heard, there is a subway series in New York for the first time in 44 years. Because November follows closely behind this October festival, speculation abounds as to what impact this "New York, New York" contest will have on Hillary vs. Rick.

The pro-Clinton analysis suggests that the potential freeze-out of politics in the next week or so may play Hillary’s way given her narrow edge over Lazio at this point. The pro-Lazio side points to the local consciousness-raising that New York is going through as awakening the latent (and not so latent) feelings about Hillary’s not being from here. And, of course, there is Hillary’s claim at being a lifetime Yankee fan that can be the object of Bronx jeers. What would things be like if Giuliani were still in the race?

Far be it for the Marist Poll to stay silent on the topic of a subway series. We asked New Yorkers to tell us who they think is likely to win the battle of Gotham. By 55% to 34%, the Yankees are picked to three-peat. Incidentally, there is no difference of opinion between Clinton and Lazio supporters on this matter.

As election day nears, we are also taking a serious look at the impact of the presidential vote on the senate race. If Gore carries New York handily, as expected, then Lazio will need a large share of Gore’s supporters to cross lines and vote Republican for senate. The latest Marist Poll notes that as Gore’s lead in New York narrows and Clinton opens up a slight lead of her own, the Gore-Clinton difference is not as great as it was earlier. The one major exception to this pattern is found in the outlook of Jewish voters where Gore is attracting 78% to 54% for Clinton. Look for more Clinton-Lieberman activities in an attempt to close this gap in their appeal.

P.S. A lot has changed in 44 years. Not only are our campaigns lasting longer and longer, but so do our B-Ball games. This senate contest has been going on in various forms for 20 months. Expect the World Series games to last four hours apiece. In 1956, Don Larsen’s perfect game lasted 2 hours and 6 minutes. As the ‘ol professor would say, "you can look it up"or as Rick Lazio might say "check it out!"