FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Marist Institute for Public Opinion

Marist College l Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 12601 l 845.575.5050

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, December 12, 2001

Contact: Dr. Lee M. Miringoff

Dr. Barbara L. Carvalho

Marist College

845.575.5050

This Marist College Institute for Public Opinion poll reports:

Governor George Pataki at Highest Rating

65% of New York State’s registered voters rate the job Governor George Pataki is doing in office as excellent or good. 31% do not rate his job performance positively. 4% are unsure. This is the highest rating Governor Pataki has received since he assumed office. In a similar poll conducted last April, his approval rating was 53%.

Governor Pataki's approval rating is 70% in the suburbs, 69% upstate, and 56% in New York City. The largest improvement in the Governor’s standing is in New York City and the suburbs surrounding New York City.

Question Wording: Would you rate the job Governor George Pataki is doing in office as excellent, good, fair, or poor?

Registered Voters

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Unsure/DK

December 2001

15%

50%

27%

4%

4%

April 2001

10%

43%

34%

8%

5%

December 2000

11%

44%

30%

10%

5%

March 2000

9%

42%

35%

11%

3%

September 1999

10%

41%

38%

9%

2%

July 1999

15%

40%

31%

11%

3%

March 1999

12%

49%

28%

10%

1%

October 1998

14%

46%

31%

8%

1%

September 1998

16%

46%

31%

6%

1%

April 1998

11%

48%

33%

7%

1%

February 1998

11%

49%

32%

6%

2%

October 1997

7%

42%

39%

10%

2%

March 1997

6%

41%

38%

12%

3%

November 1996

8%

39%

36%

14%

3%

March 1996

6%

33%

40%

17%

4%

September 1995

5%

34%

38%

17%

6%

March 1995

8%

28%

28%

16%

20%

Region

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Unsure/DK

Suburbs

December 2001

17%

53%

23%

4%

3%

April 2001

8%

46%

39%

5%

2%

Upstate

December 2001

15%

54%

24%

4%

3%

April 2001

13%

50%

27%

5%

5%

New York City

December 2001

15%

41%

32%

5%

7%

April 2001

6%

31%

41%

15%

7%

In the aftermath of the attacks on the World Trade Center, New York State voters think Governor Pataki is doing enough to obtain Federal support from Washington, D.C.

Question Wording: Do you think Governor Pataki is doing enough or not enough to get the money from Washington to rebuild New York after the attacks on the World Trade Center?

Registered Voters

Enough

Not Enough

Unsure

December 2001

60%

24%

16%

Governor Pataki’s Re-election Prospects

Governor George Pataki has a commanding lead over both his potential challengers for governor next fall. Governor Pataki has the support of 59% of registered voters statewide and Andrew Cuomo receives 31%. When matched against NYS Comptroller H. Carl McCall, Governor George Pataki has 59% compared with 29% for McCall.

Question Wording: If the next election for governor of New York State were held today, whom would you support if the candidates are:

Registered Voters

George Pataki

Andrew Cuomo

Undecided

December 2001

59%

31%

10%

April 2001

45%

42%

13%

December 2000

50%

39%

11%

March 2000

50%

40%

10%

September 1999

48%

39%

13%

Registered Voters

George Pataki

H. Carl McCall

Undecided

December 2001

59%

29%

12%

April 2001

49%

39%

12%

December 2000

52%

37%

11%

March 2000

52%

33%

15%

September 1999

54%

30%

16%

At this point in the election cycle 42% of registered voters definitely plan to vote to re-elect Governor Pataki and 19% definitely plan to vote against him.

Question Wording: Do you definitely plan to vote for George Pataki for re-election as governor or do you definitely plan to vote against him?

Registered Voters

Vote For

Vote Against

Unsure

December 2001

42%

19%

39%

Favorable/Unfavorable Impressions

Governor George Pataki has the highest favorable rating among the New York State electorate of any of the potential candidates for governor in 2002. Andrew Cuomo and H. Carl McCall are also viewed more favorably than unfavorably by registered voters, although they are less well known statewide.

Former Governor Mario Cuomo is well received among New York State voters.

Question Wording: Please tell me if you have a favorable or an unfavorable impression of each of the following:

Registered Voters

Favorable

Unfavorable

Unsure/Never Heard

George Pataki

December 2001

77%

17%

6%

April 2001

66%

27%

7%

December 2000

69%

25%

6%

Andrew Cuomo

December 2001

41%

26%

33%

April 2001

50%

25%

25%

December 2000

48%

25%

27%

H. Carl McCall

December 2001

45%

14%

41%

April 2001

45%

14%

41%

December 2000

42%

12%

46%

Mario Cuomo

December 2001

63%

27%

10%

Direction of NYS

Nearly two-thirds of registered voters express a positive outlook over the direction of the state. There has been an increase since last April in the number of voters who think the state is headed in the right direction.

Question Wording: In general, thinking about the way things are going in New York State, do you feel things are going in the right direction or that things are going in the wrong direction?

Registered Voters

Right Direction

Wrong Direction

Unsure

December 2001

65%

25%

10%

April 2001

58%

33%

9%

December 2000

64%

30%

6%

March 2000

60%

29%

11%

September 1999

65%

25%

10%

March 1999

64%

26%

10%

October 1998

68%

23%

9%

September 1998

68%

23%

9%

April 1998

66%

23%

11%

February 1998

68%

25%

7%

October 1997

58%

33%

9%

March 1997

51%

35%

14%

November 1996

51%

37%

12%

March 1996

36%

49%

15%

September 1995

35%

48%

17%

March 1995

36%

48%

16%

November 1994

25%

62%

13%

October 1994

22%

66%

12%

September 1994

24%

62%

14%

March 1994

25%

61%

14%

November 1993

26%

59%

15%

September 1990

28%

56%

16%

Most registered voters think New York State is currently in a recession.

Question Wording: Do you think that New York State is currently in a recession, or not?

Registered Voters

Yes

No

Unsure

December 2001

76%

19%

5%

April 2001

46%

48%

6%

April 1998

27%

66%

7%

February 1998

28%

65%

7%

September 1998

23%

71%

6%

October 1997

36%

58%

6%

March 1997

42%

51%

7%

November 1996

48%

45%

7%

March 1996

56%

37%

7%

September 1995

56%

34%

10%

March 1995

59%

32%

9%

October 1994

67%

27%

6%

September 1994

63%

28%

9%

March 1994

70%

22%

8%

March 1991

84%

13%

3%

Ratings for New York’s U.S. Senators and President Bush Improve

Senator Hillary Clinton’s approval rating is 45% among New York State’s registered voters. 46% do not rate her job performance positively. In a similar poll conducted in April, 35% of the New York electorate approved of the job Senator Clinton was doing and 48% did not rate her positively.

Question Wording: Would you rate the job Senator Hillary Clinton is doing in office as excellent, good, fair, or poor?

Registered Voters

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Unsure/DK

December 2001

11%

34%

23%

23%

9%

April 2001

9%

26%

26%

22%

17%

February 2001

10%

20%

22%

20%

28%

Region

Upstate

8%

33%

23%

26%

10%

New York City

16%

37%

24%

15%

8%

Suburbs

12%

31%

22%

27%

8%

Party

Democrats

18%

40%

21%

11%

10%

Republicans

5%

27%

23%

36%

9%

Non-enrolled

8%

32%

29%

25%

6%

Senator Charles Schumer’s approval rating is currently 54% among New York State's registered voters. 31% do not rate his job performance positively. Last April, his approval rating was 49%.

Question Wording: Would you rate the job Senator Charles Schumer is doing in office as excellent, good, fair, or poor?

Registered Voters

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Unsure/DK

December 2001

12%

42%

24%

7%

15%

April 2001

12%

37%

26%

8%

17%

December 2000

13%

38%

22%

9%

18%

March 2000

9%

30%

27%

7%

27%

September 1999

9%

35%

31%

8%

17%

March 1999

7%

34%

23%

10%

26%

Region

Upstate

7%

44%

25%

6%

18%

New York City

20%

38%

21%

8%

13%

Suburbs

12%

44%

27%

5%

12%

Party

Democrats

17%

46%

19%

5%

13%

Republicans

7%

41%

25%

10%

17%

Non-enrolled

10%

39%

35%

3%

13%

President George W. Bush’s Job Performance

President George W. Bush’s approval rating is currently 79% among New York State's registered voters. 20% do not rate his job performance positively. His approval rating was 40% in a similar poll last April.

Question Wording: Would you rate the job President George W. Bush is doing in office as excellent, good, fair, or poor?

Registered Voters

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Unsure/DK

December 2001

43%

36%

15%

5%

1%

April 2001

11%

29%

30%

23%

7%

Nature of the Sample: 788 New York State Registered Voters

This survey was conducted on December 3^rd through December 6^th, 2001. 788 registered voters were interviewed in proportion to the voter registration in each county in New York State and adjusted for turnout in comparable elections. All interviews were conducted by telephone. The results are statistically significant at ± 3.5% for the entire sample. The error margin increases for cross-tabulations.

Race		Party
White	79%	Democrat	44%
Black	12%	Republican	31%
Latino	7%	Independent	21%
Asian	2%	Conservative	2%
Other	0%	Liberal	1%
		Other	1%

Religion		Ideology
Protestant	28%	Liberal	28%
Catholic	50%	Moderate	38%
Jewish	10%	Conservative	34%
Other	12%

Gender (weighted)		Region
Men	48%	Upstate	45%
Women	52%	New York City	31%
		Suburbs	24%

Registered Voters	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Unsure/DK
December 2001	15%	50%	27%	4%	4%
April 2001	10%	43%	34%	8%	5%
December 2000	11%	44%	30%	10%	5%
March 2000	9%	42%	35%	11%	3%
September 1999	10%	41%	38%	9%	2%
July 1999	15%	40%	31%	11%	3%
March 1999	12%	49%	28%	10%	1%
October 1998	14%	46%	31%	8%	1%
September 1998	16%	46%	31%	6%	1%
April 1998	11%	48%	33%	7%	1%
February 1998	11%	49%	32%	6%	2%
October 1997	7%	42%	39%	10%	2%
March 1997	6%	41%	38%	12%	3%
November 1996	8%	39%	36%	14%	3%
March 1996	6%	33%	40%	17%	4%
September 1995	5%	34%	38%	17%	6%
March 1995	8%	28%	28%	16%	20%

Registered Voters	Enough	Not Enough	Unsure
December 2001	60%	24%	16%

Registered Voters	George Pataki	Andrew Cuomo	Undecided
December 2001	59%	31%	10%
April 2001	45%	42%	13%
December 2000	50%	39%	11%
March 2000	50%	40%	10%
September 1999	48%	39%	13%

Registered Voters	George Pataki	H. Carl McCall	Undecided
December 2001	59%	29%	12%
April 2001	49%	39%	12%
December 2000	52%	37%	11%
March 2000	52%	33%	15%
September 1999	54%	30%	16%

Registered Voters	Vote For	Vote Against	Unsure
December 2001	42%	19%	39%

Registered Voters	Favorable	Unfavorable	Unsure/Never Heard
George Pataki
December 2001	77%	17%	6%
April 2001	66%	27%	7%
December 2000	69%	25%	6%
Andrew Cuomo
December 2001	41%	26%	33%
April 2001	50%	25%	25%
December 2000	48%	25%	27%
H. Carl McCall
December 2001	45%	14%	41%
April 2001	45%	14%	41%
December 2000	42%	12%	46%
Mario Cuomo
December 2001	63%	27%	10%

Registered Voters	Right Direction	Wrong Direction	Unsure
December 2001	65%	25%	10%
April 2001	58%	33%	9%
December 2000	64%	30%	6%
March 2000	60%	29%	11%
September 1999	65%	25%	10%
March 1999	64%	26%	10%
October 1998	68%	23%	9%
September 1998	68%	23%	9%
April 1998	66%	23%	11%
February 1998	68%	25%	7%
October 1997	58%	33%	9%
March 1997	51%	35%	14%
November 1996	51%	37%	12%
March 1996	36%	49%	15%
September 1995	35%	48%	17%
March 1995	36%	48%	16%
November 1994	25%	62%	13%
October 1994	22%	66%	12%
September 1994	24%	62%	14%
March 1994	25%	61%	14%
November 1993	26%	59%	15%
September 1990	28%	56%	16%