Marist Institute for Public Opinion

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

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, September 9, 2002

 

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’s Re-election Prospects

·                  Governor George Pataki leads New York State Comptroller H. Carl McCall by 15% among likely voters for November’s gubernatorial election.  Pataki has the support of 52% of New York State’s registered voters and McCall receives 37%.

 

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

 

 

George Pataki

Republican

H. Carl McCall

Democrat

Gerard Cronin

R-T-L

Stanley Aronowitz

Green

 

 

Undecided

Likely Voters

52%

37%

  1%

  1%

  9%

Likely w/ Leaners

53%

39%

  1%

  1%

  6%

Registered Voters

 

 

 

 

 

September 2002

51%

34%

  2%

  2%

11%

May 2002

60%

30%

n.a.

n.a.

10%

April 2002

63%

29%

n.a.

n.a.

  8%

December 2001

59%

29%

n.a.

n.a.

12%

April 2001

49%

39%

n.a.

n.a.

12%

December 2000

52%

37%

n.a.

n.a.

11%

March 2000

52%

33%

n.a.

n.a.

15%

September 1999

54%

30%

n.a.

n.a.

16%

Likely Voters

 

 

 

 

 

Region

 

 

 

 

 

  Upstate

50%

35%

  2%

  2%

11%

  New York City

45%

47%

  0%

  2%

  6%

  Suburbs

64%

28%

  2%

  0%

  6%

Party

 

 

 

 

 

  Republican

75%

16%

  2%

  0%

  7%

  Democrat

34%

57%

  1%

  1%

  7%

  Non-enrolled

51%

27%

  3%

  4%

15%

 

·                  The Golisano Factor:  When Thomas Golisano, who is vying for a place on the November ballot, is included as the Independence Party candidate for the general election for governor, he receives 11% among likely voters compared with George Pataki who has 48% and H. Carl McCall who receives 32%.

 

 

Pataki

Republican

McCall

Democrat

Golisano

Independence

 

Other

 

Undecided

Likely Voters

48%

32%

11%

  2%

  7%

Likely w/ Leaners

49%

34%

11%

  2%

  4%

Registered Voters

 

 

 

 

 

September 2002

47%

30%

12%

  2%

  9%

May 2002

58%

27%

  6%

n.a.

  9%

 

·                     Intensity of Support: 63% of likely voters are strongly committed to a candidate for governor, 24% say they somewhat support their choice, and 11% indicate they might vote differently on election day.  The support for George Pataki is more firmly committed than the support for H. Carl McCall.  Thomas Golisano has the lowest intensity of support among these three candidates.

 

Question Wording: Would you say you strongly support (candidate name), somewhat support him, or do you think you might vote differently on election day?

 

 

Strongly

Support

Somewhat

Support

Might Vote

Differently

 

Unsure

Likely Voters

63%

24%

11%

  2%

By Candidate

 

 

 

 

  George Pataki

71%

19%

  7%

  3%

  H. Carl McCall

60%

27%

12%

  1%

  Thomas Golisano

36%

40%

24%

  0%

 

Favorable/Unfavorable Impressions

·                     Governor George Pataki is the best known of any of the potential candidates for governor.  Voters’ views of both Pataki and McCall are much more favorable than unfavorable. Voters’ assessments of Thomas Golisano are mixed.

 

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

 

 

 

  September 2002

69%

26%

  5%

  May 2002

81%

16%

  3%

  April 2002

79%

17%

  4%

  December 2001

77%

17%

  6%

  April 2001

66%

27%

  7%

  December 2000

69%

25%

  6%

H. Carl McCall

 

 

 

  September 2002

59%