Marist Institute for Public Opinion

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

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, November 4, 2002

 

Contact:            Dr. Lee M. Miringoff

Dr. Barbara L. Carvalho

Marist College

845.575.5050

 

This Marist College Institute for Public Opinion poll reports:

New York State Governor: One More Day

·                  In a poll completed Sunday night, Governor George Pataki leads Comptroller H. Carl McCall by 20% among likely voters for tomorrow’s gubernatorial election.  George Pataki receives 47% compared with H. Carl McCall’s 27%.  Businessman Thomas Golisano has 19%. 

 

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

 

 

Pataki

Republican

McCall

Democrat

Golisano

Independence

 

Other*

 

Undecided

Likely Voters

 

 

 

 

 

 November 4, 2002

47%

27%

19%

  2%

  5%

 October 30, 2002

47%

27%

17%

  2%

  7%

Likely w/ Leaners

 

 

 

 

 

 November 4, 2002

48%

27%

19%

  3%

 3%

 October 30, 2002

48%

27%

19%

  2%

  4%

Registered Voters

 

 

 

 

 

 November 4, 2002

47%

27%

17%

  2%

  7%

 October 30, 2002

45%

28%

17%

  2%

  8%

 

·                     Intensity of Support:  68% of likely voters are strongly committed to a candidate for governor, 24% say they somewhat support their choice, and 7% indicate they might vote differently on election day.

 

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

 

 
Likely Voters

Strongly

Support

Somewhat

Support

Might Vote

Differently

 

Unsure

 November 4, 2002

68%

24%

  7%

  1%

 October 30, 2002

71%

20%

  8%

  1%

 

 
Likely Voters

Strongly

Support

Somewhat

Support

Might Vote

Differently

 

Unsure

George Pataki

 

 

 

 

 November 4, 2002

73%

23%

  4%

  0%

 October 30, 2002

77%

17%

  5%

  1%

H. Carl McCall

 

 

 

 

 November 4, 2002

69%

23%

  8%

  0%

 October 30, 2002

73%

21%

  6%

  0%

Thomas Golisano

 

 

 

 

 November 4, 2002

53%

31%

14%

  2%

 October 30, 2002

52%

29%

19%

  0%

 

·                  The Golisano Factor:  Thomas Golisano draws similar support from both George Pataki and H. Carl McCall.  When Golisano backers are asked whom they would support if Golisano was not on the ballot, George Pataki’s support among likely voters increases by 9%, and H. Carl McCall’s support goes up by 7%.

 

Question Wording: How about if the candidates are (Golisano omitted):

 

 

Likely Voters

Pataki

Republican

McCall

Democrat

 

Other[*]

 

Undecided

 November 4, 2002

56%

34%

  3%

  7%

 October 30, 2002

54%

33%

  4%

  9%

 

·                  Attacks vs. Issues:  In assessing the campaign for governor, 81% of registered voters think the candidates have spent more time attacking each other, and 15% think the candidates have spent more time talking about their positions on the issues.

 

Question Wording: Overall, when thinking about the election campaign for governor, do you feel that the candidates have spent more time talking about their positions on the issues, or attacking each other?

 

 

Attacks

Issues

Unsure

Registered Voters

81%

15%

  4%

Favorable/Unfavorable Impressions

·                     Among registered voters, George Pataki has the highest favorable score of the three candidates. 

 

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

 

 

 

 November 4, 2002

67%

29%

  4%

 October 30, 2002

69%

28%

  3%

H. Carl McCall

 

 

 

 November 4, 2002

54%

34%

12%

 October 30, 2002

54%

33%

13%

Thomas Golisano

 

 

 

 November 4, 2002

43%

40%

17%

 October 30, 2002

44%

38%

18%

The Contest for NYS Comptroller

·                     Alan Hevesi has the support of 50% of likely voters and John Faso has the support of 33%.  12% of likely voters are undecided.

 

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

 

 

Likely Voters

Faso

Republican

Hevesi

Democrat

 

Other*

 

Undecided

 November 4, 2002

33%

50%