New York State Campaign 2006

In a Word…Lopsided

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: WEDNESDAY 6:00 P.M. AUGUST 23, 2006

All references must be sourced WNBC/Marist Poll

Contact: Dr. Lee M. Miringoff

Dr. Barbara L. Carvalho

Marist College

845.575.5050

This WNBC/Marist Poll of New York State reports:

· Senator Hillary Clinton is coasting toward re-election in November: Hillary Clinton handily outmatches either of her potential Republican opponents for November’s U.S. Senate race in New York. Clinton leads former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer by 25 percentage points. Former Reagan administration official Kathleen Troia McFarland, who suspended her senate campaign this week, trails Senator Clinton by 30 percentage points. Clinton also has a formidable lead against Jonathan Tasini for the Democratic nomination in September.

Question Wording: If November’s election for U.S. Senate in New York State were held today, whom would you support if the candidates are:

Registered Voters	John Spencer Republican	Hillary Clinton Democrat	Undecided
August 2006	35%	60%	5%
July 2006	34%	61%	5%
May 2006	33%	63%	4%
January 2006	33%	62%	5%
September 2005	31%	62%	7%

Registered Voters	Kathleen McFarland Republican	Hillary Clinton Democrat	Undecided
August 2006	32%	62%	6%
July 2006	32%	61%	7%
May 2006	30%	64%	6%

Question Wording: If September's Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in New York State were held today, whom would you support if the candidates are:

	Jonathan Tasini	Hillary Clinton	Undecided
Likely Democrats	15%	80%	5%
Registered Democrats
August 2006	15%	80%	5%
July 2006	13%	83%	4%

· New York Republicans are undecided in the primary contest for their U.S. Senate nominee: 46% of New York State’s registered Republicans are undecided about whom to nominate to challenge Hillary Clinton for the U.S. Senate. John Spencer is the frontrunner among Republicans who support a candidate. He leads Kathleen Troia McFarland by more than two to one in the September primary. But, with the large number of undecided Republicans, the outcome of the primary is uncertain.

Question Wording: If September's Republican primary for U.S. Senate in New York State were held today, whom would you support if the candidates are:

Registered Republicans	Undecided	John Spencer	Kathleen McFarland	Other
August 2006	46%	38%	16%	n.a.
July 2006	49%	36%	15%	n.a.
May 2006	47%	26%	14%	13%

· Eliot Spitzer is the odds on favorite in the race for New York governor: 70% of New York Democrats likely to vote in the September primary support Attorney General Eliot Spitzer for their party’s nominee for New York governor. Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi receives 17%, and 13% are undecided. In a match-up between Eliot Spitzer and his Republican opponent for November’s election for New York governor, Spitzer has a commanding lead over former Assemblyman John Faso.

Question Wording: If September's Democratic primary for governor of New York State were held today, whom would you support if the candidates are:

	Tom Suozzi	Eliot Spitzer	Undecided
Likely Democrats	17%	70%	13%
Registered Democrats
August 2006	16%	73%	11%
July 2006	10%	75%	15%
May 2006	12%	72%	16%
January 2006	8%	72%	20%

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

Registered Voters	John Faso Republican	Eliot Spitzer Democrat	Undecided
August 2006	23%	67%	10%
July 2006	20%	69%	11%
May 2006	20%	70%	10%
January 2006	18%	68%	14%
September 2005	20%	64%	16%

· Former HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo leads the Democratic primary field for New York’s attorney general: Andrew Cuomo leads the field of potential candidates for the Democratic nomination for New York State’s attorney general with the support of 46% of Democrats likely to vote in the primary. Former New York City Public Advocate Mark Green follows with 28%. 15% of likely Democratic voters remain undecided. The other candidates in the race trail.

Question Wording: If September's Democratic primary for attorney general of New York State were held today, whom would you support if the candidates are:

	Andrew Cuomo	Mark Green	Sean Patrick Maloney	Charlie King	Other	Undecided
Likely Democrats	46%	28%	10%	1%	n.a.	15%
Registered Democrats
August 2006	49%	24%	9%	3%	n.a.	15%
July 2006	40%	25%	7%	3%	n.a.	25%
May 2006	39%	20%	5%	2%	7%	27%
January 2006	40%	18%	5%	2%	4%	31%

· Democrat Andrew Cuomo leads Republican Jeanine Pirro in November’s race for New York’s next attorney general: Andrew Cuomo, the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination for attorney general, leads Republican Jeanine Pirro in an early match-up for the November contest. Cuomo receives the support of 54% of New York State’s registered voters compared with 39% for Pirro. 7% of registered voters are undecided. When Democrat Mark Green is matched against Republican Jeanine Pirro, he receives the support of 48% of registered voters compared with 42% for Pirro. 10% are undecided.

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

Registered Voters

Jeanine Pirro Republican

Andrew Cuomo Democrat