New York State Campaign 2006

Leads for Statewide Democratic Candidates Remain Wide

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY 6:00 P.M. OCTOBER 20, 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:

· Eliot Spitzer continues to outdistance his Republican rival by a wide margin in the race for New York’s next governor: In his bid to become governor of New York, Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has a 48 percentage point lead over his Republican opponent, former Assemblyman John Faso. Spitzer receives the support of 70% of voters likely to vote on Election Day compared with 22% for Faso. 8% of likely voters are undecided. 62% of registered voters approve of the job Eliot Spitzer is doing as attorney general, including a majority of Republicans.

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

	John Faso Republican	Eliot Spitzer Democrat	Undecided
Likely Voters
October 2006	22%	70%	8%
With leaners	22%	73%	5%
Registered Voters
October 2006	22%	66%	12%
September 2006	21%	67%	12%
August 2006	23%	67%	10%
July 2006	20%	69%	11%

Question Wording: Would you say that you strongly support (candidate’s name) somewhat support him, or do you think that you might vote differently on Election Day?

Likely Voters	Strongly Support	Somewhat Support	Might Vote Differently	Unsure
October 2006	67%	24%	8%	1%
Faso supporters	66%	23%	10%	1%
Spitzer supporters	67%	24%	8%	1%

Question Wording: Would you rate the job Attorney General Eliot Spitzer is doing in office as excellent, good, fair, or poor?

Registered Voters	Excellent/ Good	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Unsure/ DK
October 2006	62%	23%	39%	27%	6%	5%
Party
Democrat	70%	34%	36%	23%	4%	3%
Republican	56%	15%	41%	31%	8%	5%
Non-enrolled	64%	18%	46%	24%	6%	6%
Previous Polls
July 2006	63%	18%	45%	21%	7%	9%
May 2006	63%	20%	43%	22%	5%	10%
January 2006	63%	21%	42%	21%	3%	13%
September 2005	61%	18%	43%	22%	4%	13%
April 2005	61%	20%	41%	19%	5%	15%
October 2004	57%	23%	34%	19%	4%	20%
September 2004	54%	18%	36%	25%	5%	16%
April 2004	60%	20%	40%	20%	4%	16%

· In the race for New York State attorney general, Republican Jeanine Pirro has weathered the storm…but she still trails by 20 percentage points among likely voters: Former HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo has the support of 56% of likely voters and former Westchester District Attorney Jeanine Pirro receives 36% in the race to become New York State’s next attorney general. 8% of voters likely to vote on Election Day are undecided. Among registered voters, the match-up between the candidates is similar to a poll done in August prior to the publicity surrounding a federal investigation of Pirro. Still, 47% of likely voters believe Jeanine Pirro did something unethical when she discussed with former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik the secret bugging of her husband's boat to determine if he was having an affair. 19% think she did something illegal. 27% believe she did nothing wrong. Only 7% are unsure. 27% did not have an opinion when the story was first reported.

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

	Jeanine Pirro Republican	Andrew Cuomo Democrat	Undecided
Likely Voters
October 2006	36%	56%	8%
With leaners	37%	57%	6%
Registered Voters
October 2006	38%	54%	8%
September 28, 2006	31%	54%	15%
September 8, 2006	33%	56%	11%
August 2006	39%	54%	7%
July 2006	37%	51%