NYers' Support for Paterson Plummets in Latest Poll

Marks lowest approval rating for any elected official in 18 years except Bush, Toricelli

It only took 48 hours. The latest poll shows New Yorkers' support for scandal-plagued Gov. David Paterson to continue to serve out his term has plummeted this week.
       
The Quinnipiac University poll shows that 46 percent of New Yorkers now say he should finish his term rather than resign. Forty-two percent say he should step down.
       
On Tuesday 61 percent of New Yorkers felt he should hold his office.

"Support for Gov. David Paterson erodes with every new headline. New York State voters started the week giving the Governor the benefit of the doubt 2-1. Now, there is more doubt and less benefit as he clings to a bare plurality of support," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"Voters surveyed Monday and Tuesday were in favor of keeping Paterson by a net 30 points. On Wednesday and Thursday, voter support was a net four points. That's a 26-point drop in two days," Carroll added.

The governor may have bought some time as local leaders announced Thursday they won't call on him to resign, but party leaders say time is running out for Paterson in terms of him coming up with a public response to the surrounding turmoil.
       
Paterson hasn't been charged with any crime. He's being investigated over whether he inappropriately contacted a woman who has accused one of his top aides in a domestic violence incident. And this week a state ethics board charged him with violating a gift ban by seeking and obtaining free World Series tickets.

Voters' opinion of the job Paterson is doing continues to deteriorate as well, with 61 percent to 21 percent disapproving. This is the lowest approval rating ever recorded for an elected official in 18 years of Quinnipiac University polling except for former President George W. Bush and former Sen. Robert Torricelli of New Jersey, who had approval ratings of 18 and 19 percent just before they left office.

More than two-thirds of voters polled say they fear Paterson and the State Legislature won't be able to work together on a state budget. They still think Paterson will do a better job than Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch for the rest of the year, but barely – only 37 percent prefer the governor in the latest poll compared with 47 percent in the March 3 poll. 
       
The poll questioned 1,325 New Yorkers Wednesday and Thursday. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 points.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us