New Q Poll: Bad For Spitzer, Bad For Pollster

by: phillip anderson

Wed Dec 12, 2007 at 09:23:04 AM EST

When I got the heads up on today's poll yesterday afternoon, I winced. The headline read, "QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY RELEASES NEW YORK STATE POLL RESULTS ON SPITZER APPROVAL, KINDER, GENTLER GOVERNOR." Ah, yes. It's the holidays. Here come the meaningless Scrooge analogies. They're thick in this morning's release.

First off, the news for Eliot Spitzer isn't good. This is the second poll this week showing the Governor with all time low job approval numbers. It seems that the drivers license fallout continues to linger.

New York State voters disapprove 48 - 37 percent of the job Gov. Eliot Spitzer is doing, giving him his first negative rating and the lowest marks of his first year in office, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

This compares to Gov. Spitzer's previous low, a 47 - 34 percent approval in an October 2 survey by the independent Quinnipiac University, just as the controversy began over the Governor's proposal to provide driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

...

New York State voters disapprove 62 - 21 percent of Spitzer's handling of immigration issues. Even Democrats disapprove 51 - 28 percent.

"When will it end? First Troopergate. Then driver's licenses for illegal immigrants. It's been a lousy run for Gov. Spitzer. His job approval has gone down, down, down - and for the first time, more voters disapprove," said Maurice Carroll, Director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

And now for the meaningless fluff.

"But many New Yorkers, perhaps in the holiday spirit, hope Eliot Spitzer can be just like Ebenezer Scrooge and become a kinder, gentler governor. They think the poisonous relationship between Spitzer and the State Legislature can get better. Most of his fellow Democrats think so. Republicans aren't sure. But at least they're not saying, 'Bah Humbug!'"

Quinnipiac actually asked this question:

Do you believe that Eliot Spitzer can become a kinder, gentler governor in dealing with the legislature?

The answer to that question, Bruno's numbers and a bizarre quote about marriage equality on the flip...

Yes: 47%
No: 30%
Don't care, what the hell are you talking about?: 23%

Folks aren't terribly fond of Joe Bruno either, at least those who have any idea who he actually is. His approval/disapproval/no freakin' clue numbers are 26/36/39 with only 33% of republicans approving.

According to the poll, New Yorkers really like both of our senators with Schumer even receiving the support of nearly half of Republicans.

Asked whether they feel as if things in New York have gotten better, worse or stayed the same in 2007, the big winner was "stayed the same" with 68%.

33% of New Yorkers think the Governor is doing a worse job than they expected when he took over while 53% say he is doing as well as they expected.

And then there's marriage equality...

Same-sex couples should be allowed legally to marry, 40 percent of New York State voters say, with 29 percent who support same-sex civil unions and 23 percent who say there should be no legal recognition for same-sex couples. Party breakdowns are:

   * Democrats: 51 percent for gay marriage; 23 percent for civil unions; 18 percent for no recognition.
   * Republicans: 24 percent for gay marriage; 35 percent for civil unions; 35 percent for no recognition.
   * Independent voters: 38 percent for gay marriage; 34 percent for civil unions; 20 percent for no recognition.

"There's been some political speculation that Spitzer might push for legalizing domestic partnerships. He says he didn't promise it and it is an election year. But - as an issue - New Yorkers are fairly liberal about both partnerships and gay marriage," Carroll said.

Notice that last bit? What the hell is he talking about?

1. "Some political speculation that Spitzer might push for legalizing domestic partnerships?" Who exactly is speculating and why? I've never heard such talk and I pay attention.

2. "He says he didn't promise it and it is an election year." True. He didn't promise to push for domestic partnerships. He promised to push for full marriage equality for all New Yorkers. Repeatedly. On the campaign trail and as Governor.

Where the hell did that quote come from, Mr. Carroll?