| Does Governor David Paterson pay attention to polls? I'm not certain, but if he doesn't, he better start.
Siena College has released their latest poll that finds Governor Paterson to have a 40 percent favorable rating among respondents. His unfavorable rating is at 47 percent. And what's worse, only 19 percent of those surveyed said they would vote for Paterson in 2010.
In fact, if a Democratic primary for governor were held today, Paterson would be crushed by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo leads 53 percent to 27 percent over Paterson. And if Paterson were to face Republican Rudy Giuliani in the general election, Giuliani would win 51 percent to 36 percent.
Also, the people of New York support raising taxes on those making $250,000 and those making more than $1 million per year. Of those surveyed, 59 percent say they support an tax increase on those making $250,000 and 77 percent support a tax increase on those making more than a million dollars per year.
And in direct opposition to Paterson's policies, 72 percent of respondents said that they oppose the budget cuts proposed by Paterson.
Steve Greenberg probably summed up these poll results best:
"David Paterson has reached a low water mark with voters since becoming Governor," said Steven Greenberg, spokesman for the Siena New York Poll. "Between the Senate appointment process, which is still the focus of negative reports one month later, and the attacks being waged across the media by those opposed to his budget proposals, the Governor is tumbling in the polls from record highs three months ago to new record lows."
It begs the question: Is Paterson paying attention to what New Yorkers want? Does he pay attention to these polls? Is he interested in doing what is in the best interest of New Yorkers?
You can make the argument that there is a direct correlation between Paterson's approval rating and his opposition to Fair Share Tax Reform, a millionaires tax and his support for budget cuts. Most New Yorkers support FSTR and oppose budget cuts. Paterson is the opposite. Therefore, Paterson's favorable rating is 40 percent. Is that a surprise? Definitely not.
Dan Cantor, Executive Director of the Working Families Party, puts everything in perspective with this statement:
"We've said it from the beginning: New Yorkers don't want to see the Empire State go back on its commitments to our school children, the sick, the elderly and the disabled.
Faced with an enormous budget gap brought about by the global economic downturn, the overwhelming majority of New Yorkers believe that instead of deep cuts, we should ask the wealthiest New Yorkers to pay a little more in taxes. But don't take our word for it.
A new poll released today by the Siena Research Institute is the most in-depth public poll to date measuring the attitudes of New Yorkers to the Governor's budget plan. The verdict: a resounding rejection of his cuts, and a clear call for real shared sacrifice along the lines of the Working Families Party's Fair Share Tax Reform proposal. Hopefully Albany is listening."
Governor Paterson, you might want to listen to the people of New York. If you do, I guarantee you this: You will win a primary in 2010 and you will be New York's governor for four more years. If you don't, you won't even make it out of the primary. |
