New Yorkers Rate Mayor Bloomberg

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday December 15, 2004

Contact: Dr. Lee M. Miringoff

Dr. Barbara L. Carvalho

Marist College

845.575.5050

This Marist College Institute for Public Opinion poll reports:

· Campaign 2005 for mayor: Former Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer leads Michael Bloomberg among New York City’s registered voters in a hypothetical contest for the 2005 race for mayor. Ferrer receives the support of 51% of the city’s registered voters compared with 39% for Mayor Bloomberg. Mayor Bloomberg is closely matched with potential rivals Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields and Council Speaker Gifford Miller. He leads Congressman Anthony Weiner and Councilman Charles Barron.

Question Wording: If the 2005 election for mayor in New York City were held today, whom would you support if the candidates are:

Registered Voters	Michael Bloomberg, the Republican	Fernando Ferrer, the Democrat	Undecided
December 2004	39%	51%	10%
September 2004	43%	47%	10%
April 2004	41%	48%	11%

Registered Voters	Michael Bloomberg, the Republican	C. Virginia Fields, the Democrat	Undecided
December 2004	44%	44%	12%

Registered Voters	Michael Bloomberg, the Republican	Gifford Miller, the Democrat	Undecided
December 2004	42%	40%	18%

Registered Voters	Michael Bloomberg, the Republican	Anthony Weiner, the Democrat	Undecided
December 2004	44%	39%	17%

Registered Voters	Michael Bloomberg, the Republican	Charles Barron, the Democrat	Undecided
December 2004	44%	38%	18%

· Time for a change? Although Mayor Bloomberg begins his re-election campaign with a sizeable base of support, a majority of New York City voters believe it is time for a change. 42% of voters think Mayor Bloomberg deserves re-election, and 53% think it is time to elect someone else. 5% are unsure.

Question Wording: Overall, do you think Mayor Bloomberg deserves to be

re-elected mayor or is it time to elect someone else?

Registered Voters	Deserves Re-election	Time to Elect Someone Else	Unsure
December 2004	42%	53%	5%

· Mayor Bloomberg’s job performance rating: Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s approval rating is 46% among New York City’s registered voters, statistically inching upward from earlier this year. Mayor Bloomberg’s support is higher in Staten Island, Manhattan, and the Bronx than it is in Brooklyn and Queens. White voters are more likely to rate the mayor positively than are African American or Latino voters.

Question Wording: Would you rate the job Mayor Michael Bloomberg is doing in office as excellent, good, fair, or poor?

Registered Voters	Excellent/Good	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Unsure
December 2004	46%	6%	40%	35%	18%	1%
September 2004	42%	7%	35%	35%	21%	2%
April 2004	40%	7%	33%	38%	19%	3%
Borough
Bronx	50%	3%	47%	26%	24%	<1%
Brooklyn	42%	5%	37%	36%	21%	1%
Manhattan	50%	10%	40%	38%	9%	3%
Queens	43%	7%	36%	38%	18%	1%
Staten Island	52%	<1%	52%	31%	17%	<1%
Party
Democrat	45%	6%	39%	37%	17%	1%
Republican	54%	6%	48%	32%	13%	1%
Non-enrolled	39%	5%	34%	32%	27%	2%
Race
White	52%	8%	44%	31%	16%	1%
African American	36%	4%	32%	43%	20%	1%
Latino	37%	2%	35%	37%	24%	2%

· Voters rate the mayor on specific issues: Most New York City voters approve of the mayor’s handling of security against a terror attack. The mayor also receives high marks from voters for his handling of crime and race relations. New York voters divide over Mayor Bloomberg’s handling of economic development in the city. A majority of voters disapprove of his handling of city taxes, the city’s budget, the public schools, public transportation, unemployment, poverty, and the contracts with the city’s employee labor unions.

Question Wording: Do you approve or disapprove of how Mayor Michael Bloomberg is handling each of the following:

Registered Voters	Approve	Disapprove	Unsure
Security against a terror attack	65%	28%	7%
Crime	61%	33%	6%
Race relations	56%	30%	14%
Economic development	44%	47%	9%
Taxes	40%	51%	9%
The city’s budget	38%	52%	10%
The public schools	38%	57%	5%
Public transportation	36%	55%	9%
Unemployment	35%	51%	14%
Poverty	23%	65%	12%
Contracts with city employee labor unions	22%	59%	19%

· Voters’ perceptions of the mayor: Many New York City voters think Mayor Bloomberg is working hard at his job, fights for the city, understands the city’s problems, and is a good leader for New York. But voters divide over whether he can unify the city, and a majority feels he does not care about people like themselves.

Question Wording: Do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about Mayor Michael Bloomberg:

Registered Voters

Agree

Disagree