Marist Institute for Public Opinion

Marist College l Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 12601 l 845.575.5050

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, October 1, 2002

 

Contact:            Dr. Lee M. Miringoff

Dr. Barbara L. Carvalho

Marist College

845.575.5050

 

This Marist College Institute for Public Opinion poll reports:

Governor George Pataki’s Re-election Prospects

·                  Governor George Pataki leads New York State Comptroller H. Carl McCall by 16% among likely voters for November’s gubernatorial election.  George Pataki receives 48% compared with H. Carl McCall’s 32%.  Businessman Thomas Golisano has 9%.  These results are statistically unchanged from a similar poll conducted in early September. 

·                  Among registered voters, George Pataki currently has the support of 47% of New York State’s registered voters and H. Carl McCall receives 30%. Thomas Golisano has 10% among registered voters. 

 

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

 

 

Pataki

Republican

McCall

Democrat

Golisano

Independence

 

Other*

 

Undecided

Likely Voters

 

 

 

 

 

 October 2002

48%

32%

  9%

  2%

  9%

 September 2002

48%

32%

11%

  2%

  7%

Likely w/ Leaners

 

 

 

 

 

 October 2002

49%

33%

  9%

  2%

  7%

 September 2002

49%

34%

11%

  2%

  4%

Registered Voters

 

 

 

 

 

 October 2002

47%

30%

10%

  2%

11%

 September 2002

47%

30%

12%

  2%

  9%

 May 2002

58%

27%

  6%

n.a.

  9%

 April 2002

63%

29%

n.a.

n.a.

  8%

 December 2001

59%

29%

n.a.

n.a.

12%

 April 2001

49%

39%

n.a.

n.a.

12%

 

 

Pataki

Republican

McCall

Democrat

Golisano

Independence

 

Other

 

Undecided

Likely Voters

 

 

 

 

 

Region

 

 

 

 

 

  Upstate

45%

30%

15%

  2%

  8%

  New York City

45%

39%

  4%

  2%

10%

  Suburbs

56%

28%

  4%

  2%

10%

Party

 

 

 

 

 

  Republican

70%

11%

  9%

 2%

 8%

  Democrat

30%

52%

  8%

 2%

  8%

  Non-enrolled

55%

19%

14%

  2%

10%

 

 

·                     Intensity of Support: 65% of likely voters are strongly committed to a candidate for governor, 24% say they somewhat support their choice, and 10% indicate they might vote differently on election day.

 

Question Wording: Would you say you strongly support (candidate name), somewhat support him, or do you think you might vote differently on election day?

 

 

Strongly

Support

Somewhat

Support

Might Vote

Differently

 

Unsure

Likely Voters

 

 

 

 

  October 2002

65%

24%

10%

  1%

  September 2002

63%

24%

11%

  2%

George Pataki

 

 

 

 

  October 2002

69%

24%

  7%

  0%

  September 2002

71%

19%

  7%

  3%

H. Carl McCall

 

 

 

 

  October 2002

65%

24%

10%

  1%

  September 2002

60%

27%

12%

  1%

Thomas Golisano

 

 

 

 

  October 2002

48%

31%

17%

  4%

  September 2002

36%

40%

24%

  0%

 

Favorable/Unfavorable Impressions

·                     Governor George Pataki is the best known of any of the potential candidates for governor.  Voters’ views of both Pataki and McCall are much more favorable than unfavorable. Voters’ assessments of Thomas Golisano are mixed.

 

Question Wording: Please tell me if you have a favorable or an unfavorable impression of each of the following:

 

Registered Voters

Favorable

Unfavorable

Unsure/Never Heard

George Pataki

 

 

 

  October 2002

73%

24%

  3%

  September 2002

69%

26%

  5%

  May 2002

81%