New York State Campaign 2006

Controversies Plague Race for AG and Comptroller

But Little Change in Wide Leads for Democrats

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

All references must be sourced WNBC/Marist Poll

 

Contact:        Dr. Lee M. Miringoff

Dr. Barbara L. Carvalho

Marist College

845.575.5050

This WNBC/Marist Poll of New York State reports:

·             The Republican candidate for New York State Attorney General Jeanine Pirro badly trails her opponent former HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo…But despite current controversies, the margin has not widened:  Democrat Andrew Cuomo still leads Republican Jeanine Pirro by 23 percentage points among registered voters in the race to become New York State’s next attorney general.  Despite the publicity surrounding a federal investigation of Pirro, the gap between the two candidates has not widened since a similar poll conducted about three weeks ago.  Cuomo currently receives the support of 54% of New York State’s registered voters compared with 31% for Pirro.  15% of registered voters are undecided.

 

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

 

 

Registered Voters

Jeanine Pirro

Republican

Andrew Cuomo Democrat

 

Undecided

September 28, 2006

31%

54%

15%

September 8, 2006

33%

56%

11%

August 2006

39%

54%

  7%

July 2006

37%

51%

12%

 

·             Most voters have heard or read about the controversy surrounding Jeanine Pirro but only about one in three says it bothers them:  72% of registered voters in New York State say they have heard or read something about the federal investigation into Jeanine Pirro’s discussion to secretly bug her husband’s boat to determine if he was having an affair.  Among voters who have heard about the investigation, only 35% are troubled by it.  61% say they are not bothered by it.

 

Question Wording: Have you heard or read anything about a federal investigation into whether Jeanine Pirro, Republican candidate for New York State attorney general, did anything illegal by discussing with former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik the secret bugging of her husband's boat to determine if he was having an affair?

 

 

Registered Voters

Aware of Controversy

 

Not Aware

 

Unsure

September 28, 2006

72%

27%

  1%

 

Question Wording: Does it bother you a great deal, a good amount, not very much, or not at all, that Jeanine Pirro as a Republican candidate for New York State attorney general is involved in something like this?

 

 

 

September 28, 2006

A Great Deal/Good Amount

 

A Great Deal

 

A Good Amount

 

Not Very Much

 

Not At All

 

 

Unsure

Voters aware of  controversy

35%

23%

12%

20%

41%

  4%

Registered Voters

35%

22%

13%

19%

38%

  8%

 

·             Among voters who are aware of the controversy, many think Jeanine Pirro did something unethical:  42% of registered voters in New York State who say they have heard or read something about the federal investigation of Jeanine Pirro believe she did something unethical.  30% believe she has done nothing wrong, and 11% think she has done something illegal.  17% are unsure.

 

Question Wording: Do you think Jeanine Pirro did nothing wrong, did something unethical but not illegal, or do you think she did something illegal?

 

 

September 28, 2006

Did Nothing

Wrong

Did Something Unethical

Did Something Illegal

 

Unsure

Voters aware of  controversy

30%

42%

11%

17%

Registered voters

26%

38%

  9%

27%

·             A majority of voters do not agree with Jeanine Pirro that the investigation should be private and most do not think she has been treated unfairly:  55% of registered voters think the investigation into possible misconduct by Jeanine Pirro is something the public should know about.  41% believe it is a private matter.  In addition, most voters, 66%, do not think she is being singled out unfairly, but think she is being treated like any other candidate.

 

Question Wording: Overall, do you think the investigation into Jeanine Pirro's possible criminal misconduct should be kept a private matter or do you think it is something the public should know about?

 

 

Registered Voters

Kept a Private Matter

Something Public Should Know About

 

Unsure

September 28, 2006

41%

55%

  4%

 

Question Wording: Do you think Jeanine Pirro is being singled out unfairly or do you think she is being treated like any other candidate would be under these circumstances?

 

 

Registered Voters

Singled Out Unfairly

Treated Like Other Candidates

 

Unsure

September 28, 2006

26%

66%

  8%

 

·             Most voters think Jeanine Pirro should stay in the race for attorney general:  74% of registered voters in New York State think Jeanine Pirro should continue to run for New York State’s attorney general and should not drop out of the race.

 

Question Wording: Do you think Jeanine Pirro should continue her campaign for New York State attorney general or do you think she should drop out of the race?

 

Registered Voters

Continue Campaign

Drop Out of Race

Unsure

September 28, 2006

74%

18%

  8%

 

·             Comptroller Alan Hevesi maintains a strong lead against his Republican opponent despite the problems which have dogged him:  Alan Hevesi outdistances his Republican opponent Christopher Callaghan by 30 percentage points even though, as comptroller, he has admitted to failing to reimburse New York State for using a public employee as a personal driver for his wife.

 

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

 

 

Registered Voters

Christopher Callaghan Republican

Alan Hevesi

Democrat

 

Undecided

September 28, 2006

27%

57%

16%

September 8, 2006

28%

57%

15%

August 2006

27%

60%

13%

July 2006

28%

57%

15%

 

·             Most voters have not heard or read about the ethics issue facing Alan Hevesi and only about one third of those aware of the controversy are troubled by it:  Only 39% of registered voters in New York State say they have heard or read something about the misuse of staff time by Comptroller Hevesi.  36% of voters who are aware of the issue say they are bothered it, and 50% say they are not.  14% are unsure how they feel about it.

 

Question Wording: Question Wording: Have you heard or read anything about a complaint filed by the Republican candidate for New York State comptroller Christopher Callaghan that his Democratic opponent and current state comptroller Alan Hevesi misused public funds by using a

member of his staff as a driver for his wife?

 

 

Registered Voters

Aware of Controversy

 

Not Aware

 

Unsure

September 28, 2006

39%

60%

  1%

 

Question Wording: Does it bother you a great deal, a good amount, not very much, or not at all, that Alan Hevesi as New York State comptroller is involved in something like this?

 

 

 

September 28, 2006

A Great Deal/Good Amount

 

A Great Deal

 

A Good Amount

 

Not Very Much

 

Not At All

 

 

Unsure

Voters aware of  controversy

36%

24%

12%

24%

26%

14%

Registered Voters

37%

24%

13%

25%

26%

12%

 

·             Among voters who are aware of the controversy, about one-third think Alan Hevesi did something unethical but another third are unsure:  32% of voters who say they have heard or read something about the problems Alan Hevesi has had as comptroller think he did something unethical, but 32% are unsure how to characterize what happened.  16% believe he did nothing wrong, and 20% think he did something illegal.

 

Question Wording: Do you think Alan Hevesi did nothing wrong, did something unethical but not illegal, or do you think he did something illegal?

 

 

September 28, 2006

Did Nothing

Wrong

Did Something Unethical

Did Something Illegal

 

Unsure

Voters aware of  controversy

16%

32%

20%

32%

Registered voters

18%

30%

22%

30%