David Paterson down to a dismal 27% approval rating; even lower than Spitzer during post-scandal.

[TeamJordan23]

March 3, 2009
Paterson’s Job Approval at Historic Low
By Danny Hakim

Gov. David A. Paterson’s job approval numbers are at the lowest point in the 27 years that the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion has been surveying public opinions of governors.

Historically bad, in other words.

Only 26 percent of the 1,045 registered voters surveyed said Mr. Paterson was doing either a good or excellent job, while 71 percent said he was doing a fair or poor job . Even Eliot Spitzer had a higher approval rating a year ago, 30 percent, when he was the governor amid his prostitution scandal. The poll results indicate that voters believe Mr. Paterson is working hard and understands the state’s problems, but suggests people do not have confidence in his ability to lead.

Among Democrats, Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo trounces Mr. Paterson in a hypothetical primary matchup, 62 to 26 percent. In a general election, Rudolph W. Giuliani would beat Mr. Paterson, 53 to 38 percent, according to the poll.

The governor himself observed over the weekend in a radio interview, “If it wasn’t for A-Rod and Bernie Madoff, they’d just about run me out of this state right now.”

Lee M. Miringoff, director of the Marist institute, said, “You’re dealing with a bad economy, low scores on his handling of the budget, a messy Senate pick, a lot of TV ads about cutbacks, and a drop in his leadership numbers such that there’s a lot of erosion at the core, not just at the edges.”

The Marist numbers follow other dismal polls for Mr. Paterson and reinforce the tailspin that has befallen his governorship at the one-year mark — from his perceived botched handling of the process to select a senator to replace Hillary Rodham Clinton to his uncertain navigation of the state’s fiscal woes. The governor overhauled his staff last week in an effort to right his administration.

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/03/patersons-job-approval-at-historic-low/

[ErinBerin84]

1. I think

it's mostly due to the commercials and attention given to his budget cuts and less to do with how he handled the Senate replacement, though that didn't do him any favors either.

[TheWraith]

12. Agreed entirely.

Yes, the confusion around the Senate pick looked bad, but it was recoverable. The budget, though--I'm neck deep in NYS politics and I can tell you it's got EVERYBODY, even the party infrastructure people, ready to riot in the streets.

[Kdillard]

2. Not surprising given the attack ads that have been running constantly against him,

not to mention bad publicity from his handling of the Senate seat matter
and various other mini black eyes some self inflicted, others not without anything substantially positive coming out of his office. He is not going out there letting people know why he should keep his job so it is no surprise people will kick him out.

[Captain Hilts]

3. He's given them fresh meat by his completely ineffective appointment of a senator. nt

[Top Cat]

11. Has he publicly apologized to Caroline?

What goes around comes around... Good riddance

[marshall]

14. You don't cross a Kennedy!

He should have known better.

[Renew Deal]

7. And he wants to tax anything living or dead

My gym had a petition against the potential "gym tax." A liquor store in the same town has a petition against allowing supermarkets to sell wine and spirits. He's pissing off a lot of people.

[Kdillard]

4. dupe

[Historic NY]

5. Yes sir, thats our accidental Governor.

[Renew Deal]

6. Bring on Tom Suozzi!

:bounce:

[otohara]

8. Kirsten Gillibrand

no more need be said.

[Louis-Emmanuel]

9. Patterson didn't treat Caroline in a very nice way

The gossip and backstabbing that went on likely cost him a good part of his disapproval.

[saltpoint]

10. I did not want this guy to lose any ground.

I like Paterson. I want to like him. I want him to be successful.

But the last couple months, he has just done some way-out-there crap, and his public relations wheels have flown off the wagon.

Still early, but it looks to me as if Andrew Cuomo, if he wants the nomination, can pretty much walk and take it.

[PBS Poll-435]

13. He has got time for his #s to rebound.

nt

[ecstatic]

15. I think all appointees from last year will suffer the same fate

Including Gillibrand (sp?), Burris, etc.