Siena Research Institute

Siena College, Loudonville, NY

 For Immediate Release:  Monday, January 12, 2004

The Siena New York Poll for December: Approval Ratings, U.S. Senators

Schumer Approval Up 5 points to 56%

Clinton Approval Down 4 points to 52%

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Loudonville, NY – Senator Schumer’s approval went up 5 points to 56% in December, while Senator Clinton’s overall approval rating dropped 4 points to 52%, according to the latest Siena New York Poll from the Siena (College) Research Institute (SRI).

 

The Siena New York Poll

Approval Ratings, December 2003 – Siena Research Institute

Do you approve or disapprove of the way * is handling his/her job as Senator?

 

Approval

Change

Disapproval

Change

DK/No Op

Change

*Senator Schumer

56%

+5

20%

-3

24%

-3

*Senator Clinton

52%

-4

36%

+6

13%

-1

 

Senator Schumer’s approval rating increased across the board in December, reversing November’s decreases, and then some. His greatest increase was among lower income New Yorkers – up 10 points to 56% - following a 7-point drop the previous month.

 

Senator Schumer’s disapproval decreased 3 points to 20%.

 

Senator Schumer’s approval rating remains highest among Democrats (64%), followed by older New Yorkers (63%); and lowest among Republicans (48%).  His 2003 approval averaged 54%.

Sen. Schumer’s

Approval

in November

in December

decreased…

increased…

Lower income

7 pts to 46%

10 pts to 56%

Democrats 

6 pts to 58%

6 pts to 64%

women

5 pts to 49%

6 pts to 55%

age 55 & over

5 pts to 61%

2 pts to 63%

metro NYC

4 pts to 53%

4 pts to 57%

Republicans

no chng: 43%

5 pts to 48%

Outside NYC

2 pts to 50%

5 pts to 55%

Indep./Other parties

2 pts to 48%

3 pts to 51%

Men

2 pts to 53%

3 pts to 56%

Under age 55

2 pts to 47%

5 pts to 52%

Higher Income

2 pts to 55%

2 pts to 57%

 

Senator Clinton’s overall December approval rating decreased overall and among most demographics, with the exception of Democrats (73%) and women (57%), where it remained the same. She lost most points in New York City (down 8 points to 60%) and among men (down 9 points to 46%), higher income New Yorkers (down 7 points to 44%) and Republicans (down 6 points to 25%). Senator Clinton’s disapproval increased 6 points to 36%.

 

Senator Clinton’s approval remains highest among Democrats (73%) and lowest among Republicans (25%).  Last September, she hit 60% approval, her highest since taking office in January 2001. Her 2003 approval averaged 55%.

    

Also in December:

·         Senator Clinton led Senator Schumer in New York City (60%-57%) and among Democrats (73%-64%), women (57%-55%), and lower income (61%-56%). 

·         Senator Schumer led Senator Clinton in overall approval (56%-52%), outside New York City (55%-44%) and among Republicans (48%-25%), Independents and other party members (51%-45%), men (56%-46%), younger New Yorkers (52%-50%), older New Yorkers (63%-54%) and higher income (57%-44%). 

 

 “Senator Schumer finished off the year with a good recovery,” notes Joe Caruso, SRI Director of Polling. “At 56% approval, he’s above his average for the year, and his 20% disapproval rate is only a point above his average. Not so for Senator Clinton.  Her 52% approval is below average for the year; her 36% disapproval is well above her average.”

 

This SRI survey was conducted during the month of December 2003 by random telephone calls to 624 New York State residents over the age of 18.  It has a margin of error of  + 3.9 percentage points. For more information or comments, please contact SRI Director of Polling Joe Caruso at or 518-542-7814 (mobile – before 1:00 p.m.) and 518-783-2901 (office – after 1:00 p.m.). Survey Cross-tabulations and frequencies can be found at: www.siena.edu/sri.  

 

The Siena New York Poll for December 2003:

Approval/Disapproval Ratings, U.S. Senators

 

 

Approval Rating Comparisons

Senator Schumer

Senator

Clinton

Highest Approval

64%

(8/02)

60%

(9/03)

Lowest Approval

50%

(1/03)

37%

(2/01)

Current Approval

56%

(12/03)

52%

(12/03)

Previous Approval

51%

(11/03)

56%

(11/03)

Rating one year ago

 59%

(12/02)

 55%

(12/02)

32 month average

57%

53%

12 month average

54%

55%

Disapproval Rating Comparisons

Senator Schumer

Senator Clinton

Highest Disapproval

23%

11/03)

38% 

(3/02)

Lowest Disapproval

11% (6,

7,& 9/01)

25% 7&

9/01, 2/03)

Current Disapproval

20%

(12/03)

36%

(12/03)

Previous Disapproval

23%

(11/03)

30%

(11/03)

Rating one year ago

18%

(12/02)

 31% (12/02)

32 month average

17%

31%

12 month average

19%

29%