Siena Research Institute

Siena College, Loudonville, NY

For Immediate Release: Friday, February 13, 2004

The Siena New York Poll for January: Approval Ratings: New York State Officials

Pataki Approval Up 2 Points to 48%

Legislature Up 1 Point to 36%

AG Spitzer at 57% for third month; Comptroller Hevesi up 4 points to 42%

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Loudonville, NY –Governor Pataki’s approval rating went up 2 points in January to 48%, and the State Legislature’s approval went up 1 point to 36%, according to the most recent Siena New York Poll from Siena (College) Research Institute (SRI). 

The Governor’s approval increased most significantly among Republicans – up 12 points to 67%; outside New York City – up 9 points to 56% and among lower income New Yorkers – up 6 points to 49%. His only decrease in approval was in New York City – down 5 points to 40%.

The Governor’s highest approval rating is among Republicans, at 67%; his lowest is among Democrats and in New York City, at 40%.   His overall disapproval rating decreased 1 point to 38%.

The New York State Legislature’s greatest increase in approval was outside New York City – up 7 points to 39%; its only decrease in approval was in New York City – down 6 points to 32%.

The Legislature’s highest approval rating is 40% among women; its lowest is 32% among older New Yorkers and in New York City. The Legislature’s disapproval went down 4 points to 36%.

Attorney General Eliot Spitzer’s approval remained at 57% for the third straight month; his disapproval dropped 1 point to 11%, and his “Don’t Know/No Opinion” responses increased 1 point to 32%.  Comptroller Alan Hevesi’s approval went up 4 points to 42%; his disapproval dropped 2 points to 11%, and his “Don’t Know/No Opinion” responses decreased 1 point to 48%. 

 “There was very little movement in approval for the Governor and the Legislature in January; for both, the only drop in approval was in New York City,” notes Joe Caruso, Director of Polling for the Siena Research Institute (SRI). “Governor Pataki’s approval among his own party soared 12 points to 67%, his highest Republican approval since the previous January.  Not surprisingly, the stoking of political fires for the presidential primaries encourages solidarity, even on the home front.”

For more information on the approval ratings of New York State Elected Officials and a recap of recently released ratings for the President, Congress, and New York’s U.S. senators, please visit the SRI website at www.siena.edu/sri/surveys.asp. This SRI survey was conducted during the month of January 2004 by random telephone calls to 620 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 518-783-2901.    

                 The Siena New York Poll for January 2004

                     Approval Ratings: Governor Pataki and NYS Legislature