Siena Research Institute

Siena College, Loudonville, NY

For Immediate Release:  Monday, March 8, 2004

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

Schumer Approval Up 4 Points to 60%

Clinton Approval Up 1 Point to 60%

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Loudonville, NY - Senator Schumer’s overall approval rating rose 4 points in February to 60%, and Senator Clinton’s approval went up 1 point to 60%, according to the latest Siena New York Poll from the Siena (College) Research Institute (SRI).

Senator Schumer’s 60% overall approval is his highest since September 2002. 

• His approval went up most significantly among men – up 9 points to 63% - Democrats – up 9 points to 72% - Republicans – up 8 points to 55% -  younger New Yorkers – up 8 points to 59% - and higher income – up 7 points to 64%.
• His approval went down among Independents and members of “other” parties – down 7 points to 46%, and stayed the same among women: 57%.
• His highest approval is among Democrats (72%); his lowest is among Independents and members of “other” parties – 46%.
• His disapproval rating is down 4 points to 15%.

Senator Clinton last saw 60% overall approval – her highest  - only five months ago, in September 2003.

• Her approval went up 5 points among Republicans (37%) and 4 points among Democrats (78%) and men (55%)
• Her approval went down 10 points among Independents and members of “other” parties (48%), 3 points among women (64%) and 2 points among younger New Yorkers (57%).
• Her highest approval is among Democrats (78%); her lowest is among Republicans (37%).
• Her disapproval rating is down 4 points to 24% - her lowest disapproval ever.

Also in February:

• Senator Schumer led Senator Clinton outside New York City (55%-53%) and among Republicans (55%-37%), men (63%-55%), younger New Yorkers (59%-57%), and higher income (64%-57%).
• Senator Clinton led Senator Schumer in New York City (67%-65%), among Democrats (78%-72%), Independents and members of other parties (48%-46%), women (64%-57%), older New Yorkers (64%-61%), and lower income (62%-56%). 

“It was a good month for both Senators, and once again they enjoy the same level of approval,” notes Joe Caruso, SRI Director of Polling. “Senator Schumer  is well above his approval rating of a year ago, and above his twelve-month average.  Senator Clinton reprised the highest approval rating of her Senate career – 60%, which she first achieved last September. She also experienced  her lowest disapproval rating. In a month filled with the partisan rhetoric of the presidential primary and caucus season, both Senators gained in approval significantly from Republicans and Democrats, and lost among Independents and ‘other’ party members.”

This SRI survey was conducted during the month of February 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 (office). Survey Cross-tabulations and frequencies can be found at: www.siena.edu/sri.  

The Siena New York Poll for February 2004:

Approval/Disapproval Ratings, U.S. Senators