Siena Research Institute

Siena College, Loudonville, NY

 

For Immediate Release:  Wednesday, April 7, 2004

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

 Schumer, Clinton Steady at 60%

 

Microsoft Word version

Cr osstabs 

Loudonville, NY – For the second month in a row, both Senator Schumer and Senator Clinton are tied with a 60% overall approval rating, according to the latest Siena New York Poll from the Siena (College) Research Institute (SRI).

 

The Siena New York Poll

Approval Ratings, March 2004 – 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

60%

no chng

17%

+2

24%

-2

*Senator Clinton

60%

no chng

24%

no chng

16%

no chng

 

Senator Schumer’s biggest jump up in approval was among New Yorkers age 55 and older – up 11 points to 72%. He also went down 5 points among New Yorkers under age 55 to 54% - thus widening his approval gap between younger and older New Yorkers to 18 points.

·        His highest approval is among Older New Yorkers - 72%; his lowest is among Republicans – 53%.

·        His disapproval rating is up 2 points to 17%.

 

Senator Clinton’s biggest jump up in approval was among Independents and members of “other” partiesup 7 points to 55 %.

·         Her highest approval is among Democrats (76%); her lowest is among Republicans (39%).

·         Her disapproval rating remained at 24% - her lowest disapproval ever.

 

Also in March:

·          Senator Schumer led Senator Clinton outside New York City (57%-55%) and among Republicans (53%-39%), men (57%-56%), older New Yorkers (72%-65%), and higher income (63%-60%).

·          Senator Clinton led Senator Schumer in New York City (66%-63%) and among Democrats (76%-69%), women (64%-63%), younger New Yorkers (57%-54%), and lower income (61%-60%).

·          New York’s two U.S. Senators, both Democrats, tie with a 55% approval among  Independents and members of “other” parties.

 

“Both Senators Schumer and Clinton seem to be coasting comfortably on the sea of public approval,” notes Joe Caruso, SRI Director of Polling. “They experienced very little change in approval among demographic groups in March. Senator Clinton continues to enjoy the highest approval and lowest disapproval ratings of her Senate career. Senator Schumer, facing re-election in November, continues to receive above average approval ratings. Both Senators gained significantly in approval from among Independents and ‘other’ party members.”

 

This SRI survey was conducted during the month of March 2004 by random telephone calls to 622 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 March 2004:

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

60%

(3/04)

60%

(3/04)

Previous Approval

60%

(2/04)

60%

(2/04)

Rating one year ago

 54%

(3/03)

 52%

(3/03)

35 month average

57%

54%

12 month average

56%

56%

Disapproval Rating Comparisons

Senator Schumer

Senator Clinton

Highest Disapproval

23%

11/03)

38% 

(3/02)

Lowest Disapproval

11% (6,

7,& 9/01)

24%

(2/04)

Current Disapproval

17%

(3/04)

24%

(3/04)

Previous Disapproval

15%

(2/04)

24%

(2/04)

Rating one year ago

18%

(3/03)

 29% (3/03)

35 month average

17%

30%

12 month average

19%

29%