For Immediate Release: Wednesday, June 16, 2004

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

Pataki Approval Up 2 points to 49%

Legislature Up 1 point to 36%

AG Spitzer up 1 point to 58%; Comptroller Hevesi remains at 42%

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Loudonville, NY – Governor Pataki’s overall approval rating went up 2 points in May to 49%, and the State Legislature’s approval went up 1 point to 36%, according to the most recent Siena New York Poll from the Siena (College) Research Institute (SRI). 

The Governor’s approval rating:

• Increased most significantly among younger New Yorkers- up 7 points to 53%; outside New York City Residents- up 5 points to 50%; higher income households- up 5 points to 49%; and Republicans- up 5 points to 66%.
• Decreased most significantly among Independents and other parties- down 6 points to 41% and older New Yorkers- down 5 points to 42%.
• Remained the same with New York City Residents- 48%; and among males- 49%.
• The Governor’s highest approval rating is among Republicans, at 66%; his lowest approval rating, among Independents and other parties, at 41%.

His overall disapproval rating decreased 2 points to 37%.

The New York State Legislature’s approval rating: 

• Increased most significantly among Republicans- up 4 points to 36%; Democrats- up 3 points to 40%; younger New Yorkers- up 3 points to 40%; and higher income households- up 5 points to 36%.
• Decreased most significantly among lower income households- down 5 points to 36%.
• The Legislature’s highest approval rating is 40%, among younger New Yorkers and Democrats; its lowest is 29%, among older New Yorkers.

The Legislature’s disapproval rating decreased 2 points to 39%.

 Attorney General Eliot Spitzer’s overall approval went up 1 point to 58%; his disapproval went down 2 points to 11%, and his “Don’t Know/No Opinion” responses increased 1 point to 31%.

Comptroller Alan Hevesi’s overall approval stayed the same at 42%; his disapproval went down 3 points to 10% and his “Don’t Know/No Opinion” responses went up 2 points to 48%.

“Over the last three months, Governor Pataki’s approval rating has risen 6 points, and the Legislature’s approval has risen 5 points,” notes Joe Caruso, Director of Polling for the Siena Research Institute (SRI). “Not very impressive movement, but the bleeding appears to have stopped. The Governor’s approval  is 13 points above his approval of a year ago, when he was in the middle of a career low. He’s also 4 points above his 12-month average.  The Legislature remains stuck in the 30s, where they have been for quite some time.  Attorney General Spitzer enjoys a respectable 58% approval, and both he and Controller Hevesi have low disapproval rates.  Still, a high percentage of New Yorkers  - 48% -  simply don’t know enough about the Comptroller to have an opinion.”  

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 May 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.