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Siena Research Institute
Siena
College, Loudonville, NY
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Contact: Joe Caruso at 518-783-2901
Siena
New York Poll:
Loudonville,
NY – More
than half of New Yorkers – including 62 percent of those over 55 years old –
claim to have a health care proxy, designating someone to make medical decision
for them if they are unable to do so. Nearly
two-thirds of those who don’t have one say the Terri Schiavo case makes them
more likely to complete a health care proxy, according to a new Siena (College)
Research Institute poll of New York voters released today.
“More
than half of New Yorkers say they already have a health care proxy.
And it is encouraging that the tragic events surrounding the Terri
Schiavo case in Florida will move many New Yorkers who have not completed a
health care proxy to do so,” said Joe Caruso, Director of Polling for the
Siena Research Institute (SRI).
Governor
George Pataki’s favorability rating rose dramatically in the last month (50
percent favorable to 39 percent unfavorable), up from 37-50 percent a month ago.
And while only 29 percent of New York voters say they will vote to
re-elect him (55 percent would prefer someone else), similar to results the last
two months, he has narrowed his gap in a head-to-head match up with Attorney
General Eliot Spitzer. Spitzer
leads 48 percent to 34 percent, a 14-point lead, down from last month’s
23-point lead.
“George
Pataki has made up ground with voters in virtually every part of the state and
in every demographic group,” Caruso said. “But if he chooses to run for
re-election, he is still in an uncomfortable position for an incumbent, given
his continued low ‘re-elect number.’
“While
voters don’t give him more credit for the on-time budget than they give either
house of the Legislature, he seems to have gotten a bounce from the widespread
media attention to the state’s first on-time budget in 21 years.
However, he still significantly trails Spitzer in a head-to-head match
up,” Caruso said.
–
more –
Siena
New York Poll
Monday,
April 11, 2005
Page
2 of 2
When
asked who deserves the most credit for the state’s on-time budget, voters are
split, with the Governor, Senate and Assembly all receiving approximately the
same credit (16, 15, 14 percent, respectively). Nearly as many, 11 percent, give the public credit for
creating the pressure. Five percent
credit the Governor and Legislature equally.
“While
the Governor, Senate and Assembly have all claimed credit for making an on-time
budget happen, voters are almost as likely to give themselves credit as they are
to give their elected officials a pat on the back,” Caruso said.
Since
last month, Spitzer’s favorable rating inched up to 53-18 percent (up from
50-18 percent), as did Senator Hillary Clinton’s – up to 60-33 percent (from
58-34 percent). Similarly, former
New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani’s favorability rating was 63-26 percent,
slightly higher than two months ago (61-28 percent).
Giuliani
slightly increased his lead over Spitzer in a gubernatorial match up to 50-38
percent in the last two months (from 49-40 percent). However, Clinton similarly increased her lead over Giuliani
in a potential Senate match up 52-41 percent (from 52-43 percent).
“Rudy
Giuliani remains a strong political force in New York – should he choose to
seek election in the state rather than at the national level.
He has the support of half of New Yorkers in a race against Spitzer.
At the same time, more than half of New York voters would reject Rudy, in
favor of Hillary if he decides to challenge her next year,” Caruso said.
New
York voters see “improving education” (24 percent) as the most important
issue for state government to address, beating out “improving health care”
(22 percent) and “creating new jobs” (16 percent).
Less important were “reforming state government” (10 percent),
“fighting crime” (5 percent) and “protecting the environment” (3
percent). These results have not
changed dramatically in the last month.
“New
York voters continue to be very pessimistic about the direction of the state.
Only 29 percent believe New York is on the right track, while 44 percent believe
the state is headed in the wrong direction,” Caruso said.
The
Empire Page, in partnership with the Siena Research Institute, will release the
results of two questions concerning the use of public support for sports
stadiums tomorrow.
This
SRI survey was conducted April 3-7, 2005 by telephone calls to 582 New York
State registered voters. It has a
margin of error of + 4.1 points. For
more information or comments, please call Joe Caruso, SRI Director of Polling,
at 518-783-2901. Survey
cross-tabulations and frequencies can be found at www.siena.edu/sri/surveys.asp.
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Siena Research Institute
Siena
College, Loudonville, NY
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If George Pataki runs for Governor in 2006, would you vote to re-elect him or would you prefer someone else?
Date
Re-Elect
Prefer Someone Else Don’t
Know/No Opinion
April, 2005 29 55 17
March, 2005 24 60 16
February, 2005 27 57 16
If the election for Governor were held tomorrow and the candidates were George Pataki on the Republican line and Eliot Spitzer on the Democratic line, for whom would you vote? (Rotate choices)
Date
Pataki
Spitzer
Don’t Know/No Opinion
April, 2005 34 48 18
March, 2005 30 53 17
February, 2005 35 51 15
If the election for Governor were held tomorrow and the candidates were Rudolph Giuliani on the Republican line and Eliot Spitzer on the Democratic line, for whom would you vote? (Rotate choices)
Date
Giuliani
Spitzer
Don’t Know/No Opinion
April, 2005 50 38 11
February, 2005 49 40 11
If the election for U.S. Senate were held tomorrow and the candidates were Hillary Clinton on the Democratic line and Rudolph Giuliani on the Republican line, for whom would you vote? (Rotate choices)
Date
Clinton
Giuliani Don’t
Know/No Opinion
April, 2005 52 41 8
February, 2005 52 43 5
Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion about George Pataki?
Date
Favorable
Unfavorable
Don’t Know/No Opinion
April, 2005 50 39 11
March, 2005 37 50 13
February, 2005 39 45 16
Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion about Eliot Spitzer?
Date
Favorable
Unfavorable
Don’t Know/No Opinion
April, 2005 53 18 29
March, 2005 50 18 32
February, 2005 48 17 34
Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion about Hillary Clinton?
Date
Favorable
Unfavorable
Don’t Know/No Opinion
April, 2005 60 33 6
March, 2005 58 34 8
February, 2005 61 33 6
Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion about Rudolph Giuliani?
Date
Favorable
Unfavorable
Don’t Know/No Opinion
April, 2005 63 26 10
February, 2005 61 28 11
Is New York State on the right track, or is it headed in the wrong direction?
Date
Right Track
Wrong Direction Don’t
Know/No Opinion
April, 2005 29 44 27
March, 2005 26 47 27
February, 2005 32 44 24
What is the single most important issue New York State government should address in 2005? (Rotate choices)
Fighting
Improving Protecting
Improving
April, 2005 5 24 3 22
March, 2005 3 24 3 18
Creating
Reforming Passing
April, 2005 16 10 N/A 18 2
March, 2005 14 6 11 17 3
