Updated 06/09/2009 07:58 PM
NY1 Poll: More NYers Side With Gov On Gay Marriage, Approval Rating Still Sliding
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More New Yorkers are siding with Governor David Paterson on the issue of gay marriage, but it's not helping his approval rating, according to the results of our latest exclusive NY1 poll.
The governor supports legalizing same-sex marriage, and 46 percent of New Yorkers agree -- up from 38 percent a year ago.
When New Yorkers were asked to name the single best thing Paterson has done since becoming governor, his same-sex marriage bill topped the list.
"I'm very proud that we have a governor who is in the forefront of history and he's on camera championing this cause that is long overdue," said one poll respondent.
The latest poll, however, shows Paterson's approval rating plummeted to 30 percent from 49 percent.
He faces an election in 2010 and right now his possible opponents look stronger than him.
According to the poll, 51 percent of New Yorkers report a favorable opinion of State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, 45 percent have a favorable opinion of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, while only 22 percent feel that way about Paterson.
POLL RESULTSDo you approve or disapprove of the way David Paterson is handling his job as governor?
| Approve | 30% |
| Disapprove | 54% |
| Don't Know/No Answer | 16% |
Do you think things in New York State are generally going in the right direction or do you feel things have pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track?
| Right Direction | 21% |
| Wrong Track | 71% |
| Don't Know/No Answer | 8% |
Regardless of your overall opinion of David Paterson, what's the best thing he has done since he became governor?
| Economy | 3% |
| Jobs/Unemployment | 2% |
| Same-Sex Marriage Bill | 7% |
| Handling of Senate Appointment Of Kirsten Gillibrand | 1% |
| State Budget | 6% |
| Taxes | 2% |
| First Black Governor Of NY | 1% |
| Awareness Of Disabilities | 1% |
| Dealing With Transit Issues | 2% |
| Everything | - |
| Nothing | 2% |
| Other | 14% |
| Don't Know/No Answer | 58% |
Regardless of your overall opinion of David Paterson, what's the worst thing he has done since he became governor?
| Economy | 5% |
| Jobs/Unemployment | 6% |
| Same-Sex Marriage Bill | 5% |
| Handling of Senate Appointment Of Kirsten Gillibrand | 6% |
| State Budget | 6% |
| Taxes | 17% |
| First Black Governor Of NY | - |
| Awareness Of Disabilities | - |
| Dealing With Transit Issues | 4% |
| Everything | 1% |
| Nothing | - |
| Other | 14% |
| Don't Know/No Answer | 36% |
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling his job as State Attorney General?
| Approve | 68% |
| Disapprove | 11% |
| Don't Know/No Answer | 20% |
Of all the problems facing New York State, which one do you want Governor Paterson to concentrate on most?
| Crime | 2% |
| Economy | 16% |
| Unemployment | 19% |
| Education | 9% |
| Healthcare | 8% |
| Housing | 1% |
| Immigration | 1% |
| NYS Government | 1% |
| Budget Deficit | 7% |
| Terrorism | 1% |
| Taxes | 16% |
| Guns | - |
| Environment | 1% |
| Gay Marriage | 1% |
| Gas Prices | 1% |
| Police | - |
| Drugs | - |
| Albany Reform | 1% |
| Other | 9% |
| Don't Know/No Answer | 6% |
Which comes closest to your view: gay couples should be allowed to legally marry, or gay couples should be allowed to form civil unions but not legally marry, or there should be no legal recognition of a gay couple's relationship?
| Legally Marry | 46% |
| Civil Unions | 28% |
| No Legal Recognition | 21% |
| Don't Know/No Answer | 5% |
Is your opinion of David Paterson favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven't you heard enough about David Paterson yet to have an opinion?
| Favorable | 21% |
| Not Favorable | 50% |
| Undecided | 19% |
| Don't Know/No Answer | 9% |
Do you think David Paterson has performed his job as governor well enough to deserve election to a full term in 2010, or do you think it's time to give a new person a chance?
| Deserves Re-Election | 20% |
| Time For A New Person | 71% |
| Don't Know/No Answer | 10% |
Do you think David Paterson has more honesty and integrity than most people in public life, or less honesty and integrity, or about the same?
| More | 36% |
| Less | 16% |
| The Same | 3o% |
| Don't Know/No Answer | 18% |
How much do you think David Paterson cares about the needs and problems of people like yourself?
| A Lot | 18% |
| Some | 38% |
| Not Much | 23% |
| None | 14% |
| Don't Know/No Answer | 7% |
Do you have confidence in David Paterson's ability to deal with a serious crisis, or are you uneasy about it?
| Confident | 27% |
| Uneasy | 61% |
| Don't Know/No Answer | 13% |
How much confidence do you have in David Paterson’s ability to bring new jobs to New York?
| A Lot | 7% |
| Some | 28% |
| Not Much | 35% |
| None | 22% |
| Don't Know/No Answer | 8% |
How much confidence do you have in David Paterson’s ability to work with lawmakers to balance the state’s budget?
| A Lot | 11% |
| Some | 33% |
| Not Much | 28% |
| None | 18% |
| Don't Know/No Answer | 10% |
How much confidence do you have in David Paterson’s ability to reduce property taxes?
| A Lot | 7% |
| Some | 16% |
| Not Much | 36% |
| None | 31% |
| Don't Know/No Answer | 10% |
Whose needs do you think David Paterson pays the most attention to: people living in New York City, people living in the suburbs of New York City, or people living in the rest of the state?
| New York City | 31% |
| NYC Suburbs | 10% |
| Rest Of State | 13% |
| All Equal | 28% |
| Don't Know/No Answer | 17% |
Are you registered to vote in the election district where you now live?
| Yes | 82% |
| No | 17% |
| Don't Know/No Answer | - |