Poll Shows Paterson Being Trounced By Cuomo In Primary

By: NY1 News

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For the first time since David Paterson took over as governor, a poll released Tuesday has him trailing against a potential challenger, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, in the Democratic primary. NY1's Josh Robin filed the following report.

Governor David Paterson appears to be in political freefall.

For the first time, the Democrat is projected to lose a hypothetical primary against state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo -- and it wouldn't be close.

Cuomo wields a more than 2-to-1 edge, 55 percent to 23 percent. Another 20 percent either don't know or wouldn't answer.

They're good numbers notwithstanding Cuomo, who ran unsuccessfully in 2002 and insists he's not after it again.

"I have a job. It's called being Attorney General of the State of New York," said Cuomo.

Should Republican Rudy Giuliani try, he'd lose to Cuomo, but tie Paterson.

They're both at 43 percent, with 10 percent not knowing or not answering.

The governor still got a standing ovation in Manhattan Tuesday from local elected officials he briefed on the $14 billion budget deficit and brushed aside other figures.

"Polls are snapshots, we'll see how everybody feels next year, but I feel like running for governor," said Paterson.

What does Paterson blame for his poll numbers? Well, he says he's been the bearer of bad news. He also says he's been "victimized by some in the press."

Pollsters chalk it up to his clumsy appointment process to replace Hillary Clinton in the U.S. Senate. When Caroline Kennedy withdrew her name, his aides anonymously trashed her.

"Caroline Kennedy got a raw deal in that nonsense about whether or not she was going to be appointed United States Senator," said Mickey Carroll, Quinnipiac University.

The survey echoes what Albany insiders whisper about Paterson's lacking leadership during precarious times.

Regular New Yorkers seem to agree.

His approval versus disapproval numbers is 45 percent to 41 percent, with 14 percent not saying. On January 26, it was 50 percent approving, 30 percent disapproving -- with 20 percent not saying.

"It's gone down 16 points in three weeks. Not good," said Carroll.

Paterson, meanwhile, is shaking up his administration.

"I don't think that I ever really had that transition period where I got to look at the whole operation," said Paterson.

But with a bleak budget process triggering tough ads -- and possible tax hikes ahead -- shaking up a sagging popularity rating may be a tall order.

Tuesday's Quinnipiac poll surveyed more than 1,000 registered voters this past week. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.