Poll Finds Slim Majority of New Yorkers Approve of Mayor as He Positions Himself against Trump Heading into Election Year

Is Donald Trump helping Mayor de Blasio win over New Yorkers? Our exclusive NY1/Baruch College City Poll show the mayor's approval numbers are looking stronger in the wake of Trump's win. Our Grace Rauh has the story.

It may seem counterintuitive, but left-wing Democratic mayor, Bill de Blasio, may be getting a boost from President-elect Donald Trump, a Republican. The mayor has positioned himself as a forceful critic of Trump's and it seems to be helping him with voters.

As he heads into a re-election year, de Blasio's approval rating with New Yorkers is at 51 percent, and 36 percent say they disapprove.

It's a three-point bump from April, the last time NY1/Baruch College polled on the mayor.

"The mayor is, at this point, seen as New York City's defender-in-chief against some possible new policies of the Trump administration," said pollster Mickey Blum.

De Blasio gets high marks for city services, with 73 percent of New Yorkers saying they are very or somewhat satisfied with their performance.

New Yorkers are more split, though, when it comes to de Blasio's re-election campaign.

43 percent say they support his bid for a second term. 42 percent do not.

I think that he's had a very difficult time.

I think he can do better. Let's just leave it at that.

There is a similar divide when New Yorkers are asked about the direction of the city.

46 percent say things are headed in the right direction and 42 percent say New York is on the wrong track.

Crime is at a historically low level.

But our poll found 33 percent of New Yorkers think crime went up under Mayor de Blasio. And just 21 percent say it went down.

I feel a lot safer.

The mayor's affordable housing push gets mixed reaction as well. 43 percent say they approve of the job he is doing to provide affordable housing. But 40 percent disapprove.

I was born here, I was raised here and I can't afford to live here anymore.

So far the mayor's path to re-election looks relatively clear. Some Republicans intend to challenge him, but on the Democratic side, he has no real competition.