Governor Andrew Cuomo has a long track record of picking fights with Mayor Bill de Blasio, but the political feuding does not seem to be hurting him with New Yorkers. NY1's Grace Rauh filed the following report.
Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio have clashed over everything from the fate of one-antlered deer in Harlem to tax policy, often with no clear winners emerging unscathed. But when it comes to the battle over approval ratings, the governor can chalk up a victory in the five boroughs.
Fifty-eight percent of New Yorkers give him high marks. That's five points more that de Blasio got from his constituents. It is, however, a slight dip for the governor from the last time we polled back in December.
"He's got a big majority that's in favor of him. He does it among all groups except Republicans. He's in fine shape," said Baruch College pollster Doug Muzzio.
New Yorkers are also supportive of a White House campaign by Cuomo. By a nearly two to one margin, New Yorkers say they would want to see the governor run for president in 2020. Back in December, before President Donald Trump's inauguration, it was just the opposite, with a plurality of New Yorkers saying they did not want him to run.
"It's another sharp reversal," Muzzio said. "In December, they said, 'Don't go.' They are saying, 'Go, go, go.' And again, all the groups are in favor of it except Republicans."
New Yorkers are sending a very different message to de Blasio, a frequent and forceful critic of the president and his policies.
"It's real. The opinion toward de Blasio is far less favorable than it is toward the governor," Muzzio said.
By a two to one margin, New Yorkers say they do not want to see the mayor run for president.
They also oppose a bid by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, with 43 percent of residents saying they do not want her to run in 2020. 24 percent say they do want to see her get in the race.
Gillibrand has already said she’s not running, but thought Cuomo could make a good candidate.
It's also not clear whether the governor or mayor would actually run for president in three-and-a-half years. But speculation about the political plans for all three has already begun.