March 19, 2013 - New York Republicans Turn On Cuomo For First Time Ever, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Clinton Is Top 2016 Choice As Cuomo Beats Christie Word format PDF format Republican voters disapprove of New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo for the first time since he took office two years ago, leaving him with an overall 55 - 27 percent job approval rating, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Today's results compare to a 59 - 28 percent job approval January 30 and an all-time high of 74 - 13 percent in a December 12 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe- ack) University. Approval today is 69 - 12 percent among Democrats and 49 - 34 percent among independent voters, while Republicans disapprove 49 - 38 percent, the poll finds. Men approve 55 - 31 percent while women approve 55 - 24 percent. Republican approval of Cuomo peaked at 69 - 19 percent July 25 and dropped to a 44 - 43 percent split January 30. Upstate voters approve 44 - 38 percent, while New York City voters approve 68 - 13 percent and suburban voters approve 53 - 33 percent. New York State voters support 64 - 31 percent the stricter gun-control laws which Cuomo signed in January, with Republicans opposed 59 - 37 percent. Voters approve 49 - 38 percent of Cuomo's handling of gun policy, with Republicans disapproving 63 - 28 percent and upstate voters disapproving 55 - 35 percent. Approval is 67 - 18 percent among Democrats, 61 - 22 percent in New York City and 54 - 33 percent in the suburbs. "New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo built his envy-of-the-nation string of approval ratings on huge support from the other party - unheard of in today's era of take-no-prisoners partisan politics," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "His first-in-the-nation move for gun control hurt Gov. Cuomo with Republicans and independent voters. The geographical split is wide: upstaters disapprove heavily of the way the governor handled the gun issue, but city voters support him even more heavily. "But, by 2-1, voters approve of tougher laws and they approve 2-1 of Cuomo overall." "This week's news on the state budget could help Cuomo win back some Republicans in the months ahead - or not," Carroll added. In an early look at the 2016 presidential race in New York State, voters back former Senator and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over New Jersey Gov. Christie 59 - 32 percent. Cuomo tops Christie in New York 46 - 38 percent. The big swing is among independent voters, who back Clinton over Christie 48 - 35 percent and back Christie over Cuomo 48 - 29 percent. Cuomo gets a 52 - 27 percent favorability rating from New York State voters, almost matching his approval rating. Clinton gets a 71 - 24 percent favorability rating, with 55 - 17 percent for Christie. "Gov. Cuomo tops New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie in the way-down-the-road presidential election," Carroll said. "But the Empire State's adopted daughter, Chappaqua's own Hillary Clinton, is the New Yorker with the big numbers. "When we look at favorability, Cuomo's in third place, behind Clinton and Christie." New York State votes approve 57 - 39 percent of the job President Barack Obama is doing. U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer gets a 61 - 27 percent approval rating, with 57 - 21 percent for U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. From March 11 - 17, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,165 New York State voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia and the nation as a public service and for research. For more information or RSS feed, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling, or call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. 1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling his job as Governor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 55% 38% 69% 49% 55% 55% 53% 66% Disapprove 27 49 12 34 31 24 32 15 DK/NA 18 14 20 17 14 21 16 20 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Approve 64% 49% 53% 58% 62% 46% 54% 60% Disapprove 25 29 26 31 27 26 30 27 DK/NA 11 22 20 11 11 28 16 13 AREA............. UPSTATE NY....... UpStat NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Approve 44% 68% 53% 30% 60% 38% Disapprove 38 13 33 55 19 43 DK/NA 19 19 14 15 20 19 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling his job as Governor? REGISTERED VOTERS..................................... APPROVE....... High Low Mar 19 Jan 30 Dec 12 Sep 12 Jul 25 Dec 12 Mar 19 2013 2013 2012 2012 2012 2012 2013 Approve 55 59 74 70 73 74 55 Disapprove 27 28 13 16 16 13 27 DK/NA 18 13 13 14 12 13 18 REPUBLICANS........................................... APPROVE....... High Low Mar 19 Jan 30 Dec 12 Sep 12 Jul 25 Jul 25 Mar 19 2013 2013 2012 2012 2012 2012 2013 Approve 38 44 68 66 69 69 38 Disapprove 49 43 18 21 19 19 49 DK/NA 14 13 13 12 13 13 14 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charles Schumer is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 61% 44% 75% 54% 56% 65% 58% 78% Disapprove 27 47 10 35 33 21 30 12 DK/NA 13 9 15 11 10 14 12 10 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Approve 68% 56% 58% 63% 68% 45% 63% 66% Disapprove 23 29 24 28 29 29 28 24 DK/NA 8 15 18 9 4 25 8 9 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charles Schumer is handling his job as United States Senator? (*High also 69% Oct 2001) APPROVE....... High Low Mar 19 Jan 30 Dec 12 Sep 12 Jul 25 Dec 08 Apr 15 2013 2013 2012 2012 2012 2004* 1999 Approve 61 60 63 62 61 69 51 Disapprove 27 30 23 25 25 16 22 DK/NA 13 10 15 13 14 15 28 3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Kirsten Gillibrand is handling her job as United States Senator? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 57% 40% 71% 51% 54% 61% 56% 70% Disapprove 21 37 9 27 26 16 23 7 DK/NA 22 22 21 23 20 23 21 22 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Approve 66% 51% 55% 60% 65% 51% 60% 60% Disapprove 18 23 18 23 20 25 19 20 DK/NA 16 26 27 17 15 24 21 20 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Kirsten Gillibrand is handling her job as United States Senator? APPROVE....... High Low Mar 19 Jan 30 Dec 12 Jul 25 May 30 Dec 12 Feb 17 2013 2013 2012 2012 2012 2012 2009 Approve 57 57 61 54 60 61 28 Disapprove 21 21 18 20 22 18 10 DK/NA 22 22 21 26 18 21 62 4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 57% 14% 86% 46% 53% 61% 49% 90% Disapprove 39 81 12 48 43 35 48 9 DK/NA 4 4 2 6 4 4 4 1 WHITE................................. COLLEGE DEG Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Approve 56% 43% 42% 43% 45% 52% Disapprove 41 53 53 54 51 45 DK/NA 3 4 4 3 4 3 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Approve 61% 55% 62% 55% 56% 59% 56% 58% Disapprove 35 41 34 40 43 38 39 39 DK/NA 3 4 3 5 2 3 5 4 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? APPROVE....... High Low Mar 19 Jan 30 Dec 12 Jul 25 May 31 Feb 19 Aug 12 2013 2013 2012 2012 2012 2009 2011 Approve 57 57 62 57 58 72 45 Disapprove 39 39 35 38 39 17 49 DK/NA 4 4 3 5 3 10 6 5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 30% 18% 42% 21% 32% 29% 25% 44% Disapprove 55 68 42 64 56 54 60 45 DK/NA 15 14 16 15 12 18 15 11 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Approve 31% 29% 32% 31% 30% 39% 27% 29% Disapprove 53 56 49 57 59 46 60 54 DK/NA 16 15 18 12 11 14 13 17 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? APPROVE....... High Low Mar 19 Jan 30 Dec 12 Sep 12 Jul 26 Dec 12 Sep 01 2013 2013 2012 2012 2012 2012 2010 Approve 30 32 35 34 31 35 15 Disapprove 55 50 46 50 51 46 75 DK/NA 15 18 18 15 18 18 9 6. If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates were Andrew Cuomo the Democrat and Christopher Christie the Republican, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Cuomo 46% 12% 75% 29% 42% 49% 38% 70% Christie 38 77 13 48 40 35 44 17 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 4 3 3 5 4 3 4 4 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 1 2 5 3 4 4 1 DK/NA 10 6 8 14 11 9 10 8 WHITE................................. COLLEGE DEG Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Cuomo 47% 31% 32% 32% 34% 41% Christie 39 48 51 51 46 43 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 5 2 4 6 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 4 4 4 4 4 4 DK/NA 8 12 10 9 10 10 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Cuomo 50% 43% 49% 44% 43% 49% 45% 45% Christie 36 39 32 41 46 32 41 38 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 5 3 4 1 2 5 3 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 4 3 4 4 2 3 3 3 DK/NA 8 11 12 7 8 14 6 10 7. If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates were Hillary Clinton the Democrat and Christopher Christie the Republican, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Clinton 59% 18% 88% 48% 53% 64% 51% 90% Christie 32 74 9 35 35 29 39 7 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 - 3 2 1 2 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 - 4 4 1 2 - DK/NA 6 6 2 9 6 5 6 3 WHITE................................. COLLEGE DEG Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Clinton 58% 46% 44% 47% 45% 57% Christie 33 43 46 44 41 37 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 2 1 3 3 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 3 1 2 4 1 DK/NA 6 5 8 4 6 5 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Clinton 62% 57% 65% 58% 54% 60% 60% 59% Christie 29 33 26 32 39 31 31 32 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 2 1 2 - 2 2 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 3 2 3 1 5 2 1 DK/NA 7 5 6 5 5 3 5 7 8. Is your opinion of Christopher Christie favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Favorable 55% 71% 45% 60% 57% 53% 57% 46% Unfavorable 17 6 24 13 19 15 16 20 Hvn't hrd enough 27 21 30 24 23 30 25 33 REFUSED 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 1 9. Is your opinion of Andrew Cuomo favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Favorable 52% 34% 69% 44% 49% 55% 51% 66% Unfavorable 27 46 11 35 33 22 32 6 Hvn't hrd enough 17 14 17 19 16 19 15 23 REFUSED 3 6 3 3 2 4 3 6 TREND: Is your opinion of Andrew Cuomo favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? (*High also 63% Apr 2009 and Feb 2009/**"Governor Andrew Cuomo") FAVORABLE..... High Low Mar 19 Jan 26 Sep 01 Jun 22 Apr 13 Jun 24 Jan 26 2013 2011** 2010 2010 2010 2009* 2011** Favorable 52 47 54 57 59 63 47 Unfavorable 27 11 21 18 19 15 11 Hvn't hrd enough 17 36 22 22 20 20 36 REFUSED 3 6 3 3 2 2 6 10. Is your opinion of Hillary Clinton favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about her? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Favorable 71% 37% 92% 67% 65% 76% 66% 98% Unfavorable 24 55 5 28 30 19 30 1 Hvn't hrd enough 5 7 3 5 5 4 4 2 REFUSED - 1 - - - - - - TREND: Is your opinion of Hillary Clinton favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about her? FAVORABLE..... High Low Mar 19 Jun 11 Apr 18 Mar 21 Dec 17 Mar 19 Apr 18 2013 2008 2008 2008 2007 2013 2008 Favorable 71 53 48 53 53 71 48 Unfavorable 24 40 45 40 34 24 45 Hvn't hrd enough 5 4 5 5 9 5 5 REFUSED - 3 2 3 3 - 2 11. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in New York State today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Very satisfied 4% 3% 5% 4% 4% 4% 3% 7% Smwht satisfied 42 27 55 35 39 45 39 55 Smwht dissatisfied 29 37 26 30 28 30 32 26 Very dissatisfied 23 33 12 30 26 20 25 9 DK/NA 1 - 2 1 2 1 1 3 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Very satisfied 5% 3% 4% 5% 4% 3% 5% 4% Smwht satisfied 49 38 39 40 47 42 41 44 Smwht dissatisfied 28 30 32 26 28 33 29 27 Very dissatisfied 17 27 24 27 19 21 25 23 DK/NA 1 1 - 2 1 - 1 2 AREA............. UPSTATE NY....... UpStat NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Very satisfied 3% 4% 6% 1% 7% 1% Smwht satisfied 35 52 39 15 52 31 Smwht dissatisfied 30 27 33 41 26 27 Very dissatisfied 32 16 19 43 15 41 DK/NA - 2 2 - - - TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in New York State today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? VERY+SMWHT SAT High Low Mar 19 Jan 31 Dec 12 Sep 12 Jul 26 Feb 25 Jun 23 2013 2013 2102 2012 2012 1998 2010 Very satisfied 4 7 5 5 4 13 1 Smwht satisfied 42 43 50 47 42 60 18 Smwht dissatisfied 29 24 29 30 33 20 33 Very dissatisfied 23 25 15 17 21 7 47 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12. Do you approve or disapprove of Andrew Cuomo's handling of gun policy? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 49% 28% 67% 40% 48% 50% 45% 70% Disapprove 38 63 18 47 44 33 43 17 DK/NA 13 9 15 13 8 17 12 14 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Approve 57% 44% 47% 54% 55% 40% 49% 54% Disapprove 33 41 36 40 36 46 39 34 DK/NA 10 15 17 6 9 14 11 12 AREA............. DENSITY............ GUN HSHOLD UpStat NYC Sub Urban Suburb Rural Yes No Approve 35% 61% 54% 59% 48% 32% 25% 58% Disapprove 55 22 33 27 39 60 71 26 DK/NA 9 17 13 14 13 8 5 16 UPSTATE NY....... Rep Dem Ind Approve 22% 55% 28% Disapprove 73 32 63 DK/NA 6 12 9 13. Do you support or oppose the stricter new gun control laws in New York State? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 64% 37% 86% 54% 57% 71% 57% 96% Oppose 31 59 11 38 39 24 38 3 DK/NA 4 4 2 7 4 5 5 1 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Support 71% 60% 63% 62% 72% 58% 66% 66% Oppose 26 35 30 35 27 36 33 28 DK/NA 3 5 7 3 1 6 1 5 AREA............. DENSITY............ GUN HSHOLD UpStat NYC Sub Urban Suburb Rural Yes No Support 45% 82% 70% 77% 65% 36% 33% 76% Oppose 49 14 27 20 29 59 64 19 DK/NA 6 4 3 2 6 6 3 5 UPSTATE NY....... Rep Dem Ind Support 25% 73% 35% Oppose 71 24 55 DK/NA 4 4 10 Demographic Summary