Cuomo’s Favorability at Lowest Level During Tenure as Governor

Governor Andrew Cuomo’s favorability rating is now at its lowest level since he’s been governor (64-30 percent), according to a new Siena College Research Institute poll released today, conducted March 3-7, 2013, by telephone to 803 New York State registered voters.

The recent poll found that although Cuomo continues to maintain a better than two-to-one favorability rating, it is down from 67-29 percent in February and 72-21 percent in December 2012.

Similarly, the governor’s job performance rating has fallen over the last couple of months: Fifty-four percent of voters say Cuomo is doing an excellent or good job as governor and 44 percent say he’s doing only a fair or poor job (down from 58-41 percent last month and 60-38 percent in January and December).

So what triggered the drop? Well, although the controversial gun law certainly has created a stir across the state, particularly upstate, the majority of voters are with the governor on his gun law and do not want to see it repealed.

As far as leading issues, the poll found:

• Voters are divided almost evenly on issues of fracking and casinos
• There’s overwhelming support for the governor’s Reproductive Health Act (2/3 of voters call themselves pro-choice)
• Voters strongly support a minimum wage increase and stop-and-frisk reform

Interestingly, the small drop this month in Cuomo’s favorability, job performance and re-elect ratings can’t be blamed on Republicans. In fact, his ratings are actually up with Republicans this month, compared to last month, and the slippage is due to a fall amongst some Democrats and Independents.

Cuomo also slipped among New York City and upstate voters, while gaining a little ground with suburban voters.

Overall, currently, 54 percent of voters are prepared to re-elect Cuomo next year, compared to 37 percent who would prefer someone else.