Think they will get the message? Doubtful.

“New Yorkers overwhelmingly want the Governor and Legislature to address deficits by cutting spending (82 percent) rather than increasing taxes (13 percent), including two-thirds of Democrats. If taxes are increased, more than half (53 percent) would prefer business tax increases over income (10 percent) or sales (27 percent) taxes. Two-thirds of voters would prefer to see cuts made in infrastructure expenses rather than education (eight percent) or health (10 percent).
“The voters’ clear message to Albany: do not increase our taxes. They would strongly prefer spending cuts, preferably not in health or education,” Greenberg said. “And by a margin of 67 to 28 percent, voters are opposed to legislators giving themselves a pay raise. Not surprisingly, more than three-quarters of voters support Governor Spitzer’s decision to withdraw his license proposal.”

Siena New York Poll for December 2007

Voters: Cut Spending, No Tax Hikes; No to Legislative Pay Raise

Loudonville, NY Governor Eliot Spitzer’s standing with New York voters continues to slide, resulting in the lowest favorable/unfavorable rating and worst job performance rating he has ever had, and a majority of voters – including a plurality of Democrats – say they would prefer “someone else” over re-electing the Governor, according to a new Siena (College) Research Institute poll of registered voters released today. The Siena New York poll shows that with eight weeks until New York’s presidential primaries, Senator Hillary Clinton and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani continue to have overwhelming leads in their respective parties. While Clinton maintains a lead over Giuliani in a general election match-up, he has cut her lead significantly. Voters also told Siena they want the Governor and Legislature to cut spending, not increase taxes, to close any potential budget gaps, and they are overwhelmingly opposed to a legislative pay raise.

“Voters are continuing to lose faith in their Governor,” said Steven Greenberg, Siena New York Poll spokesman. “Today, a majority of voters have an unfavorable view of Spitzer. More than two-thirds give him a negative job performance rating. More voters think he’s doing a ‘poor’ job than think he’s doing an ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ job combined. Even 61 percent of Democrats view his job performance negatively.”

Spitzer’s rating is 36 percent favorable, 51 percent unfavorable (down from 41-46 percent in November and 64-22 percent in June). New York City voters rate him favorably by a 45-40 percent margin, while upstate voters rate him unfavorably by a 26-62 percent margin. His job performance rating is 27 percent positive, 70 percent negative (down from 33-64 percent in November and 55-37 percent in June).

“A majority of voters, 56 percent, are not prepared to re-elect the Governor,” Greenberg said. “Only one in three Democrats is prepared to re-elect him, while 42 percent prefer ‘someone else.’ Nearly half of New York City voters, 57 percent of downstate suburban voters, and nearly two-thirds of upstate voters prefer ‘someone else.’ He’s dug himself a deep hole and so far has not been able to find a ladder.”

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