ALBANY –Gov. Cuomo got some strong pre-Valentine’s Day love from New Yorkers, while casinos and a mammoth gambling-convention center at Aqueduct Racetrack received a peck on the cheek, according to a new poll.
The Quinnipiac University survey released today also found President Obama with 50 percent approval and re-election ratings in the Empire State, while U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand dipped below the magic mark.
But despite the love for Cuomo, voters by 58-42 said they were dissatisfied with the way things are going in New York.
While voters support creation of Atlantic City-style casinos in New York 54-38, they only favor a constitutional amendment needed to legalize casinos by 50-42, the poll found.
Women oppose the amendment 47-44, with men in favor 56-38. College degree holders are virtually split, 46-44 in favor, while those without a college degree are more strongly supportive, 52-41.
The telephone survey of 1,233 New York voters Feb. 8-13 also found voters support a convention center “plus an Atlantic City-style casino and hotels” at Aqueduct Race Track by 49-39 – though plans only call for an expansion of the Genting Group’s existing racino in Queens. Men (54-36) are stronger supporters than women (45-41).
Cuomo has insisted the state will spend a nominal amount at most on the proposed convention center. But voters believe 50-37 it will cost the government “a lot of money,” even though they say 60-31 percent it will be good for the state’s economy.
Cuomo scored a 69-19 percent approval rating with popularity across the political spectrum in the survey, continuing his high scores.
Gillibrand (D-NY), running for re-election to a full six-year term this year, fell to 47-26 percent approval after being above the 50 percent mark late last year. Still, she scored well with independent voters – 48-26 – though Republican disapprove 43-33.
Obama’s 50-46 rating is virtually unchanged from December, and voters said 50-45 he deserves re-election this year.
He leads all his potential Republican challengers by at least 17 points, with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney coming closest at 52-35.
Among Republican poll respondents, Romney leads the race for the GOP nomination with 32 percent, to 20 percent for former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, 14 percent for Rep. Ron Paul of Texas and 10 percent for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points – 4.9 percentage points among the 399 Republicans surveyed.