Pataki's political future may not exist, new polls say

[UpInArms]

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/breaking_news/story/298779p-255816c.html

ALBANY — Republican George Pataki is in worse shape politically than Mario Cuomo was at a similar point a dozen years ago, just before Pataki drove the Democratic icon from the governorship, a statewide poll reported Monday.

Cuomo was seeking a fourth, four-year term as governor when he lost to Pataki. The GOP incumbent has not said if he will seek a fourth term next year.

Only the late Nelson Rockefeller, a Republican, managed to win four, four-year terms as governor.

The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion poll found that 55 percent of registered voters felt Pataki shouldn’t run for re-election while 34 percent said they wanted him to run.

...more...

I found that quite interesting as earlier in the day, I read this:

Poll: Pataki Narrows Gap Against Spitzer

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=660005

ALBANY, N.Y. Apr 11, 2005 — Republican Gov. George Pataki has narrowed the gap against state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer in a possible 2006 governor's race, according to a statewide poll released Monday.

The Siena College Research Institute poll of registered voters had Democrat Spitzer leading Pataki 48 percent to 34 percent. A Siena poll conducted last month had Spitzer leading Pataki 53 percent to 30 percent.

Pataki has not said if he will seek a fourth, four-year term. Spitzer has said he will run for governor.

<snip>

Fifty percent said they had a favorable opinion of Pataki, up from 37 percent. In a separate question, 53 percent said they had a favorable opinion of Spitzer.

"George Pataki has made up ground with voters in virtually every part of the state and in every demographic group," Caruso said. "But if he chooses to run for re-election, he is still in an uncomfortable position for an incumbent given his continued low `re-elect number.'"

...more...

someone's spinning

[saltpoint]

1. Pataki is in freefall.

And I for one won't miss him.

[NYC]

2. Neither will I.

[GOPBasher]

3. Say hello to governor Spitzer. :-) n/t

[bkcc]

4. Don't get too excited about this poll.

Pataki has crushed each and every challenger he's had since taking office. Considering the number of Democrats in New York state, that's really pathetic.

The guy's like Rasputin and it's insane when you think about the fact that the only reason he was elected in the first place is that people voted for the candidate who was running against Cuomo. For a warm body that was simply elected to fill the seat of governor, he's had ridiculous longevity.

[Cha]

5. But, who has run against him?

No one that had any fire in their belly like Spitzer!

[bkcc]

12. Don't misunderstand me.

I'm glad it's Spitzer, and I hope he kicks Pataki's ass. The other candidates didn't do much to make a case for themselves and the Democratic Party didn't do much to help them, either.

I hope they get behind Spitzer and come out swinging at Pataki.

BTW, I guarantee that Pataki will play the September 11th card when he starts slipping in the polls. And you better believe Giuliani will show up for multiple photo ops.

[Bluebear]

6. What, with all that CHARISMA???

:rofl:

[warrens]

7. Heh, marry him to Smirk and DeLay, two of his butt-buddies

And see if he takes a single county.

For some reason, NY elects liberals to everything except governor. I have no idea why. Cuomo was virtually the only Dem governor of my lifetime. My personal opinion is that upstate GOP want a gov to balance the high-profile Dem senators and NYC mayor. Guliani sorta messed up that theory a bit, but Bloomberg only ran as a Gooper because the Dem nomination was sewn up by warm body Mark Green.

[HockeyMom]

8. life long Independent

No way in hell would I vote for Patakai. ONCE was enough.

The man loses us he is DOOMED. I am going for Spitzer.

[MADem]

9. If the writing on the wall is bold enough

...he just might say enough is enough, leave a winner, write a book, get a cushy consulting job.

That would leave them scrambling to find a replacement. Question to those in the field: WHO?

[ldf]

10. that's when they will try and shove

rudy patootie down our throats. rudy has kissed bush's ass enough to show that he will go along to get along.

hopefully new yorkers will be able to remember back before "the event".

[MADem]

11. Oh, they will...Al Sharpton, et. al. have the time to do some reminding

And that AWFUL TRUTH clip from Michael Moore's old show, offering a wallet exchange for NYC folks of color (so they won't be mistaken for guns) will get a fine recycling!!