Maurice Carroll, Director,

Quinnipiac University Polling

Institute
(203) 582-5334

Rubenstein Associates, Inc.

Public Relations
Contact: Pat Smith
FOR RELEASE: (212)
APRIL 13,843-
2011

NEW YORK’S CUOMO OUTSCORES CHRISTIE, OTHER GOVERNORS

IN STATES POLLED BY QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY;
MORE NEW YORKERS APPROVE OF NEW STATE BUDGET
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has a 64 – 16 percent job approval rating among registered
voters, higher than the governors in any state polled by Quinnipiac University so far this year.
The next highest governor is New Jersey’s Christopher Christie, with a 52 – 40 percent
approval rating in a February 9 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack)
University. Governors in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida and Ohio all had approval ratings
below 50 percent, but these governors all are involved in unresolved state budget battles.
Today’s results are up from a 56 – 15 percent Cuomo approval February 23.
In today’s survey, even Republicans approve of Gov. Cuomo 58 – 18 percent.
New York State voters approve 47 – 31 percent of the new state budget and 31 percent
say Cuomo is most responsible for the budget agreement. Another 8 percent say the legislature
is most responsible while 57 percent say Cuomo and the legislature are equally responsible.
Cuomo won his first state budget battle on the merits, 47 percent of voters say, while 25
percent say he used intimidation and 8 percent say he used charm.
As a rising tide lifts all boats, voters split 41 – 40 percent in their job approval for their
local State Assembly member, up from a 42 – 35 percent disapproval February 23. Voters
approve 49 – 36 percent of their local state senator, compared to 49 – 32 percent February 23.
“It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Super-Andrew! Gov. Andrew Cuomo comes out of the
budget vote – usually a punishing time for politicians – with impressive job-approval numbers,”
said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
“New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie may be getting the national attention, but the guy
next door is doing better with home state voters. We’ll see how Christie does as he wages the
budget battle of Trenton.”
 -more-

Quinnipiac University Poll/April 13, 2011 – page 2

“While Cuomo and Christie both have a reputation as hard-chargers, New Yorkers think
their guy won his budget battle mostly on the merits,” Carroll added. “Some voters cite
intimidation, possibly because of Cuomo’s threat to force reform through a series of short-term
budget extensions, and a few even credit charm. Whatever; it worked.”
While New York State voters approve of their local legislators, they disapprove 58 – 29
percent of the job the State Legislature is doing. But this is the legislature’s best grade since a
50 – 32 percent disapproval in a February 17, 2009, Quinnipiac University poll, and is up from a
65 – 20 disapproval February 23.
“The remarkably good-natured budget process even earned improved marks for the State
Legislature – from really terrible to just plain awful,” Carroll said.
The new state budget cuts spending too much, 33 percent of voters say, while 26 percent
say it cuts spending too little and 30 percent say spending cuts are “about right.”
A total of 65 percent of New York State voters are “somewhat dissatisfied” or “very
dissatisfied” with the way things are going in the state today, while 34 percent are “very
satisfied” or “somewhat satisfied.”
President, Senators Approval
New York State voters approve 54 – 42 percent of the job President Barack Obama is
doing, almost identical to his approval ratings in January and February polls.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand gets a 49 – 26 percent approval rating, compared to 54 – 20
percent last month, her highest score ever in a Quinnipiac University poll.
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer gets a 55 – 32 percent job approval rating, down from 60 – 26
percent last month.
“Last week’s federal budget showdown probably didn’t help anyone in Washington,”
Carroll said.
From April 5 – 11, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,704 registered voters with a margin
of error of +/- 2.4 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 and the
nation as a public service and for research.

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For more data or RSS feed– http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or
follow us on Twitter.

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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 64% 58% 66% 66% 66% 61% 66% 59%

Disapprove 16 18 15 15 14 17 14 21
DK/NA 21 24 19 20 19 22 20 20

Union HvKidsIn
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds PubSch

Approve 62% 66% 64% 57% 61%

Disapprove 16 14 19 21 20
DK/NA 23 20 17 22 18

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling his job as
Governor?

Apr 13 Feb 23
2011 2011

Approve 64 56
Disapprove 16 15
DK/NA 21 29

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

Approve 55% 32% 75% 48% 50% 59%

Disapprove 32 55 11 39 38 26
DK/NA 13 13 14 12 12 15

Union
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds

Approve 52% 60% 50% 52%

Disapprove 32 28 38 37
DK/NA 16 11 12 12

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charles Schumer is handling his job as
United States Senator? (*High app also 69% Oct 2001)

APPROVE....... DIS...
High Low High
Apr 13 Feb 23 Jan 27 Sep 01 Dec 08 Apr 15 Jul 28
2011 2011 2011 2010 2004* 1999 2010

Approve 55 60 57 58 69 51 55
Disapprove 32 26 24 31 16 22 33
DK/NA 13 14 18 11 15 28 12

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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

Approve 49% 31% 64% 43% 46% 51%

Disapprove 26 45 10 30 31 21
DK/NA 26 24 26 27 23 28

Union
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds

Approve 51% 49% 44% 47%

Disapprove 26 21 31 27
DK/NA 23 30 25 27

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Kirsten Gillibrand is handling her job as
United States Senator?

APPROVE.......
High Low
Apr 13 Feb 23 Jan 27 Sep 01 Jul 28 Feb 23 Feb 17
2011 2011 2011 2010 2010 2011 2009

Approve 49 54 48 46 48 54 28
Disapprove 26 20 21 27 26 20 10
DK/NA 26 26 31 27 26 26 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 54% 15% 83% 47% 52% 55% 42% 95%

Disapprove 42 81 13 49 45 40 53 4
DK/NA 4 3 4 4 3 5 5 1

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as
president?

APPROVE......
High Low
Apr 13 Feb 23 Jan 27 Dec 08 Aug 31 Feb 19 Dec 08
2011 2011 2011 2010 2010 2009 2010

Approve 54 53 53 48 51 72 48
Disapprove 42 41 40 43 41 17 43
DK/NA 4 6 7 9 7 10 9

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5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Approve 29% 27% 36% 18% 27% 30%

Disapprove 58 58 51 69 63 54
DK/NA 13 15 14 12 11 16

Union
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds

Approve 27% 34% 24% 24%

Disapprove 61 53 62 68
DK/NA 13 14 14 8

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?

APPROVE...... DIS...
High Low High
Apr 13 Feb 23 Sep 01 Jul 28 Apr 04 Sep 01 Jun 23
2011 2011 2010 2010 2007 2010 2010

Approve 29 20 15 16 34 15 16
Disapprove 58 65 75 74 43 75 76
DK/NA 13 15 9 10 23 9 7

6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way your state assembly member is handling their
job?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Approve 41% 44% 47% 32% 37% 45%

Disapprove 40 35 33 52 46 34
DK/NA 19 20 20 17 17 20

Union
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds

Approve 38% 45% 42% 37%

Disapprove 43 38 38 47
DK/NA 19 17 21 16

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way your state assembly member is handling
their job?

Apr 13 Feb 23 Dec 20 Aug 11 Jun 17

2011 2011 2005 2004 2004

Approve 41 35 55 48 54
Disapprove 40 42 22 26 24
DK/NA 19 22 15 19 17

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7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way your state senator is handling their job?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Approve 49% 42% 58% 41% 46% 51%

Disapprove 36 41 25 47 41 32
DK/NA 15 17 17 13 13 17

Union
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds

Approve 45% 51% 52% 45%

Disapprove 39 33 37 43
DK/NA 16 17 12 12

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way your state senator is handling their job?

Apr 13 Feb 23 Dec 20 Aug 11 Jun 17

2011 2011 2005 2004 2004

Approve 49 49 63 54 58
Disapprove 36 32 22 27 25
DK/NA 15 18 15 19 17

8. 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

Very satisfied 2% 1% 2% 1% 1% 2%
Smwht satisfied 32 22 45 24 33 32
Smwht dissatisfied 34 34 34 37 33 36
Very dissatisfied 31 42 18 38 33 29
DK/NA 1 1 2 - - 2

Union
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds

Very satisfied 1% 2% 2% 1%
Smwht satisfied 31 36 29 22
Smwht dissatisfied 32 36 36 39
Very dissatisfied 35 25 32 36
DK/NA 1 1 - 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
Apr 13 Feb 23 Jan 26 Dec 08 Sep 01 Feb 25 Jun 23
2011 2011 2011 2010 2010 1998 2010

Very satisfied 2 2 2 2 1 13 1
Smwht satisfied 32 29 26 23 19 60 18
Smwht dissatisfied 34 34 37 31 31 20 33
Very dissatisfied 31 33 33 42 47 7 47
DK/NA 1 2 2 1 1 1 1

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9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling the state budget?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Approve 57% 57% 54% 61% 59% 55%

Disapprove 29 29 30 25 25 32
DK/NA 14 14 15 14 15 13

Union
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds

Approve 58% 55% 57% 55%

Disapprove 28 29 32 33
DK/NA 14 16 11 12

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling the state budget?

Apr 13 Feb 23
2011 2011

Approve 57 57
Disapprove 29 28
DK/NA 14 16

10. How much have you heard or read about the state budget agreement recently announced
by Governor Cuomo and legislative leaders? A lot, some, not much, or nothing at all?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

A lot 25% 26% 24% 22% 29% 21%

Some 49 49 49 54 45 53
Not much 20 20 22 19 21 20
Nothing at all 5 5 6 4 5 5
DK/NA - - - - - -

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME....

UpStat NYC Sub <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K

A lot 23% 23% 30% 15% 25% 25% 34%

Some 52 45 51 45 50 54 52
Not much 18 27 15 32 22 16 11
Nothing at all 6 5 4 7 3 4 4
DK/NA - - - 1 - - -

11. Do you approve or disapprove of the state budget agreement recently announced by
Governor Cuomo and legislative leaders?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Approve 47% 47% 48% 47% 53% 41%

Disapprove 31 31 30 31 27 35
DK/NA 22 21 22 22 20 23

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME....

UpStat NYC Sub <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K

Approve 49% 45% 45% 39% 47% 53% 54%

Disapprove 29 32 35 36 29 27 33
DK/NA 22 23 20 25 24 20 14

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12. Who do you think is most responsible for the new state budget - Governor Cuomo the
state legislature, or are they equally responsible?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Cuomo 31% 36% 28% 34% 38% 25%

State legislature 8 6 7 11 8 8
Equally responsible 57 55 60 52 51 62
DK/NA 4 2 5 3 3 5

Union
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds

Cuomo 32% 27% 38% 35%

State legislature 9 7 9 7
Equally responsible 56 62 49 54
DK/NA 3 4 5 4

13. Do you think Governor Cuomo convinced the legislature to agree to the new budget -
more by charm, more by intimidation, or do you think he won on the merits?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Charm 8% 9% 8% 7% 7% 9%
Intimidation 25 30 22 27 30 21
Merits 47 43 54 43 44 50
DK/NA 20 19 16 23 20 20

Union
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds

Charm 8% 9% 6% 7%
Intimidation 23 24 31 36
Merits 50 46 45 42
DK/NA 20 21 18 15

14. Do you think the new state budget cuts spending - too much, too little, or by the
right amount?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Too much 33% 29% 40% 28% 29% 36%

Too little 26 35 13 32 32 21
The right amount 30 28 34 28 30 30
DK/NA 11 8 13 12 9 13

Union
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds

Too much 30% 37% 32% 38%

Too little 28 23 28 25
The right amount 30 29 30 28
DK/NA 12 11 10 10