Maurice Carroll, Director, Quinnipiac University Polling Institute (203) 582-5334 Rubenstein Associates, Inc.

Public Relations Contact: Pat Smith (212) 843- 2011 FOR RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 20,

PLEASE NOTE: EMBARGOED FOR WIRE RELEASE UNTIL 6:00 AM SEPTEMBER 20

STORM SURGE TAKES CUOMO APPROVAL TO ALL-TIME HIGH, QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL FINDS; VOTERS WANT GOV TO SPEAK UP ON REDISTRICTING
An 86 7 percent approval rating for his handling of Tropical Storms Irene and Lee pushes New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to a 66 17 percent overall approval rating, the highest score for any governor in states surveyed by Quinnipiac University and among the highest for any New York governor, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Voters say 70 17 percent the governor should speak out more forcefully to convince the State Legislature to turn legislative redistricting over to an independent commission. Cuomo should veto a redistricting plan not created by an independent commission, voters say 47 35 percent in the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll. Approval ratings for Gov. Cuomo are 72 14 percent among Democrats, 61 20 percent among Republicans and 61 21 percent among independent voters. He gets a 62 21 percent thumbs up from New York City voters, 74 7 percent from suburban voters and 64 19 percent from upstate voters. Men approve 65 17 percent while women approve 66 17 percent. New York State voters say 77 12 percent that Cuomo is successful getting his policies passed by the State Legislature. In contrast, voters say 67 30 percent that President Barack Obama is not successful getting his policies through Congress. President Obama should be more like Cuomo in dealing with the legislature, voters say 53 14 percent. Voters say 44 40 percent that Cuomo is a better leader than Obama. New Yorks love affair with Gov. Andrew Cuomo persists, perhaps helped along by Irene and Lee, said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. Yes, we like him. Yes, we like his policies. Yes, we think he did a good job on the tropical storms. Yes, hes dominating the legislature. Maybe we should ask about his Queens accent. -more-

Quinnipiac University Poll/September 20, 2011 page 2 Theres NO gender gap in Cuomos approval. Thats a polling rarity, Carroll added. Overwhelmingly, voters do want Cuomo to lead the charge on legislative redistricting. Its no contest New Yorkers think Cuomo gets what he wants from the legislature and Obama doesnt get what he wants from Congress, Carroll added. Legislative Redistricting New York State should have a commission independent of the State Legislature to draw the district lines from which state legislators and members of Congress are elected, 50 percent of voters say. Another 27 percent support an independent redistricting commission with some input from the legislature and 10 percent want the State Legislature to continue drawing district lines. Support for Cuomo speaking out on redistricting is 66 19 percent among Republicans, 69 16 percent among Democrats and 76 16 percent among independent voters. But voters say 55 24 percent that Cuomo and state legislators will not keep their promise, made during the 2010 election campaign, to create non-partisan redistricting. Voters say 48 36 percent they would feel betrayed if New York State officials approved a plan created by the legislature rather than an independent commission. Feelings are similar among Democrats, Republicans and independent voters. New Yorkers dont want the State Legislature to draw the district lines that decide where they and members of Congress will get elected. Half prefer an independent commission. Some think there should be some legislative say, Carroll said. But most voters dont believe that New Yorks political leaders will keep their word. We chose a provocative word deliberately and almost half of the voters say theyd feel betrayed if elected officials dont change the districting system. Obama, Schumer, Gillibrand New York State voters approve 50 45 percent of the job President Obama is doing, up from a negative 45 49 percent score August 12. U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer gets a 59 31 percent score and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has a 52 23 percent approval rating. From September 13 18, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,016 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 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, Virginia and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter.

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling his job as Governor? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 66% 17 17 Rep 61% 20 19 Dem 72% 14 14 Sub 74% 7 19 Ind 61% 21 19 Union HsHlds 67% 21 13 Men 65% 17 17 Wom 66% 17 17

UpStat NYC Approve Disapprove DK/NA 64% 19 16 62% 21 17

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling his job as Governor? Sep 20 2011 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 66 17 17 Aug 10 2011 62 22 16 Jun 29 2011 64 19 17 Jun 01 2011 61 18 21 Apr 13 2011 64 16 21 Feb 23 2011 56 15 29

2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charles Schumer is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 59% 31 9 Rep 39% 52 9 Dem 75% 14 11 Sub 60% 32 7 Ind 54% 39 7 Union HsHlds 60% 33 7 Men 52% 40 8 Wom 66% 23 11

UpStat NYC Approve Disapprove DK/NA 55% 33 11 63% 28 8

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charles Schumer is handling his job as United States Senator? (*High also 69% Oct 2001) APPROVE....... High Low Dec 08 Apr 15 2004* 1999 69 16 15 51 22 28

Sep 20 2011 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 59 31 9

Aug 12 2011 56 32 12

Jun 29 2011 64 24 12

Jun 01 2011 60 28 12

Apr 13 2011 55 32 13

3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Kirsten Gillibrand is handling her job as United States Senator? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 52% 23 24 Rep 37% 39 24 Dem 65% 11 24 Sub 46% 25 30 Ind 45% 29 26 Union HsHlds 53% 26 21 Men 47% 30 23 Wom 57% 17 25

UpStat NYC Approve Disapprove DK/NA 54% 25 21 54% 21 25

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Kirsten Gillibrand is handling her job as United States Senator? (*High also 54% Feb 2011) APPROVE....... High Low Jun 29 Feb 17 2011* 2009 54 22 24 28 10 62

Sep 20 2011 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 52 23 24

Aug 12 2011 49 27 24

Jun 29 2011 54 22 24

Jun 01 2011 53 22 25

Apr 13 2011 49 26 26

4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 50% 45 6 Rep 10% 88 2 Dem 78% 18 4 Sub 44% 49 7 Ind 38% 53 9 Union HsHlds 50% 44 6 Men 46% 49 5 Wom 53% 41 6 Wht 38% 56 6 Blk 89% 10 1

UpStat NYC Approve Disapprove DK/NA 41% 53 6 63% 33 4

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? APPROVE...... High Low Feb 19 Aug 12 2009 2011 72 17 10 45 49 6

Sep 20 2011 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 50 45 6

Aug 12 2011 45 49 6

Jun 29 2011 57 38 5

Jun 01 2011 60 35 5

Apr 13 2011 54 42 4

5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 26% 61 13 Rep 21% 72 7 Dem 33% 53 14 Sub 32% 52 16 Ind 21% 65 14 Union HsHlds 23% 66 11 Men 26% 64 10 Wom 26% 59 15

UpStat NYC Approve Disapprove DK/NA 22% 66 12 26% 62 12

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? APPROVE...... High Low Apr 04 Sep 01 2007 2010 34 43 23 15 75 9

Sep 20 2011 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 26 61 13

Aug 10 2011 27 62 11

Jun 29 2011 26 62 12

Jun 01 2011 25 62 12

Apr 13 2011 29 58 13

6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way your state assembly member is handling their job? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 41% 39 20 Rep 43% 41 16 Dem 48% 31 21 Sub 40% 35 25 Ind 31% 46 23 Union HsHlds 38% 41 21 Men 39% 42 19 Wom 43% 36 22

UpStat NYC Approve Disapprove DK/NA 37% 42 21 46% 37 17

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way your state assembly member is handling their job? APPROVE...... High Low Dec 20 Feb 23 2005 2011 55 22 15 35 42 22

Sep 20 2011 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 41 39 20

Aug 10 2011 40 43 17

Jun 29 2011 45 38 17

Jun 01 2011 42 39 19

Apr 13 2011 41 40 19

7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way your state senator is handling their job? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 50% 35 15 Rep 46% 43 11 Dem 59% 26 15 Sub 50% 31 19 Ind 46% 37 17 Union HsHlds 52% 34 14 Men 47% 38 15 Wom 54% 32 15

UpStat NYC Approve Disapprove DK/NA 46% 40 14 56% 30 14

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way your state senator is handling their job? (* Low also 49% Apr 2011, Feb 2011) APPROVE...... High Low Dec 20 Aug 10 2005 2011* 63 22 15 49 37 14

Sep 20 2011 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 50 35 15

Aug 10 2011 49 37 14

Jun 29 2011 54 33 13

Jun 01 2011 51 34 16

Apr 13 2011 49 36 15

8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Sheldon Silver is handling his job as State Assembly Speaker? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 30% 45 25 Rep 14% 65 21 Dem 42% 30 28 Sub 31% 43 26 Ind 24% 52 24 Union HsHlds 33% 43 24 Men 27% 54 19 Wom 32% 37 31

UpStat NYC Approve Disapprove DK/NA 21% 53 27 39% 37 24

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Sheldon Silver is handling his job as State Assembly Speaker? (*Low also 25% Apr 2010) APPROVE....... High Low Dec 24 Aug 10 2008 2011* 38 34 38 25 49 26

Sep 20 2011 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 30 45 25

Aug 10 2011 25 49 26

Jun 29 2011 29 43 28

Sep 01 2010 28 43 29

Jul 28 2010 26 44 30

9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dean Skelos is handling his job as State Senate Majority Leader? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 23% 36 41 Rep 24% 36 40 Dem 29% 30 41 Sub 25% 38 37 Ind 16% 42 41 Union HsHlds 21% 40 39 Men 25% 40 35 Wom 22% 32 45

UpStat NYC Approve Disapprove DK/NA 18% 40 42 29% 31 41

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dean Skelos is handling his job as State Senate Majority Leader? Sep 20 2011 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 23 36 41 Aug 10 2011 23 40 37 Jun 29 2011 25 35 40

10. 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 Very satisfied Smwht satisfied Smwht dissatisfied Very dissatisfied DK/NA 2% 34 33 31 Rep 22 36 42 Dem 3% 45 36 16 Sub 1% 37 35 26 Ind 1% 29 32 38 Union HsHlds 1% 31 33 35 Men 3% 31 33 33 1 Wom 1% 36 34 29 -

UpStat NYC Very satisfied Smwht satisfied Smwht dissatisfied Very dissatisfied DK/NA 2% 27 31 39 1 2% 38 35 24 -

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 Feb 25 Jun 23 1998 2010 13 60 20 7 1 1 18 33 47 1

Sep 20 2011 Very satisfied Smwht satisfied Smwht dissatisfied Very dissatisfied DK/NA 2 34 33 31 -

Aug 10 2011 2 33 31 33 1

Jun 29 2011 4 34 34 27 1

Jun 01 2011 3 34 32 29 1

Apr 13 2011 2 32 34 31 1

11. If the 2012 election for President were being held today, do you think you would vote for Barack Obama the Democratic candidate, or for the Republican candidate? Tot Obama 52% Republican 33 DEPENDS ON CAND(VOL) 7 DK/NA 7 Rep 4% 86 7 2 Dem 85% 7 5 3 Sub 47% 35 7 11 Ind 43% 36 9 11 Union HsHlds 54% 31 8 7 Men 49% 36 9 5 Wom 55% 30 6 9

UpStat NYC Obama 42% Republican 39 DEPENDS ON CAND(VOL) 9 DK/NA 9 66% 25 6 3

TREND: If the 2012 election for President were being held today, do you think you would vote for Barack Obama the Democratic candidate, or for the Republican candidate? Sep 20 2011 Obama 52 Republican 33 DEPENDS ON CAND(VOL) 7 DK/NA 7 Aug 12 2011 49 34 8 10 Jun 29 2011 53 30 11 5 Jun 01 2011 55 27 11 7

12. Do you feel that Barack Obama deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected? Tot Yes/Deserves No/Does not DK/NA 51% 43 6 Rep 8% 88 5 Dem 80% 14 6 Sub 44% 50 6 Ind 44% 50 5 Union HsHlds 53% 42 5 Men 50% 47 4 Wom 53% 39 8

UpStat NYC Yes/Deserves No/Does not DK/NA 43% 50 7 64% 31 5

TREND: Do you feel that Barack Obama deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected? Sep 20 2011 Yes/Deserves No/Does not DK/NA 51 43 6 Aug 12 2011 48 46 6 Jun 29 2011 56 39 5 June 01 2011 57 36 6

13. Regardless of how you feel about Andrew Cuomo's policies, would you say you like or don't like Andrew Cuomo as a person? Tot Like Don't Like DK/NA 64% 13 23 Rep 57% 16 27 Dem 75% 10 15 Sub 61% 12 27 Ind 61% 14 26 Union HsHlds 63% 15 23 Men 62% 14 24 Wom 66% 12 22

UpStat NYC Like Don't Like DK/NA 65% 11 25 66% 16 18

TREND: Regardless of how you feel about Andrew Cuomo's policies, would you say you like or don't like Andrew Cuomo as a person? Sep 20 2011 Like Don't Like DK/NA 64 13 23 Aug 10 2011 64 12 24 Jun 29 2011 64 12 24 Jun 01 2011 61 13 26

14. And regardless of how you feel about Andrew Cuomo as a person, would you say you like or don't like most of Andrew Cuomo's policies? Tot Like Don't Like DK/NA 64% 23 12 Rep 55% 34 12 Dem 72% 14 14 Sub 66% 22 12 Ind 62% 29 9 Union HsHlds 63% 26 11 Men 64% 27 9 Wom 65% 20 15

UpStat NYC Like Don't Like DK/NA 64% 22 14 63% 26 11

TREND: And regardless of how you feel about Andrew Cuomo as a person, would you say you like or don't like most of Andrew Cuomo's policies? Sep 20 2011 Like Don't Like DK/NA 64 23 12 Aug 10 2011 61 26 12 Jun 29 2011 62 24 14 Jun 01 2011 61 23 16

15. Thinking about President Barack Obama and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Who do you think is a better leader, Cuomo or Obama? Tot Cuomo Obama NO DIFF(VOL) DK/NA 44% 40 6 10 Rep 72% 11 7 11 Dem 25% 63 4 8 Sub 52% 33 4 11 Ind 53% 30 6 11 Union HsHlds 44% 41 3 12 Men 46% 39 6 8 Wom 42% 41 5 12

UpStat NYC Cuomo Obama NO DIFF(VOL) DK/NA 55% 29 6 10 29% 55 6 10

TREND: Thinking about President Barack Obama and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who do you think is a better leader, Cuomo or Obama? Sep 20 2011 Cuomo Obama NO DIFF(VOL) DK/NA 44 40 6 10 Aug 10 2011 46 38 7 9

16. In general, do you think Governor Cuomo has been successful in getting his policies passed by the state legislature or not? Tot Yes No DK/NA 77% 12 11 Rep 77% 14 9 Dem 77% 8 14 Sub 78% 13 10 Ind 80% 13 7 Union HsHlds 81% 12 7 Men 79% 12 8 Wom 75% 13 13

UpStat NYC Yes No DK/NA 76% 13 12 78% 12 10

TREND: In general, do you think Governor Cuomo has been successful in getting his policies passed by the state legislature or not? Sep 20 2011 Yes No DK/NA 77 12 11 Jun 01 2011 61 21 18

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17. In general, do you think President Obama has been successful in getting his policies passed by Congress or not? Tot Yes No DK/NA 30% 67 3 Rep 31% 67 2 Dem 33% 64 3 Sub 34% 63 2 Ind 24% 73 3 Union HsHlds 28% 70 2 Men 30% 67 3 Wom 30% 66 4

UpStat NYC Yes No DK/NA 29% 66 5 29% 69 2

18. When it comes to dealing with the legislative branch, do you think: President Obama should try to be more like Governor Cuomo or do you think Governor Cuomo should try to be more like President Obama? Tot Obama like Cuomo Cuomo like Obama DK/NA 53% 14 33 Rep 73% 8 19 Dem 44% 20 37 Sub 56% 17 27 Ind 57% 11 32 Union HsHlds 53% 12 35 Men 58% 15 28 Wom 49% 14 38

UpStat NYC Obama like Cuomo Cuomo like Obama DK/NA 55% 11 34 49% 16 35

19. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling the state budget? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 62% 25 13 Rep 59% 28 13 Dem 63% 21 16 Sub 62% 23 14 Ind 64% 26 10 Union HsHlds 62% 28 10 Men 63% 25 11 Wom 61% 24 15

UpStat NYC Approve Disapprove DK/NA 63% 27 10 60% 24 16

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling the state budget? Sep 20 2011 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 62 25 13 Aug 10 2011 59 29 11 Jun 01 2011 57 30 13 Apr 13 2011 57 29 14 Feb 23 2011 57 28 16

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20. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo handled the response to Tropical Storms Irene and Lee? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 86% 7 7 Rep 82% 11 7 Dem 88% 5 7 Sub 90% 5 5 Ind 88% 6 6 Union HsHlds 89% 5 6 Men 87% 6 6 Wom 85% 7 8

UpStat NYC Approve Disapprove DK/NA 82% 8 11 90% 6 4

26. Who do you think should draw the district lines by which members of the state legislature and Congress are elected - the state legislature or a commission that has no connection to the state legislature or an independent commission with some legislative input? Tot State legislature Commissn/No connect Commissn/legis input DK/NA 10% 50 27 13 Rep 9% 59 21 11 Dem 11% 45 28 15 Sub 10% 44 32 14 Ind 7% 54 32 7 Union HsHlds 10% 52 31 7 Men 11% 52 29 7 Wom 8% 48 26 18

UpStat NYC State legislature 7% Commissn/No connect 57 Commissn/legis input 25 DK/NA 11 12% 46 28 14

TREND: Who do you think should draw the district lines by which members of the state legislature and Congress are elected: The state legislature or a commission that has no connection to the state legislature or an independent commission with some legislative input? Sep 20 2011 State legislature Commissn/No connect Commissn/legis input DK/NA 10 50 27 13 Aug 11 2011 13 50 26 11

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27. Do you think Governor Cuomo should veto a redistricting plan that is not created by an independent commission or not? Tot Yes No DK/NA 47% 35 18 Rep 44% 32 24 Dem 49% 31 19 Sub 49% 31 20 Ind 49% 38 14 Union HsHlds 50% 35 15 Men 51% 37 11 Wom 43% 33 24

UpStat NYC Yes No DK/NA 51% 31 19 42% 41 16

TREND: Do you think Governor Cuomo should veto a redistricting plan that is not created by an independent commission or not? Sep 20 2011 Yes No DK/NA 47 35 18 Aug 11 2011 49 30 21

28. During the campaign, Andrew Cuomo and many legislators promised to follow former Mayor Koch's call for non-partisan re-districting. Do you think they will do it or not? Tot Yes No DK/NA 24% 55 20 Rep 18% 65 17 Dem 28% 48 23 Sub 23% 58 19 Ind 22% 57 20 Union HsHlds 22% 62 16 Men 26% 59 15 Wom 23% 52 25

UpStat NYC Yes No DK/NA 21% 61 18 29% 47 24

TREND: During the campaign, Andrew Cuomo and many legislators promised to follow former Mayor Koch's call for non-partisan re-districting. Do you think they will do it or not? Sep 20 2011 Yes No DK/NA 24 55 20 Jan 27 2011 34 49 17

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29. Would you feel betrayed if Governor Cuomo and the state legislature approved a redistricting plan developed by the legislature rather than an independent commission or not? Tot Yes No DK/NA 48% 36 17 Rep 45% 38 17 Dem 47% 35 18 Sub 44% 37 18 Ind 51% 35 14 Union HsHlds 49% 39 12 Men 49% 39 12 Wom 47% 32 21

UpStat NYC Yes No DK/NA 50% 35 15 48% 35 18

30. Do you think Andrew Cuomo should speak out more forcefully to convince the legislature to turn redistricting over to an independent commission or not? Tot Yes No DK/NA 70% 17 12 Rep 66% 19 15 Dem 69% 16 15 Sub 69% 18 12 Ind 76% 16 7 Union HsHlds 71% 21 9 Men 74% 18 8 Wom 66% 17 16

UpStat NYC Yes No DK/NA 73% 18 9 68% 16 16

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