FOR RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 21, 2011 UPSTATE NEW YORK VOTERS DIVIDED ON GAS DRILLING, QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL

FINDS; VOTERS STATEWIDE SUPPORT VEGAS-STYLE CASINOS While New York State voters support by a thin 45 - 41 percent margin drilling fo r natural gas in the Marcellus Shale because they think economic benefits outwei gh the environmental concerns, upstate voters are divided, with 47 percent oppos ed because they are more worried about the environment and 43 percent in support , according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. New York City voters split on drilling 41 - 41 percent and suburban vote rs support drilling 56 - 31 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Support is 69 - 20 percent among Republicans and 47 - 4 2 percent among independent voters while Democrats are opposed 52 - 35 percent. There is a gender gap as men support drilling 52 - 39 percent while women are op posed 44 - 39 percent. Tax the companies that drill for natural gas, New York State voters say 51 - 36 percent. By a strong 74 - 19 percent, New Yorkers believe drilling will create jobs. Supp ort among upstate, New York City and suburban voters is similar. But voters believe 51 - 13 percent, with 35 percent who don't know, that hydro-f racking will damage the environment. There is strong concern about the environm ent, 54 - 16 percent, among upstate voters. "Would hydro-fracking produce jobs? Overwhelmingly voters say yes. Wo uld it damage the environment? Another yes - but less emphatically," said Mauri ce Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Upstate voters, who have the most to gain in terms of jobs and the most to lose in terms of the environment, oppose natural gas drilling, while suburba n voters support it." -moreQuinnipiac University Poll/September 21, 2011 - page 2 New York State voters support 56 - 37 percent the creation of casinos "s imilar to those in Atlantic City and Las Vegas." Support is 56 - 37 percent in New York City, 58 - 36 percent in the suburbs and 54 - 37 percent upstate. All groups support casinos with the strongest support, 61 - 32 percent, among voters with a union member in the household. Casinos would be good for the economy, voters say 64 - 31 percent, with all groups agreeing. By a similar 63 - 33 percent, voters say casinos will lead to an increas e in gambling addiction, also with agreement among all groups. "Roll the dice. Spin the wheel. Hit me. New Yorkers of every stripe s ay what stays in Vegas should stay in the Empire State as well," Carroll said. "Casinos would be good for the economy, voters think, but they also think there' d be an increase in gambling addiction." From September 13 - 18, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,016 registered voters w ith 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 pu blic 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.

21. Some people say there should be drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Sh ale because of the economic benefits. Others say there should not be drilling fo r natural gas in the Marcellus Shale because of the environmental impact. Which comes closer to your point of view? Tot Drilling No drilling DK/NA 45% 41 13 Rep 69% 20 12 Dem 35% 52 13 Sub 56% 31 13 Ind 47% 42 11 Union HsHlds 48% 41 11 Men 52% 39 9 Wom 39% 44 17

UpStat NYC Drilling No drilling DK/NA 43% 47 10 41% 41 18

TREND: Some people say there should be drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale because of the economic benefits. Others say there should not be drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale because of the environmental impact. Wh ich comes closer to your point of view? Sep 21 Aug 11 2011 2011 Drilling No drilling DK/NA 45 41 13 47 42 12

22. Do you support or oppose a new tax on companies drilling for natural gas in the state's Marcellus Shale? Tot Support Oppose DK/NA 51% 36 12 Rep 35% 52 13 Dem 61% 28 11 Sub Ind 55% 32 12 Union HsHlds Men 52% 40 8 Wom 51% 33 16

UpStat NYC

Support Oppose DK/NA

49% 39 12

54% 32 14

52% 38 11

55% 34 12

TREND: Do you support or oppose a new tax on companies drilling for natural gas in the state's Marcellus Shale? Sep 21 Aug 11 2011 2011 Support Oppose DK/NA 51 36 12 59 29 12

23. Do you think that drilling for natural gas in the state's Marcellus Shale wi ll create jobs or not? Tot Yes No DK/NA 74% 19 7 Rep 86% 8 6 Dem 71% 22 8 Sub 77% 15 8 Ind 74% 19 7 Union HsHlds 74% 19 7 Men 78% 17 5 Wom 70% 21 9

UpStat NYC Yes No DK/NA 75% 20 5 71% 20 9

TREND: Do you think that drilling for natural gas in the state's Marcellus Shale will create jobs or not? Sep 21 Aug 11 2011 2011 Yes No DK/NA 74 19 7 75 17 8

24. Have you heard or read anything about hydro-fracking? Tot Yes No DK/NA 53% 46 1 Rep 57% 43 1 Dem 45% 54 1 Sub 45% Ind 61% 38 1 Union HsHlds 56% Men 61% 38 1 Wom 45% 54 1

UpStat NYC Yes 73% 35%

No DK/NA

25 1

64 1

55 1

43 1

TREND: Have you heard or read anything about hydro-fracking? Sep 21 Aug 11 2011 2011 Yes No DK/NA 53 46 1 57 42 1

25. Natural gas drilling companies want to practice hydro-fracking in New York S tate. Hydro-fracking is the process of pumping water and chemicals into the gro und under high pressure to fracture rocks. This releases natural gas trapped in the rocks which is then collected. Do you think hydro-fracking will cause envir onmental damage or not, or don't you know? Tot Yes/Will damage No/Won't Damage Don't Know REFUSED 51% 13 35 Rep 33% 26 39 1 Dem 65% 5 30 Sub 40% 15 45 Ind 47% 15 38 1 Union HsHlds 49% 16 34 Men 45% 18 36 Wom 56% 8 35 HEARD Q24 Yes No 55 19 25 47 6 47 -

UpStat NYC Yes/Will damage No/Won't Damage Don't Know REFUSED 54% 16 29 54% 9 37 -

TREND: Natural gas drilling companies want to practice hydro-fracking in New Yor k State. Hydro-fracking is the process of pumping water and chemicals into the g round under high pressure to fracture rocks. This releases natural gas trapped i n the rocks which is then collected. Do you think hydro-fracking will cause envi ronmental damage or not, or don't you know? Sep 21 Aug 11 2011 2011 Yes/Will damage No/Won't Damage Don't Know REFUSED 51 13 35 52 15 33 -

31. Do you support or oppose the creation of non-indian casinos in New York Stat e, similar to those in Atlantic City and Las Vegas? Tot Support Oppose DK/NA 56% 37 7 Rep 60% 35 5 Dem 52% 42 6 Sub 58% 36 6 Ind 61% 33 6 Union HsHlds 61% 32 7 Men 60% 35 6 Wom 52% 39 8

UpStat NYC Support Oppose DK/NA 54% 37 8 56% 37 6

32. Do you think the creation of these casinos would be good for the economy or not? Tot Yes No DK/NA 64% 31 5 Rep 67% 28 5 Dem 61% 34 5 Sub 63% 33 4 Ind 69% 27 5 Union HsHlds 71% 25 4 Men 66% 30 4 Wom 62% 32 6

UpStat NYC Yes No DK/NA 62% 32 6 67% 28 5

33. Do you think the creation of these casinos would lead to an increase in gamb ling addiction or not? Tot Yes No DK/NA 63% 33 4 Rep 57% 37 6 Dem 66% 30 4 Sub 57% 37 6 Ind 62% 35 2 Union HsHlds 57% 39 4 Men 65% 31 3 Wom 61% 35 4

UpStat NYC Yes No DK/NA 67% 30 3 62% 34 3

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