A stunning final poll from the respected Siena College Polling Institute released today has the once-frontrunner Democratic Senator Eric Schniederman tied with Republican District Attorney Dan Donovan in the race for New York State Attorney General at 44 points apiece.
Considering the commanding lead that Schneiderman once held, this is a stunning reversal of fortune for Schneiderman who has been associated with several controversial scandals including the investigation into how a gambling vendor was chosen by Senate leaders as well as Schniederman’s promise to give Al Shaprton office space in his attorney general’s office and the controversy surrounding Schneiderman’s accepting over $100,000 attributed to anti-Israel billionaire George Soros.
The Staten Island Advance reports:
With polls showing him hot on the heels of Democratic rival Eric Schneiderman, Donovan is riding a wave of good political fortune in the final days of his campaign for attorney general.
Schneiderman, a state senator from Manhattan, has been put on the defensive after revelations that he took advantage of a tax loophole that allowed him to deduct nearly 36 percent of his income. Days before, an inspector general’s report accused some of Schneiderman’s Senate colleagues of rigging a $300 million bid for the Aqueduct Race Track “racino” project.
“This gives Dan tremendous momentum heading into the final days, and momentum is key is a down-ballot race like this,” said Manhattan GOP consultant Bill O’Reilly.
But with voters railing against Albany dysfunction, Donovan supporters like Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former GOP Gov. George Pataki said that Schneiderman is incapable of fighting corruption because he is compromised by relationships with his Senate allies.
The comments buttressed a cornerstone of Donovan’s anti-corruption campaign and could give Donovan a boost at the polls.
“The news cycle has favored Dan in terms of events,” said a Donovan insider. “It’s reinforced the fact that Schneiderman is part of this leadership.”
Another Donovan supporter called the racino report an “October surprise” that could help Donovan finish fast in the next two days.
“If Dan can carry this through until Tuesday, he can win this thing,” said O’Reilly.
The new revelations have also led to a re-airing of the hit-and-run accident involving Schneiderman and an Island woman that called his fitness for a law-enforcement job into question.
All of which should make for a very high-octane final act to a race that where battles over abortion, fund-raising and alleged ethical lapses have already given off plentiful sparks.
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5 Responses
Let’s hope this trend continues.
Go Donovan! Go Donovan!
Mebbe schneiderman get too much hep from the reverend al shapton. Sho’ nuff.
His campaign started to go downhill when Schneiderman promised to give Sharpton an office next to his office and considered him a senior advisor.
Vote for Donovan. The SANE candidate.
VOTE Republican and get the government out of our lives.
They are telling you what to think, what to eat, where to live enough is enough. Beside who wants al shapton with the attorney general. He is a ruck macher
Good luck Donovan! Schneiderman for the post of Attorney General? With all the scandals? Makes no sense. And Scneiderman is considered the most left-wing candidate. As a suburban resident I’m not sure Donovan will appear on my ballot but if he does, I’d be GRATEFUL to vote for anyone but Schneiderman.