New York – A stunning new poll out today shows controversial mega-millionaire Buffalo builder Carl Paladino has caught up with former Long Island U.S. Rep. Rick Lazio and could beat him in Tuesday’s GOP primary for governor.
The Siena College Research Institute survey found the hard-charging Paladino, who has vowed to turn state government “upside down,’’ trailing Lazio by just one percentage point, 42-43 percent, among likely GOP voters, a dramatic change from a Siena poll last month that showed Paladino trailing Lazio, 43-30 percent.
The cash-challenged Lazio, who has made opposition to the controversial Ground Zero Islamic center a centerpiece of his campaign and is backed by such GOP establishment figures as former Mayor Giuliani and former Gov. Pataki, has repeatedly refused to debate Paladino, or even utter his name.
Paladino, a political neophyte, has aggressively courted Tea Party activists and has waged a $2 million outsider campaign built around the famous line, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore,’’ taken from the movie “Network.’‘
“A heavier than normal Republican turnout upstate will likely hand the nomination to Paladino, who leads upstate 53-32 percent, while a heavier than normal downstate suburban turnout will likely make Lazio the Republican nominee, as he leads there 55-30 percent,’’ said Siena pollster Steve Greenberg.
“Lazio also leads 53-33 percent in New York City, which traditionally produces a smaller vote than any region in a Republican primary,” Greenberg continued.
The winner of Tuesday’s primary will face Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, in the Nov. 2 elections.
Meanwhile, a second Siena poll of likely Democratic voters found Manhattan Sen. Eric Schneiderman with a small, 25-23 percent, lead over Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice in the five-way Democratic primary battle for attorney general.
Wall St. lawyer and former Naval officer Sean Coffey was a distant third at 13 percent followed by Westchester Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, seven percent, and onetime Eliot Spitzer aide and state Insurance Supt. Eric Dinallo, four percent.
A large 29 percent of Democrats said they still didn’t know whom they would support.
The poll found Schneiderman holding a 38-19 percent lead over Rice in New York City, with all three other candidates with just single digit support.
Rice was ahead of Schneiderman with a similar, 35-18 percent, lead in the suburbs while upstate Coffey led Rice, 22-20 percent, with the other candidates in single digits – and Schneiderman finishing last with just four percent.
Schneiderman, the most liberal candidate in the race, led Rice among Jewish voters by 22 percent.
Rice, who had been expected to benefit from a strong women’s vote, was tied, 24-24 percent, among female Democrats while Schneiderman led among men, 26-20 percent.
The winner of the Democratic primary will face Staten Island District Attorney Dan Donovan, the GOP attorney general candidate, in November.
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(Source: NY Post)
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4 Responses
Unless the Republicans get their act together, they will give the Democrats an easy win in November. Heck, for United States Senate (which perhaps means control of the Congress), the Republicans aren’t making a serious effort.
In virtually every other state, the Republicans are taking the election seriously.
Akuperma, I hope that the Republicans don’t take over full control of congress. I wish for a landslide in the house and a gridlock senate. In 1994, the GOP won congress and made Clinton victorious in 1994. Gingrich got Clinton to govern to the center and gave us prosperous years.
Do you believe in the one man one vote form of government?
Mr Breslin (as do so many others in the Senate live in the house for free(That would be their Law firm, their sponsor)) well not exactly for free but they have a sponsor and that sponsorship is worth far in excess of what a single contributor could give via the election laws.
If this were college football, the free car (ride) would ban University of Hiscoc & BARCLAY (and others) from the game!
Unlike an unsponsored individual, a candidate that is sponsored always has money in his/her pocket and time to donate to local candidates and civic activities. With this edge they are able to rapidly gain political momentum and before you know it a newcomer such as SD-59, Jim Domagalski of Hiscoc & BARCLAY is upon stepping down from being Erie County Republican Chairman has their endorsement and Walla, Hiscoc & BARCLAY have another NYS Senator, joining Assemblyman William Barclay and SD-46 Neil Breslin.
Perhaps the only reason there are ONLY 20 attorneys in the NYS Senate is that there just are not enough attorneys willing to step into the political arena!
This isn’t exclusive at all to Hiscock & BARCLAY, current AG candidate Eric Schneiderman has been living under the roof of even larger 1900 Multi-national K & L Gates.
I’m convinced K & L Gates & the Barclay’s don’t believe in the one man one vote system of government and am voting for Kathleen Rice for AG & Luke Martland SD-46!
Either Republican candidate would be a dsiaster. Paladino would give Cuomo a double digit victory, and Lazio is not much stronger.
Considering the merits of both candidates, None of the Above appears to be the best choice.