New York gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, leads Republican Carl Paladino by 24 points in a poll of likely voters by the Siena Research Institute.

About six of 10 voters had a negative view of Paladino and agreed that he is “a loose cannon, who doesn’t have the temperament to be governor,” according to the survey. The poll was conducted Oct. 3-4, after Paladino accused Cuomo of marital infidelity and was involved in a shouting match with a reporter who asked for proof of the charge.

Cuomo was supported by 56 percent of voters, with 32 percent backing Paladino. In a Siena poll of registered voters released last month, Cuomo led by 33 points. Since then Conservative Party candidate Rick Lazio abandoned the race and that party switched its endorsement to Paladino.

“Cuomo continues to enjoy a very strong favorability rating,” said Steven Greenberg, pollster for the Siena Research Institute in Loudonville, New York, in a statement. “While Paladino has quickly become very well-known among New York voters, it is not in a good way.”

Cuomo is viewed favorably by 56 percent of voters and unfavorably by 37 percent. Paladino is viewed favorably by 30 percent and unfavorably by 59 percent, according to the survey.

Paladino, 64, a Buffalo real estate developer and supporter of the Tea Party movement, has promised to cut state spending by 20 percent and taxes by 10 percent. A self-described political outsider, he attempts to contrast himself with Cuomo, 52, the state’s attorney general and a son and adviser to former Governor Mario Cuomo. He is also a former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Cuomo also says the state needs spending cuts, though he hasn’t said how much. Both candidates support the idea of a state law capping increases in local government property taxes.

About 55 percent of voters agreed that Cuomo’s government experience “is what we need in order to move New York towards fiscal health,” according to the survey. About 45 percent agreed that Paladino’s business experience is what the state needs.

New York, which faces an $8.2 billion budget deficit next year, has the highest combined state and local taxes in the U.S. after Alaska, according to state budget documents.

Cuomo’s strongest support was in New York City, where 70 percent of voters backed him and 17 percent favored Paladino. Upstate voters were more evenly divided with 45 percent for Cuomo and 43 percent for Paladino.

The telephone survey of 636 likely registered voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.

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(Source: Bloomberg Business Week)