NYers: Pols Are in It For Themselves

New Yorkers overwhelmingly think that most state legislators “do what’s best for them[selves] and their political friends, and it never surprised me when another one gets indicted,” a Siena College poll of likely voters found.

Some 65 percent think that way, while only 28 percent believe “most legislators are honest, hardworking and do what’s best for their constituents.” The other seven percent don’t know.

Still, 49 percent would re-elect their own state senator, while 35 percent would prefer someone else. And 41 percent would re-elect their current Assembly member, while 37 percent want someone different.

Siena’s Steven Greenberg calls the voter criticism of the legislators as a group “a rhetorical indictment.”

In Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s race for reelection, voters show the Democrat continuing his vast lead over Republican challenger Rob Astorino, who still remains largely unknown statewide. About 60 percent would vote now for Cuomo and 23 percent for Astorino, the Westchester County executive.

“With a little more than a hundred days until voters go to the polls, Astorino has a gigantic hole to climb out of to even make the race for governor competitive,” Greenberg said.

Cuomo currently has the support of 80 percent of Democrats, 56 percent of independents and even 32 percent of Republicans.

This article appeared in print on page 8 of the July 22nd, 2014 edition of Hamodia.