By Hank Russell
A new poll shows Nassau County Executive and GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman trailing Governor Kathy Hochul by only 10 percentage points among likely voters.
According to the Siena Research Institute, which conducted the poll between August 3 and August 6, forty-nine percent of likely voters polled last month said they would vote for Hochul, while 39% said they would place their vote for Blakeman. The last poll had Hochul up 53%-33%. (This poll is a change from the previous polls, which used registered voters as respondents.)
Despite the lead, Hochul’s favorability ratings are underwater. She currently holds a 46% favorability rating, while 49% do not; 5% don’t know or have no opinion. As for Blakeman, while he has an edge in his favorability rating (33%-26%), four in 10 people do not know or have no opinion of him.
Hochul was also underwater in her job approval ratings, albeit slightly, with 48% saying they “strongly” or “somewhat” approve of the job she’s doing, while 49% “strongly” or “somewhat” disapprove, according to the poll.
When asked if either candidate is in touch with average New Yorkers, 39% said Hochul is, while 51% said she is not. Forty percent said Blakeman is out of touch, while 36% said otherwise. Additionally, only 42% thought she was “honest,” compared to 44% who didn’t. However, she received positive responses on being “tough” (44%-42%) and the ability to “get things done” (46%-41%).
Blakeman was also seen more favorably as being “honest” (37%-32%), “tough” (47%-22%) and “get[ting] things done” (37%-29%).
Regarding the state’s outlook, 43% said New York State is headed in the right direction, while 47% did not agree. Based on party lines, two-thirds (67%) of registered Democratic voters had a positive outlook on where the state is going, while almost nine in 10 (86%) registered Republicans and 55% of those registered as independents or with a third party did not. In addition, 48% said New York’s best years are ahead of us, while 35% said they are behind us.
Political consultant John Zaher of The Public Relations and Marketing Group said the poll results are not that bad for Blakeman. “Bruce Blakeman should be encouraged by this poll, which shows he has narrowed Governor Hochul’s lead substantially,” he said. “While this is expected as high-profile campaigns get closer to Election Day, Hochul has fallen below the 50% threshold, a dangerous number for a well-known governor as undecided voters tend to go towards challengers on Election Day.”
Blakeman, meanwhile, disputed the results of the poll.
“All of the polls we have seen in the last two months have us virtually tied with Kathy Hochul,” Blakeman said. “This poll is always off and continues to be off. We know and she knows this race is neck and neck. Kathy Hochul is desperate for people to believe that she is way ahead when she knows that her high taxes, soaring electric bills, and increased crime have made her the worst governor in America.”
* Disclaimer: John Zaher is co-publisher of Long Island Life & Politics.