Pataki rating dips below 50% in poll

Albany Times Union, June 11, 1997

ALBANY -- The approval rating of Gov. George Pataki, embroiled in a battle over the state's rent laws and still without a new state budget, is again below 50 percent, an independent poll reported Tuesday.

The statewide poll, by Utica-area pollster John Zogby, had Pataki's job approval rating at 47 percent, down from 50 percent in a March poll by Zogby.

Pataki spokeswoman Zenia Mucha noted that, given the poll's margin of error, plus or minus 4 percentage points, the numbers were statistically unchanged from March. That was Pataki's highest in a Zogby poll.

Pataki scored above four Democrats. Against former Gov. Mario Cuomo, Pataki was up 43 to 39 percent. Against state Comptroller H. Carl McCall, Pataki led, 42-28. Pataki bested state Assembly Majority Leader Michael Bragman, 41-21, and former state Transportation Commissioner James Larocca, 43-19.