ALBANY - New Yorkers want Gov. Eliot Spitzer to “be more forthright” about the scandal that has stalled state government for months, but they still like the job he's doing and figure he's the best bet to straighten out the state, a poll released Tuesday found.
The scandal appears to have brought the Democrat to his lowest favorable rating - 56 percent - since April 2005, when he was attorney general. His job performance as governor was rated excellent or good by 44 percent of those polled, down from 55 percent before the scandal hit in early July, and down from 58 percent in February.
“Voters would much rather the governor and the Legislature focus on issues that matter in their lives,” said Steven Greenberg of the Siena Research Institute, which released the poll. “The public does not view this issue the same way political insiders do.”
The issue that has stopped even closed-door negotiations on a range of pending issues involves a scheme by two Spitzer aides to discredit Republican Senate leader Joseph Bruno. Democratic Attorney General Andrew Cuomo found the aides acted improperly when they had state police compile records on Bruno's use of state aircraft and a state police driver on days he met with lobbyists on state business in Manhattan, then attended Republican fundraisers at night.
Spitzer immediately apologized to Bruno, said he didn't know of the plot, and disciplined the aides.
Bruno called it political espionage and has scheduled a series of Senate hearings to recommend legislative changes and determine how high knowledge of the plot went in the Spitzer administration.
The state Ethics Committee has since restricted the use of state aircraft. The commission and the Albany County District Attorney's Office continue to investigate.
“Two-thirds say, ‘Yeah, it's important, but can you get to work on the other issues that are more important?”' Greenberg said.
“These numbers speak to the governor's steady public approval and are telling in the public's intense desire for government to remain focused on important issues that affect New Yorkers,” said Spitzer spokeswoman Christine Anderson.
But those polled also want Spitzer to answer all questions about the scandal, which he has promised to do.
The poll findings include:
€ 53 percent believe Spitzer knew what his aides were doing in the scandal, about the same as in a July Siena poll.
€ 59 percent said Spitzer “needs to be more forthright” about the scandal. That includes 52 percent of Democrats.
€ 70 percent want Spitzer to “publicly testify under oath about everything he knows” about the scandal.
€ But just 12 percent said getting to the bottom of the scandal was “extremely important ... it should be a top state government priority.” Another 66 percent felt it was important, but “state government should concentrate on other issues that affect New Yorkers.”
Bruno spokesman Mark Hansen underscored that the public wants Spitzer “to be honest with them about what he knew and when he knew it by publicly testifying under oath.”
Bruno and Spitzer were at separate economic development events in western New York on Tuesday.
Siena questioned 604 registered voters by telephone from Sept. 10-16.
The poll has a margin of error of 4 percentage points.
“Voters would much rather the governor and the Legislature focus on issues that matter in their lives,” said Steven Greenberg of the Siena Research Institute, which released the poll. “The public does not view this issue the same way political insiders do.”
The issue that has stopped even closed-door negotiations on a range of pending issues involves a scheme by two Spitzer aides to discredit Republican Senate leader Joseph Bruno. Democratic Attorney General Andrew Cuomo found the aides acted improperly when they had state police compile records on Bruno's use of state aircraft and a state police driver on days he met with lobbyists on state business in Manhattan, then attended Republican fundraisers at night.
Spitzer immediately apologized to Bruno, said he didn't know of the plot, and disciplined the aides.
Bruno called it political espionage and has scheduled a series of Senate hearings to recommend legislative changes and determine how high knowledge of the plot went in the Spitzer administration.
The state Ethics Committee has since restricted the use of state aircraft. The commission and the Albany County District Attorney's Office continue to investigate.
“Two-thirds say, ‘Yeah, it's important, but can you get to work on the other issues that are more important?”' Greenberg said.
“These numbers speak to the governor's steady public approval and are telling in the public's intense desire for government to remain focused on important issues that affect New Yorkers,” said Spitzer spokeswoman Christine Anderson.
But those polled also want Spitzer to answer all questions about the scandal, which he has promised to do.
The poll findings include:
€ 53 percent believe Spitzer knew what his aides were doing in the scandal, about the same as in a July Siena poll.
€ 59 percent said Spitzer “needs to be more forthright” about the scandal. That includes 52 percent of Democrats.
€ 70 percent want Spitzer to “publicly testify under oath about everything he knows” about the scandal.
€ But just 12 percent said getting to the bottom of the scandal was “extremely important ... it should be a top state government priority.” Another 66 percent felt it was important, but “state government should concentrate on other issues that affect New Yorkers.”
Bruno spokesman Mark Hansen underscored that the public wants Spitzer “to be honest with them about what he knew and when he knew it by publicly testifying under oath.”
Bruno and Spitzer were at separate economic development events in western New York on Tuesday.
Siena questioned 604 registered voters by telephone from Sept. 10-16.
The poll has a margin of error of 4 percentage points.
