Andrew Cuomo vs. Cynthia Nixon: New poll, same results

ALBANY - Gov. Andrew Cuomo continues to hold a large lead over his Democratic foe Cynthia Nixon with about six weeks until primary day.

Cuomo held a 60 percent to 29 percent lead over Nixon among likely Democratic primary voters, a Siena College Institute poll released Tuesday found.

Cuomo had a 67 percent to 29 percent favorability rating, compared to Nixon’s 43 percent to 30 percent rating, the poll said.

The primary is Thursday, Sept. 13.

“Andrew Cuomo, viewed favorably by two-thirds of Democratic voters, has a commanding 31-point lead over Cynthia Nixon, who’s viewed favorably by a plurality of Democrats, with one-quarter not knowing enough about her to have an opinion,”  Siena College poll spokesman Steven Greenberg said in a statement.

Nixon, an actress and star of HBO's Sex and the City, has yet to close ground against Cuomo, who is seeking a third term, polls have shown.

Holding a lead

A Quinnipiac University poll earlier this month showed him with a 59 percent to 23 percent lead among registered Democratic voters.

This Siena poll narrowed the survey to just likely primary voters, and Cuomo was still well ahead.

Cuomo's administration has faced scandals involving his top aides. Top state officials Joseph Percoco and Alain Kaloyeros were both convicted in separate corruption schemes this year.

But among various demographics, Cuomo was comfortably ahead of Nixon, who is making her first run for office.

“Liberal Democrats are strongly with Cuomo, while moderates are overwhelmingly with Cuomo," Greenberg said.

"Nixon trails among men by 26 points and an even larger 34 points with women. Cuomo has the support of three-quarters of black Democrats and two-thirds of Latinos.”

Nixon spokeswoman Lauren Hitt said the poll shows improvement for Nixon.

"It showed Cynthia gained 10 points from Siena’s first poll in March, while the governor is down 6 points from that time," she said.

"This gain occurred despite the fact that the governor has spent over $5 million to date, and despite the fact that just 33 percent of the poll’s sample was under 55," she continued. 

"In the 2016 primary election, 42 percent of New York voters were under 45, and recent elections have shown the portion of the electorate is growing."

Cuomo said the poll hopefully shows people are pleased with his record over the past eight years, which he said includes passing same-sex marriage in 2011, increasing the minimum wage and enacting paid-family leave.

"So I’m doing my job. I hope the people of the state appreciate it," Cuomo told reporters in Queens. "To the extent, the poll says they do, that’s good news."

Other races

Four Democrats are vying to win the party's nomination for attorney general -- a seat vacated in May by Eric Schneiderman, who resigned in disgrace.

The Siena poll showed New York City Public Advocate Letitia James with support among 25 percent of likely voters, compared to 16 percent for Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-Cold Spring, Putnam County; 13 percent for Zephyr Teachout; and four percent for Leecia Eve.

Forty-two percent of likely voters said they were undecided.

In the race for lieutenant governor, current Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul led New York City Councilman Jumaane Williams 30 percent to 21 percent, the Siena poll said.

The poll was conducted July 22-26 to 630 likely Democratic primary voters in New York. It had a margin of error of 3.9 percentage points.

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