Kennedy Popularity Sees Rapid Decline (PPP poll 1/5/09)

[Muttocracy]

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_NY_105.pdf

Caroline Kennedy’s popularity has taken a major hit as the result of her
public campaign to be appointed to Hillary Clinton’s Senate seat, the newest survey from
Public Policy Polling finds.

44% of the state’s voters now say they have a lesser opinion of Kennedy than they did
before she started vying for the position. 33% say it’s made no difference, and 23%
report now having a more favorable opinion of her. A plurality of Democrats,
Republicans, and independents all say that her efforts have caused them to view her less
favorably.

When it comes to whether they would prefer to see Kennedy or Andrew Cuomo
appointed, 58% now prefer Cuomo to 27% for Kennedy. Cuomo is favored by 65% of
Republicans, 59% of independents, and 54% of Democrats. A PPP survey conducted a
month ago showed Cuomo as the top choice for just 23% of Democrats, compared to
44% who wanted Kennedy.

“When Caroline Kennedy was first mentioned as a possible Senate appointee there was a
lot of enthusiasm among New York Democrats about her,” said Dean Debnam, President
of Public Policy Polling. “Her reputation has taken a pretty clear hit over the last month,
and if Governor Paterson does end up appointing her she’s going to have some work to
do to overcome this bad first impression she’s made on New York voters.”
57% of New Yorkers view Andrew Cuomo favorably with just 20% having an
unfavorable opinion of him. For Kennedy the numbers are 44% favorable and 40%
unfavorable.

PPP surveyed 700 New York voters on January 3rd and 4th. The survey’s margin of error
is +/-3.7%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce
additional error that is more difficult to quantify.

more results and crosstabs at the link
http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_NY_105.pdf

[Occam Bandage]

1. This is why it's important for unknowns to actually prove themselves in a campaign.

In the brief PR campaign she's been through, she's halved her support and seen Cuomo double his. Maybe those numbers will change again, maybe they won't. Either way a whirlwind PR tour isn't nearly as revealing of a candidate's strengths and weaknesses as a full campaign is; appointing her without having ever seen her mettle tested would be an unnecessary risk to both the Democratic party and the state of New York.

[4 t 4]

3. thanks to the dumb-fuck media

sheep can't research it themselves and fall for all the spewing they continue to spill. That is a giant part of it, no ?

[Muttocracy]

4. and this polling firm is still presenting it as a contest between Cuomo and Kennedy

without naming other candidates or even giving an "other" category for these folks: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4762282 .

[Occam Bandage]

10. The ignorance of the media is by now a given in politics.

Candidates who, like Obama and like Bush, manage to use the media to their advantage enjoy electoral success. Candidates who, like Kerry and like McCain, do not understand how to use the media to their advantage are forced to deal with failure.

[Muttocracy]

5. I'm sure the numbers will swing back and forth. nt

[NashVegas]

2. ... A Little Negative Publicity Never Hurt Anyone

Except maybe when it's ridicule. Uhright? Just ask Al "Earth tones" Gore.

[bottomtheweaver]

6. There was a similar poll here several weeks ago, and what do you know,

another poll conducted by Quinnipiac University published on Dec. 23 found completely different results:

New York State voters split 40 - 41 percent on whether Caroline Kennedy is qualified to be a U.S. Senator, but they expect by a 48 - 25 percent margin that Gov. David Paterson will name her to the Senate seat being vacated by Hillary Clinton, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

Offered a choice, 33 percent of voters say Gov. Paterson should name Ms. Kennedy, while 29 percent say Attorney General Andrew Cuomo should get the nod. Another 4 percent pick Albany-area U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, while 24 percent want someone else and 10 percent are undecided, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.

Kennedy leads Cuomo 42 - 27 percent among New York City voters and ties Cuomo 30 - 30 percent among suburban voters, while Cuomo leads 31 - 27 percent among upstate voters. Men back Kennedy over Cuomo 32 - 27 percent while women back her 33 - 31 percent.

http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1318.xml?ReleaseID=1244

So, this poll is but more dust in the wind.

[Muttocracy]

8. this firm also polled last month; the Q. poll was before the y'know interviews. nt

[Muttocracy]

9. here's the link and data for their 12/9 poll

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_NY_1209.pdf

Caroline Kennedy is the most popular pick with New York Democrats
as Hillary Clinton’s replacement in the Senate, the newest survey from Public Policy
Polling finds.

44% say she’s their top choice, with another 24% saying she’s their second choice from a
list of potential candidates. The only other potential appointee to break double figures is
Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who was the top pick for 23% of respondents and the
second with 35%. The other six candidates polled, including four members of Congress
and two prominent local government officials, were the favored choice with anywhere
from 3 to 6% of those surveyed.

Kennedy and Cuomo are each very popular with New York Democrats. Kennedy is
viewed favorably by 75% and unfavorably by just 11%. Cuomo has a 76% approval
rating in his work as Attorney General with just 9% unhappy with his job performance.
“It’s clear that Caroline Kennedy and Andrew Cuomo are the only candidates under
serious consideration who have much name recognition,” said Dean Debnam, President
of Public Policy Polling. “The good news for David Paterson is that both of them are
very popular with the Democratic base, and he couldn’t really go wrong by appointing
either of them.”

One other piece of good news for the Governor is that he has a more than 7:1 approval to
disapproval rating with Democrats in the state, at 68-9. Any thought that he would need
to appoint Cuomo to avoid a primary challenge in 2010 seems far fetched given his high
level of popularity within the party.

PPP surveyed 957 New York Democrats on December 8th and 9th. The survey’s margin
of error is +/-3.2%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may
introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.

[bottomtheweaver]

11. It was a Dec. 17 "Siena College" poll posted by, surprise, you:

"A Siena College poll found that 26 percent of voters said state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo should be the pick, while 23 percent said Caroline Kennedy."

Article on poll: http://www.democratandchronicle.com/blogs/political/2008/12/voters-divided-over-senate-pick.html

Your thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4672892

My, how fast you are to post bad polls on Caroline.

[Muttocracy]

14. I read about it on TPM's site - feel free to blame them too

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/

[natrat]

7. i lost her after she hired lieberman handlers and when reid endorsed her

[blue_onyx]

12. Although she does deserve some points

for coming out in support of gay marriage (not something most Dems would do).

[cbc5g]

13. She's perfect for the seat. She replaces someone who got there with her last name as well.

But hey, at least Clinton campaigned for it. I know Kennedy is a progressive, but before supporting her I want to know if she actually will FIGHT for progressive reform.