(CNN) - More bad news for New York Gov. David Paterson: in a new poll, the governor's approval rating plummeted 20 points in a month.
Just 26 percent of the state’s registered voters questioned in a Marist poll released Tuesday say they approve of Paterson’s job performance - the lowest approval rating a New York state governor has received in the poll’s 30-year history, and a sharp decline from the governor’s January showing.
Fifty-three percent of those polled said they would vote for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani if the 2010 vote for governor were held today, while 38 percent said they would back Paterson.
Paterson is losing ground against the former Republican presidential candidate – the two were in a statistical standoff in January's poll, and in November's poll the governor maintained a 51 percent to 41 percent lead.
The sitting governor does fare better than former congressman Rick Lazio. Forty-seven percent would support Paterson in a run against Lazio, while 35 percent would back the congressman. Eighteen percent are undecided.
The state’s financial woes appear to be the reason for Paterson’s sinking approval ratings: Nearly six in 10 of those surveyed say they are dissatisfied with how Paterson is managing New York's budget. Only 30 percent approve of how the governor is handling the state’s financial affairs.
And how do the voters feel about the direction New York is heading? Not great. Sixty-five percent are not happy with the trajectory of the Empire State, with just 27 percent reporting that the state is moving along the right path.
But there may be a silver lining for Paterson: 77 percent of those surveyed think the governor is working hard, and 62 percent believe he understands the problems of voters. Fourty-four percent think Paterson's a good leader.
The Marist poll was conducted February 25-26, with 1,045 New York state registered voters questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
Ah – the day to day trials and tribulations of political folks. No wonder ethical people stay away.
He never saw it coming.
He blew it with his handling of the Caroline Kennedy thing...
...he deserves to go...
that's ok, he never intended to be governor
Since CNN won't tell you, I will:
The man suspected of killing Chandra Levy, Ingmar Guandique, is in this country ILLEGALLY!
After the ICE raid in Washington state last week, HUNDREDS of American citizens lines up for the jobs that had been vacated.
Our director of Homeland Security is investigating ICE for enforcing the law and conducting the raid.
What happened to my country and my free press that is supposed to be the watchdog of my government?!
Forget about it this guy's finished.
Patterson is one of the worst governors ever. a total epic fail. I would trade him for Blago any day.
I wonder if Patterson can see the writing on the wall??
Oops!!
Nationally, he lost a lost of credibility with the Kennedy flip-flop/fiasco.
Nationally, he lost a lot of credibility with the Kennedy flip-flop/fiasco.
I live in New York and I certainly will NOT vote for that idiot. He is a deep embarrassment to all new yorkers.
He caved in when it came to appointing Caroline Kennedy to Hillary's Senate seat. He "(P)unked Out". Now he's FINISHED in New York.
I swear to god he looks like Mel Brooks in Blazing Saddles...does he have a coat that says GOV on back?
Cuomo is the one!
Gee, this reminds me of another democrat politician that was recently elected and has been a total failure.
governor Pattersons biggest problem is the overwhelming media campaign against him. You cannot turn on any thing electronic without seeing an ad against the governor.
what he needs to do is get out and explain, explain , explain his agenda in terms we understand to gain support
New York is already willing to go Republican. Way to go NY.
Another patsy bites the dust.
Does this man ever clean up? Shave, perhaps. Geez, he looks so bad, hardly presentable, and as governor, the State should be ashamed of him.
Let us hope we don't get Giuliani, that is all I ask New Yorkers!!!!!
Go Paterson!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PATERSON IS DONE LIKE DINNER. HE'S A LOST MAN SINCE THE KENNEDY FIASCO.
Poor guy was just a puppet.
Can I comment on my own state CNN?
Neither of these choices are good for NY, maybe NYC but it is the rest of us who have to support the city with our taxes. The citizens upstate are hoping for an upstate candidate.
wow- a democrat in office telling his constituents they need to tighten thier belts because the massive spending and welfare programs have bankrupt this state?
i know- he's terrible....
time to take responsibility for your own actions- even though you'll be taxed to pay for those who are irresponsible.