Support for N.Y. governor wanes after gun law

Joseph Spector, Gannett Albany Bureau | USATODAY

ALBANY, N.Y. — Support for the re-election of New York's governor has eroded in the past four months, a Siena College poll found.

The poll released Monday found that 52% of voters outside the New York City metro area "prefer someone else" to the Democratic governor in 2014 when he will seek re-election; 42% selected him. Cuomo has faced backlash over a gun-control law enacted in January, mainly from upstate voters.

The drop is precipitous. Cuomo's re-election support in December among upstate voters was 57% in favor vs. 34% unfavorable. It was 47% for "someone else" to 45% for Cuomo last month, said Steven Greenberg, a Siena College pollster.

Greenberg said the results are indicative of Cuomo's falling popularity although the numbers have been most striking upstate.

"Four small drops in a row suddenly becomes a significant drop. And that's what we've seen with the governor on his favorable-unfavorable, his job performance and his re-elect," Greenberg said. "All three of those measures have come down month by month by month."

Cuomo had a 62% to 33% favorability rating statewide, the poll found, down from 72% to 21% in December. The poll was conducted April 14 to 18 among 811 voters registered in New York state. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.

His numbers are strongest in New York City, dominated by Democratic voters. Voters in the city said they would support Cuomo's re-election 65% to 29%, compared with 53% to 40% in the downstate suburbs.

Gun-rights groups have had three protests at the Capitol in opposition to the law, and some police organizations have questioned it.

"I think there's no question that the gun issue eroded considerable support that the governor previously enjoyed among Republicans and among upstate voters," Greenberg said.

No Republican candidates have come forward to challenge Cuomo, who was elected in 2010.

Cuomo would be a formidable foe: He had more than $22 million in his campaign coffers as of January, and New York has twice as many enrolled Democrats as Republicans.

Cuomo has praised lawmakers for supporting the gun-control law enacted Jan. 15. He has criticized Congress for failing to reach a deal on federal gun-control legislation.