New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is kicking off his 2014 re-election bid with a healthy favorability rating and no clear rivals, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll.
Voters approve of Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat, by a 62 percent to 25 percent margin, compared with his lowest-ever rating of 53 percent to 30 percent in early June.
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He is doing well in every region of the state, and Republicans flipped from a negative 37 percent to 49 percent rating in June to a positive 50 percent to 37 percent rating as of Tuesday.
His rise comes after a lackluster legislative session earlier this year, in which his attempts to crack down on corruption and make the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Roe v. Wade abortion decision part of state law “didn’t go anywhere,” the polling institute said.
Looking ahead, the incumbent governor tops Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, his possible Republican challenger, 56 percent to 25 percent.
Mr. Astorino leads 62 percent to 23 percent among Republicans, but Mr. Cuomo is ahead in every other party, age, gender, income and regional group, according to Quinnipiac.
“Gov. Andrew Cuomo has much for which to be thankful. The only thing better than lots of opponents is an unknown opponent. The Democratic governor scores a demographic sweep, except among Republicans,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
