Democratic candidate for New York City mayor Bill de Blasio has a wide lead over Republican candidate Joe Lhota, according to a new poll released Thursday.

The Quinnipiac poll shows that 66 percent of likely voters plan to vote for de Blasio, compared with 25 percent who say they intend to vote for Lhota.

De Blasio leads 52 – 40 percent among white voters, 90 – 3 percent among black voters and 68 – 18 percent among Hispanic voters. He leads 63 – 29 percent among men and 69 – 21 percent among women and has leads of 30 percent or higher among every income, education and age group.

Lhota’s only lead is among Republicans, 79 – 15 percent, while de Blasio leads 82 – 11 percent among Democrats and 53 – 36 percent among independent voters.

Taxes is the only issue or character measure on which the candidates are close: If de Blasio wins, taxes will go up, 36 percent of voters say, while 6 percent say they will go down and 46 percent say they will be the same. If Lhota wins, taxes will go up, 36 percent of voters say, while 5 percent say they will go down and 44 percent say they will be the same.

“The same kind of coalition that won Public Advocate Bill de Blasio the Democratic primary is working for him in the general election campaign,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “He’s OK among white voters and gang-busters among black and Hispanic voters.

New York City likely voters have a 63 – 21 percent favorable opinion of de Blasio.

Lhota gets a negative 30 – 35 percent favorability and 32 percent haven’t heard enough about him to form an opinion.

“Republican candidate Joe Lhota’s first job is to simply tell people who he is. About one third of voters don’t know enough to say if they like him or not,” Carroll said.

Voters give Mayor Michael Bloomberg a 46 – 45 percent approval rating and say 61 – 30 percent that “the city needs to take a new direction from Mike Bloomberg.” There are wide racial gaps as white voters approve of Bloomberg 60 – 34 percent, while disapproval is 63 – 25 percent among black voters and 50 – 43 percent among Hispanic voters. Fifty percent of white voters want a “new direction,” compared to 77 percent of black voters and 68 percent of Hispanic voters.

(YWN Desk – NYC)