Republican Bruce Blakeman is within striking distance of Gov. Kathy Hochul in the race for New York governor, according to a new poll showing the Nassau County executive trailing the Democratic incumbent by fewer than four percentage points.
The McLaughlin & Associates poll, commissioned by the Blakeman campaign, has Hochul at 49.6% and Blakeman at 45.7% among likely voters, with just 4.7% undecided. The survey of 800 likely New York voters was conducted from August 27 through August 31.
The numbers represent a potentially stunning development in a state where Democrats enjoy a massive voter-registration advantage and where no Republican has won a statewide election since 2002.
The poll also contains troubling numbers for Hochul beyond the head-to-head matchup. Her favorability stands at 42%, while 55% view her unfavorably.
More significantly, 56% of likely voters said it is time to give someone else a chance to lead New York, while just 38% said Hochul has performed well enough to deserve reelection.
Blakeman, meanwhile, has a 40% favorable rating and a 30% unfavorable rating, with another 30% saying they do not know enough about him to form an opinion — potentially leaving the Republican challenger considerable room to grow as he becomes better known statewide.
Among voters familiar with both candidates, the McLaughlin survey found Blakeman actually leading Hochul 52% to 44%.
The results should be viewed with an important caveat: the survey was commissioned by Blakeman’s own campaign and conducted by McLaughlin & Associates, a Republican polling firm.
Independent polling has shown Hochul with a larger advantage, although it has also suggested the race has tightened significantly.
An August Siena University poll of 811 likely voters showed Hochul leading Blakeman 49% to 39%. That 10-point advantage was already dramatically smaller than Siena’s June survey of registered voters, which had Hochul ahead 52% to 32%.
Other polling has produced considerably closer results. A Republican-sponsored Red Oak Strategic survey conducted in July had Hochul leading 47% to 43%, while a Co/efficient survey had the governor ahead 47% to 41%.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
