Popularity of Spitzer 'Turning a Corner,' Poll Shows

ALBANY — Governor Spitzer is reclaiming some popularity with New Yorkers after a dramatic slide in the last half of 2007, according to a poll released today.

The Siena College poll showed Mr. Spitzer was viewed favorably by 44% of New Yorkers, compared to 41% with an unfavorable view. That's up from 36% in December and was the first time since a Siena poll in October that a majority of those polled had a favorable view of Mr. Spitzer.

But 64% still consider his job performance as fair or poor, a slight improvement from December's poll. And today's poll finds just 27% would vote to re-elect Mr. Spitzer, compared to 46% who would prefer someone else.

"For the moment, Governor Spitzer's meteoric fall with voters has stopped," a Siena poll spokesman, Steven Greenberg, said. "It would be an overstatement to say he has turned the ugly poll numbers around, however, it may be fair to say he is turning a corner."

After winning the governor's office in 2006 with a historic share of the vote — 69% — Mr. Spitzer started a slide in popularity during the late spring as a political scandal and conflicts with the Legislature over spending dogged him the last half of his freshman year. Two Spitzer aides have been accused of misusing state police to compile embarrassing records of the use of state aircraft to attend GOP fundraisers by the majority leader of the Senate, Joseph Bruno. Investigations continue, but the state attorney general and the Albany County district attorney said no crimes were committed.

The uptick in popularity comes as Mr. Spitzer needs it. He will present his state budget proposal to the Legislature tomorrow.

The poll released today shows strong support for his unconventional proposal to cap local property taxes, which is already drawing opposition in the Legislature.