US News

LUV FOR GOV IS WAY DOWN

Gov. Paterson’s Senate selection circus and the furor over leaks trashing Caroline Kennedy have lifted his unfavorable rating with voters to an all-time high of 30 percent, according to a startling new poll.

The percentage of voters with positive views of the Democratic governor, meanwhile, slid to 54 percent, the lowest level since May, the statewide Siena survey found.

A similar poll conducted last Thursday, the day before Paterson named Kirsten Gillibrand as Hillary Clinton’s successor, put the governor’s favorable-unfavorable rating at 60 percent to 23 percent.

“A 13-point swing in five days, and the only thing that was in the news was the Senate stuff,” Siena spokesman Steve Greenberg said. “It’s very clear. You can see cause and effect.”

In the five tumultuous days between polls, Paterson denied responsibility for leaks accusing Kennedy of tax and marital problems and unceremoniously dumped her for Gillibrand.