Metro

Pataki endorses Mitt as Romney holds lead among NY GOPers: poll

ALBANY — Mitt Romney holds a comfortable lead among New York Republicans with the Empire State’s presidential primary less than two months away, a new poll shows.

But President Obama would trounce the former Massachusetts governor and beat any of his three rivals even bigger in New York, according to today’s Siena College poll.

The poll was released on the day former Gov. George Pataki endorsed Romney, saying it is time for Republicans to focus on beating Obama in November’s general election.

“I think people understand that this country’s headed in the wrong direction,” Pataki said in an appearance on FOX News.

The former three-term governor, who was rumored to have considered his own White House bid, urged his fellow Republicans to throw their support to Romney and concentrate on ousting a president who has “made wrong decision after wrong decision.”

He also advised the former Massachusetts governor to reach out to blue-collar and Latino voters — blocs Romney has had trouble connecting with.

Romney leads former US Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania 38-23 percent, with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Rep. Ron Paul of Texas at 13 and 11 percent, respectively, among registered New York Republicans.

Meantime US Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) is the strong favorite to win re-election to a full six-year term, according to the Feb. 26-29 telephone survey of 808 registered voters, including 230 Republicans..

Though New Yorkers are split on Obama’s job performance – with a high favorable rating among Democrats, a low rating among Republicans and generally positive marks from independents – New Yorkers would re-elect him by 56 to 38 over “someone else.”

And he would win New York with over 60 percent against any of the four GOP contenders, beating Romney by 26 points and Gingrich by 39.

Most voters think the Democrats have better plans than the Republicans for protecting Social Security, improving education and creating jobs, Siena found.

More favor Democrats’ approach to dealing with Iran and keeping the country safe from terrorists.

And independents sided with Republicans in blue New York to create a split over which major party has the better paln for reducing the federal budget deficit.

Voters approve by just 49-43 how Gillibrand, appointed by former Gov. David Paterson to replace Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2009, is handling her job

But 58 percent said they’d re-elect her vs. 30 for “someone else.” And she would beat Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos, the first of three Republicans to jump into the race so far, 68-19.

The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points overall and 6.5 percent among Republicans.

With NewsCore