Poll: Spitzer Leading in NYC Comptroller Race

A new poll shows Eliot Spitzer, the disgraced former Democrat Governor of New York and current candidate for New York City Comptroller, has pulled further ahead in his primary race.

The early August survey showed that Spitzer was leading his closest rival, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, by 19 points. The new Quinnipiac University poll found Spitzer at 56 percent while Stringer was at a distant 37 percent.

“Everyone seems to be against former Gov. Eliot Spitzer except the voters, especially black voters,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

The Quinnipiac poll found that Spitzer is extremely strong with black voters, receiving the support of 68 percent of black respondents to Stringer’s 21 percent.

But Spitzer also leads among white voters (53 – 43), male voters (58 – 37) and female voters (54 – 36).

Quinnipiac also found that voters generally felt that Spitzer’s past sexual scandal was a legitimate campaign issue but that it was not a disqualifying one.

“Spitzer is all over the TV screens, building on his better name recognition and leaving Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer in the dust,” Carroll said.