New York Times New York State Poll #1, October 1998

This special topic poll, fielded October 1, 1998, queried residents of New York State on a range of political and social issues. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President Bill Clinton, New York State Governor George Pataki, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter Vallone, Liberal Party gubernatorial candidate Betsy McCaughey Ross, Independent Party gubernatorial candidate Thomas Golisano, New York State Senator Alfonse D'Amato, Democratic senatorial candidate Charles Schumer, and New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Predictions were sought on the outcomes of the upcoming November 1998 New York gubernatorial and senatorial elections. Respondents were asked who they supported in the state comptroller race between Democrat H. Carl McCall and Republican Bruce Blakeman, and in the state attorney general race between Democrat Eliot Spitzer and Republican Dennis Vacco. They were also asked which state problem they would most like to see their elected officials devote their time to solving: crime, taxes, welfare, education, unemployment, health care, or economic development. Respondents' opinions were sought on a variety of other issues, including the United States health care system, a ban on the sale of handguns, the penalty for those convicted of murder, and abortion. Given the choice between D'Amato and Schumer, respondents were asked which candidate best represented their views on honesty, abortion, crime, the needs of New York City residents, the needs of New York City suburban residents, the needs of upstate New York residents, the Clinton/Monica Lewinsky affair, and their political orientation. Given the choice between Vallone and Pataki, respondents were asked which candidate best represented their views on the integrity of public officials and taxes, and their political orientation. Regarding Giuliani, respondents were asked to rate his handling of his mayoral duties, crime, public education, and quality of life issues. Issues specific to New York City were addressed, including the presence of police officers in high schools, the Board of Education's authority, and the treatment of minorities by the police. Respondents were asked to compare, in terms of negative campaigning, the 1992 senatorial race between D'Amato and Democratic challenger Robert Abrams to the 1998 senatorial race, as well as the 1994 gubernatorial race between Pataki and Democratic challenger Mario Cuomo to the 1998 gubernatorial race. Those queried were asked for their opinions on Clinton's relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, and whether Clinton should be censured or impeached, whether he should resign, or whether the United States Congress should drop the matter entirely. Additional topics covered the influence on public officials by campaign contributors, a hypothetical 2000 presidential race between Pataki and Giuliani, and the portrayal of New York City in the movies and on television. Background information on respondents includes age, race, sex, education, religion, political party, political orientation, voter registration and participation history, marital status, family income, financial situation, age of children in household, and public school enrollment.