By Howard Koplowitz
The race between state Sen. Serphin Maltese (R-Glendale) and City Councilman Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beach) could not be any tighter, according to a Siena College poll released last week.
The poll found Maltese and Addabbo tied at 42 percent with 16 percent of voters undecided.
Maltese led Addabbo among men, 44 percent to 41 percent, while Addabbo did better among women, 42 percent to 41 percent.
Nearly half of the pollÕs respondents Ñ 48 percent Ñ said they had a favorable view of Maltese, compared to 16 percent who had an unfavorable opinion and 36 percent who either did not know the senator or had no opinion.
Addabbo had a 38 percent favorable rating, compared to 20 percent with an unfavorable rating and 36 percent who either did not know him or had no opinion.
The senator, seeking his 11th term in office, also leads Addabbo among voters 55 years and older, 51 percent to 37 percent. But the councilman has a six-point edge among voters between 18 and 34 Ñ 45 percent to 39 percent Ñ and those between 35 and 54 Ñ 44 percent to 39 percent.
Maltese had a higher percentage of Democrats supporting him Ñ 27 percent Ñ than Addabbo had of Republicans Ñ 22 percent. The senator also had a lead among independents, 48 percent to 32 percent.
Conducted between Sept. 12 and Sept. 14, the poll also tracked how the presidential candidates were doing in the 15th State Senate District.
Presidential nominee U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) had an 18-point lead on Republican presidential nominee U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) 49 percent to 31 percent. One-fifth of those polled were undecided.
Obama carried 66 percent of AddabboÕs voters and received 31 percent of MalteseÕs support. More than half of Maltese voters Ñ 53 percent Ñ said they would vote for McCain while 15 percent of Addabbo voters said they would vote for McCain.
MalteseÕs campaign said the poll met their expectations while AddabboÕs camp said the survey spelled trouble for the senator.
ÒWe knew this race was going to be close and we are pleased that Sen. Maltese is the more popular candidate in a district where the poll shows Barack Obama leading by 18 percent,Ó said Maltese campaign spokeswoman Kristin Lord in a statement. ÒWe are winning Republicans and independents big time and winning a large share of Democrats in this strongly Democratic district. Councilman Addabbo has not caught ObamaÕs coattails.Ó
Addabbo spokeswoman Alexis Grenell said MalteseÕs favorable/unfavorable rating was nothing to crow about.
ÒThe Siena poll confirms what Democrats have known all along: Republicans have failed for 40 years and New Yorkers have had enough,Ó she said in a statement. ÒWith 80 percent name recognition but only a 48 percent favorability rating, the voters know Maltese, but they donÕt like him Ñ the fat lady is warming up. TodayÕs numbers are a far cry from the SRCC May poll which had Maltese at 45/18.Ó
Grenell was referring to an internal poll conducted in August by MalteseÕs campaign that showed the senator with a 27-point lead over Addabbo.
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 173.
