While most polls predict the Governor’s race will be an easy win for Democrat Andrew Cuomo, you may have to wait a little longer for all of the results to come in for the Comptroller and Attorney General races.
In the Comptroller race, incumbent Democrat Tom DiNapoli has squandered a double-digit lead and the latest Siena poll has him tied with Republican challenger Harry Wilson, who has made huge gains amongst upstate voters, according to the poll.
And, in the Attorney General’s race, Staten Island District Attorney Republican Dan Donovan has caught up to Democratic State Senator Eric Schneiderman with the latest Siena poll putting both candidates at 44 percent.
“I’m really not sure. I think some of it had to do with voters’ distaste of the status quo in general and the Democrats in particular,” said Michael Krasner, a political science professor at Queens College. “You did have attention to the bid rigging for the Aqueduct race track that may have caused people to change their minds.”
Krasner said that turnout will be important in determining who will win each of these races.
“The Democrats almost always benefit from a high turnout,” Krasner said. “What they want to do is pull the New York City vote like mad.”
Meanwhile, Krasner said that having Cuomo at the top of the ticket could go one of two ways for Democrats. Some Democratic voters may be drawn to the polls because of the Cuomo name, but other voters may decide to stay home because they think Cuomo’s victory is a cinch.
Political Science professor weighs in on close AG and Comptroller races
By Pete Davis
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