Siena: Gillibrand losing support

A new Siena poll finds Senator Kirsten Gillibrand losing some love from New Yorkers. More people view her unfavorably, 32% to 30% (with an even bigger “don’t know/no opinion” of 38%). She’s described as favorable by just 37% of Democrats.

What might be the biggest number is how the moderate Democrat fares with independents: 44% of them view her unfavorably.

Those sentiments bear out in potential races. Just 29% of voters say they’d vote for Gillibrand in 2010. 45% say they’d vote for “someone else”. According to the poll, Gillibrand would beat Harold Ford, Jr. in a run-off, 41% to 17%. But former Governor George Pataki would beat Gillibrand 51% to 38%.

Pollster Steven Greenberg says all these numbers have to be taken with a grain of salt. Gillibrand – appointed by Governor Paterson about a year ago – has never run for statewide office before, so many voters just don’t know her…

Still, these numbers are worse for Gillibrand than in the last poll in December.

This Buffalo News columnist believes it’s because all the people – from Sen. Schumer to female lawmakers to the White House – who came out to defend Gillibrand against a potential challenge from Harold Ford, Jr. made her look weak.

What do you think of Gillibrand and her record so far?

Tags: election10