HAMDEN CT - Only 30 percent of New York State voters say giving the next Attorney General more power to fight corruption in state government would be effective, while 54 percent say political considerations would prevent the Attorney General from using this power to clean up Albany, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. 

In fact, 51 percent of New York State voters say the Attorney General already has the right amount of power to fight Albany corruption, while 32 percent say more power is needed, the independent Quinnipiac University poll finds.

Incumbent Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has been “about right” fighting corruption, 49 percent of voters say, while 38 percent say he has not been aggressive enough.  Independent voters split 43 – 43 percent on whether Cuomo has been too aggressive or about right fighting corruption.

Cuomo still has a 69 – 17 percent approval rating and tops either Republican contender more than 2 - 1 in the race for Governor:

• Beating Rick Lazio 56 – 26 percent;
• Topping Carl Paladino 55 – 25 percent.

Lazio leads Paladino in a Republican primary 39 – 23 percent, with 33 percent undecided.

“It’s all coming up roses for Cuomo.  While he gets OK grades for battling corruption, his overall job approval rating is still stratospheric.  And he continues to trounce either of the Republican wannabes, Rick Lazio or Carl Paladino,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

New York State government is dysfunctional, voters say 75 – 20 percent, and voters say 53 – 35 percent their own state senator should be swept out of office in a general house-cleaning.  By a similar 49 – 33 percent margin, voters say their State Assembly member should go, also.