Opinion: Poll finds N.Y. prefers disgraced Gov. Eliot Spitzer to the current guy

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And you thought George W. Bush was unpopular this winter!

Here’s how unpopular New York Democratic Gov. David Paterson has become:

Remember Democrat Eliot Spitzer? New York governor? Forced to resign?

Client No. 9 on federal wiretaps? High-priced call girl? Ashley Alexandra Dupre? On a boat somewhere? With her pair of big sunglasses?

Well, a new poll this week finds that nearly twice as many New Yorkers would rather have the disgraced Spitzer back than keep Paterson, who faces an election next year.

Dupre’s name was not included as a poll option.

Thirteen months after Lt. Gov. Paterson inherited the office, a telephone poll of 682 registered voters in the Empire State finds that only 8% prefer him in office.

Fourteen percent would rather have the disgraced Spitzer back, 33% would take former Gov. George Pataki, while 39% prefer former Gov. Mario Cuomo.

Sixty-three percent have an unfavorable opinion of Paterson; 57% feel the state is headed in the wrong direction. Forty percent describe Paterson’s job performance as poor. And 1% -- or about seven people -- rate his job performance as ‘excellent.’

Other than that, things are looking real good for Paterson’s 2010 re-election campaign.

Wonder if former New York City Republican Mayor Rudy Giuliani noticed the poll.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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