De Blasio Has Commanding Lead over Lhota in WNBC/Wall Street Journal/Marist Poll in NYC Mayoral Race!

Dear Commons Community,

While the New York City mayoral election is still weeks away, a new poll released by WNBC/Wall Street Journal/Marist College shows Democrat Bill de Blasio with a commanding lead over the Republican Joseph Lhota.  Mr. de Blasio enjoys support from 65 percent of likely voters, compared with 22 percent who back Mr. Lhota, according to the poll released yesterday.

As reported in the Wall Street Journal:

“Mr. de Blasio, the city’s public advocate, is outpacing Mr. Lhota, a former deputy mayor under Rudy Giuliani, 65% to 22% among likely voters, including those who are undecided but leaning toward a candidate. Adolfo Carrión Jr., a former Bronx borough president running on the Independence Party line, had 3%.

“It’s a very lopsided contest at this point,” said Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. “Coming out of the starting blocks, it is playing de Blasio’s way in a big way.”

The poll was the first since the Sept. 10 primary, from which Messrs. de Blasio and Lhota emerged as victors, according to unofficial returns. The results show that Mr. de Blasio’s late surge is continuing and highlight the challenges Mr. Lhota faces in a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans 6 to 1.

Mr. de Blasio was winning by large margins in a sweep that transcended race, gender and borough. He led among blacks (86% to 3%); Latinos (74% to 11%); whites (50% to 37%); women (68% to 18%) and men (61% to 26%). He led in every borough, including Manhattan where he is ahead 70% to 19%. The only group favoring Mr. Lhota was white Catholics, 45% to 40%.

Of those who are unaffiliated with any party and likely to vote in the Nov. 5 election, 50% support Mr. de Blasio, 24% back Mr. Lhota and 9% are going with Mr. Carrión. A quarter of likely GOP voters back Mr. de Blasio.”

But anything can happen in an election and with six weeks left in the campaign, we will have to wait and see.

Tony