The race factor may not be a factor after all in a potential Democratic primary contest between Gov. Paterson and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, according to a new poll released today.The statewide Quinnipiac survey found a majority of black Democrats -- 51 percent to 24 percent -- would favor the attorney general over the New York's first black governor in a hypothetical matchup for the state's top job.
The massive poll of nearly 2,400 voters provides some of the strongest evidence yet of Paterson's weakness among a group many would expect to form a core base of support.
It also suggests Cuomo may have overcome some animosity among blacks since his failed primary bid in 2002 against former state Comptroller H. Carl McCall, the first black to top a major party's ticket in the state.
"If there's a racial issue in a matchup between Gov. David Paterson and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, these numbers don't show it," Quinnipiac pollster Maurice Carroll said. "Black Democrats back Cuomo hands down, and black voters in general give Cuomo better grades than the Governor on every measure."
Cuomo also posted a favorability rating of 70 percent among blacks, compared to Paterson's 53 percent.
Among all Democrats, Cuomo tops Paterson 61 percent to 19 percent. In potential general election matchups, Republican Rudy Giuliani would beat Paterson 54 percent to 32 percent, but lose to Cuomo 40 percent to 50 percent.