
Blakeman Dismisses Siena Poll, Says Other Surveys Show Him Neck And Neck With Hochul
NEW YORK (VINnews)-Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman on Wednesday rejected a new Siena College poll that showed him trailing Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul by 10 points, saying he has reviewed multiple other surveys that place the race much closer.
“I don’t believe the Siena polling because I have seen seven polls that have me neck and neck with Kathy Hochul,” Blakeman said during an appearance on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle.”
The Siena Research Institute poll of 811 likely New York voters, conducted Aug. 3-6 and released Wednesday, found Hochul leading Blakeman 49% to 39%, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage points. The survey marked Siena’s first poll of likely voters this cycle. In June, among registered voters, Hochul held a wider 52%-32% advantage.
Siena pollster Steven Greenberg noted that Hochul’s lead has narrowed significantly and that she remains below the 50% mark with less than three months until Election Day.
Blakeman, the Nassau County executive and the first Jewish person to hold that office, is a member of the Jewish Center of Atlantic Beach, a Modern Orthodox synagogue. He has emphasized public safety, affordability and his record in Nassau County while campaigning against Hochul, who is seeking a second full term.
The Siena survey also found Hochul leading on issues such as affordable housing and making prices more affordable, while the race was tighter on crime and energy. Independents in the poll narrowly favored Blakeman.
Hochul’s campaign has pointed to her experience and the state’s Democratic lean as reasons she remains the favorite. Blakeman, who has been endorsed by President Trump, continues to argue that voter dissatisfaction with the status quo is making the contest competitive.