New York Governor George Pataki plans to "test the waters" in Iowa for a possible presidential run in 2008. He has also indicated that a decision on his part to run for president would preclude a re-election bid in 2006.
What is fascinating to me is that Pataki still has a belief that he has a viable political career. The latest approval numbers in New York from Survey USA show his approval rating improving but still in the red on the net level.
In fact, Pataki has precious few specks of good news in the latest numbers. One is that his approval rating is at 50% with 18-34 year olds. Another is that the less educated (some college education) give him a 51% rating. The best news is his 59% approval in the NYC suburbs. Of course conservatives and Republicans approve of the Governor. But even there are signs of weakness.
Among Republicans Pataki's disapproval rating is up to 33%. Conservatives disapprove at a rate 36%. And disapproval ratings among moderates and Independents are both above 50%. In the abortion area, neither pro-lifers or pro-choice adherents are wowed by the governor (pro-lifers approve 50-44, pro-choice disapprove 41-53 - worse news is that pro-choice voters make up 70% of respondents).
So where in all of this is Pataki's thought that the good people of Iowa will be drawn to his banner? At the rate the 3-term governor is going he couldn't win another election in his own state (in fact, most polls seem to show him getting trounced by Attorney General Elliot Spitzer), let only on a national stage that is significantly more conservative than he is. Right now the Governor is fighting for his political life. Unfortunately, he's not doing much to defend himself with this pie-in-the-sky vision of his potential.
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