Paterson Craters, Now at 19% Approval: 'The Speed of His Falling Numbers is Staggering'

Here's an idea for the accidental governor. Maybe he can gouge the rich some more. Oh wait, he's already got a secret plan for that. Oh well.

Whatever he does, it's doubtful he can get out of this hole.

Gov. Paterson's job performance ratings have crashed thorough the floor, with less than one in five New Yorkers saying he's doing well, a new poll shows.

Just 19% of those polled gave him a positive rating, while 78% turned thumbs down, the Siena College poll found. That's down from 51% positive and 45% negative in the same poll just two months ago.

How bad have things gone for a governor?

New York's first black governor trails Attorney General Andrew Cuomo 55-22% among black voters in a potential 2010 primary.

Overall, he would lose to Cuomo 67% to 17%, the poll found. In late January, Paterson held a small lead over Cuomo.

"The speed of his falling numbers is staggering," Siena Poll spokesman Steven Greenberg said.

Two months ago, voters viewed Paterson favorably by a 54% to 34% margin. The latest poll has him at 29% favorable and 58% unfavorable.

A whopping 67% of voters say they'd prefer someone else for governor next year, compared to just 14% who say they would vote to elect Paterson to a full four-year term.

The poll found black voters would prefer someone else to Paterson by a 52%-25% margin.

Hmm. Is that racist?

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