NY Dems Prefer Kennedy to Replace Clinton

by Michael O'Brien - 12/09/08 2:23 PM ET

Caroline Kennedy leads New York Democrats’ choices to replace Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) in the Senate, a new poll released Tuesday found.

44 percent of New York Democrats named Kennedy, the daughter of onetime President John F. Kennedy, as their top choice to replace Clinton, pending her confirmation as Secretary of State.

75 percent of those surveyed said they had a positive opinion of Kennedy, while 11 percent said they had an unfavorable opinion. 14 percent were unsure.

New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, the son of former Gov. Mario Cuomo (D), was New Yorkers’ second choice, with 23 percent of the Empire State’s Democrats saying they backed the former Housing and Urban Development Secretary.

In the poll, Cuomo enjoyed a 76 percent job approval rating.

Eight percent of those polled said they were unsure of who they supported to replace Clinton, and Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand (D), drew six percent of respondents’ support.

The survey, conducted by Public Policy Polling between December 8-9, has a 3.2 percent margin of error.