N.Y. Voters Split on Kennedy’s Qualifications

A large plurality of New York voters expect Democrat Caroline Kennedy will be named to fill the vacancy left by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) in the Senate, while they are split as to whether or not she is qualified.

48 percent of New York voters said they expect Gov. David Paterson (D) to appoint Kennedy to the seat to be left vacant pending Clinton’s confirmation as Secretary of State, a Quinnipiac poll found. A quarter of the state’s voters thought Paterson would name someone else.

However, 41 percent of New Yorkers believe Kennedy, whose involvement in politics had been scant preceding the 2008 election, is not qualified to be Senator. 40 percent said Kennedy is qualified.

Mirroring previous polls, Kennedy and state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo remain deadlocked as to voters’ top choice to replace Clinton. 33 percent of voters preferred Kennedy, while 29 percent backed Cuomo. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand (D) drew support from four percent of those polled, and 24 percent said they would prefer someone else.

Kennedy draws support from voters in New York City, while Cuomo is favored by voters upstate. The two split the suburban vote evenly.