Cuomo's approval drops to lowest ever amid harassment scandal

[NEW YORK] Governor Andrew Cuomo's favourability among New York voters has dropped to 43 per cent, matching his lowest ever, as he faces an impeachment investigation into allegations of sexual harassment.

The third-term governor's favourability is down from 56 per cent in February and a high of 77 per cent reached last year during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a Siena College Poll of registered voters released Monday. Only a third of respondents said they would vote to re-elect Cuomo, down from 46 per cent a month ago.

Mr Cuomo's public-opinion polls are significant because the governor has steadfastly refused to quit despite calls by Democratic leaders in the New York legislature, a majority of the US House delegation and both senators, including Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Seven women have accused Mr Cuomo of sexual misconduct. Most are former aides to the governor.

Voters continue to overwhelmingly approve of Mr Cuomo's handling of the pandemic. They gave the 63-year-old Democrat positive grades on reopening plans and the vaccine rollout.

More than two-thirds disapprove of his handling of data on the Covid-19 deaths of nursing-home residents. Mr Cuomo faces investigations after his administration withheld the data from lawmakers and the public.

Mr Cuomo's favorability rating last dropped to 43 per cent in two 2019 Siena polls. The latest poll was conducted March 8-12 among 805 registered New York voters, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.

BLOOMBERG