The Chauffeur Bump
Hevesi's favorable/unfavorable rating is now 40-21 percent, from 40-14 percent last month.
This poll came after a period in which the story about Hevesi's use of a state employee as a chauffeur for his wife got more exposure, as both Eliot Spitzer and John Faso criticized the comptroller during their televised debate.
Either New York voters are surprisingly pro-chauffeur, or, as is more usually the case, they simply haven't found this story nearly as fascinating or meaningful as the press has.
The rest of the poll is here.
-- Azi PaybarahUPDATE: The mayor just took a pass on the Hevesi chauffeur scandal. Here's what he told reporters:
"I don't think it serves any purpose for me to get involved. Having said that, I do think that the most important thing is that the public believes that their government is honest. Now I've known Alan Hevesi for a long time and I've always thought that he was an honest, very hard-working elected official and I was just disappointed to read in the paper about this indiscretion or however you want to phrase it."
Hank Morris -- of Morris Carrick & Guma -- now running the show for Hevesi? Remember how successful he was in the Mayoral election.
how do you figure Hevesi's approvals improved? He picked up 6 points on his unfavorables while faves went nowhere.
???
"I was just disappointed to read in the paper about this indiscretion or however you want to phrase it."
... how about maybe a felony Mr. Mayor? Indiscretion! Jeez, give us a break!
Indiscretion? Al Pirro's affairs are indiscretions. Hevesi used taxpayer money for his private use, and no one seems to think he should be held accountable.
I think the public would care very much if the media -- outside the blogosphere -- covered the story. How does Hevesi's theft stack up against other public officials' theft? How did others who got caught with their hand in the till get treated? Who else has been allowed to repay with a "sorry," and no consequences?
I'd like to think my government is honest, but when someone who has admitted to stealing is given a pass, I have to wonder about every transaction our officials make.
Bloomberg can't fire his own incompetent commissioners or keep school cafeterias clean.
Hypocrite.