A new Siena College poll has Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo leading over his Republican challenger Marc Molinaro by 22 points among likely voters in the gubernatorial race. Three other minor party candidates, including former Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner, received less than five percent in the poll.
Miner, who is running as an independent, said she is not surprised she is polling at only one percent.
“I entered this race because I thought it was very important that people heard from somebody who said that the corruption is unacceptable, that our problems aren’t being solved, and that there was a voice that said we can be constructive and we need to have a civil dialogue and get together and start addressing issues that are going unresolved,” Miner said.
Issues, Miner said, like the high tax burden and crumbling infrastructure, which she said she will be talking about in appearances across the state, with about a month left until the general election.
Miner said Cuomo has raised a lot of money, has name reconition, but is unpopular.
“I think you’re seeing a lot of voters who are very upset with corruption, the high tax burden and the lack of solving problems, particularly from people in upstate," Miner said. "I think that that’s something people are anxious to hear me talk about. As we move closer to November, people are going to hear me talk more about that.”
In the Siena poll, Cuomo’s Democratic primary opponent, Cynthia Nixon, who lost to Cuomo in the primary but is still on the Working Families Party line, received 10 percent of support from likely voters.
Miner said getting Nixon off that line, and Miner taking it over instead, is a decision those members would have to make.
“I have run before with the Working Families Party endorsement when I ran for the city council and for mayor," Miner said. "I have a lot of people who are in that party that I consider friends and supporters.”
Libertarian Larry Sharpe polled at two percent and Syracuse’s Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins has just one percent.
Miner said she would participate in any upcoming debates she is invited to. Hawkins said Cuomo told him to organize debates. Hawkins is proposing four debates with one held in central New York.
