Poll: Cuomo should disclose more about budget plans

ALBANY - Democrat Andrew Cuomo continues to be the overwhelming favorite among voters in the race for governor but they'd like him to talk more about how to solve the state's budget problems, according to a survey released Tuesday.

Sixty-four percent of registered voters told the Quinnipiac University Poll that Cuomo hasn't "done enough to explain what he will do to correct New York State's budget problems if he is elected governor." Twenty-one percent were satisfied with Cuomo's comments so far and 15 percent had no opinion.

A day after declaring his candidacy, Cuomo released a 250-page book with dozens of proposals including caps on increases in state spending and local property taxes, a freeze on wages of state workers and consolidation of local governments. In radio interviews and at news conferences, Cuomo has backed Gov. David A. Paterson's stance against borrowing to close the $9.2-billion budget deficit.

Still, a majority of voters across political, racial and gender lines want to know more.

Forty-one percent said Cuomo was "ducking his responsibility" while 38 percent said he was "politely deferring" to Paterson.

"Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has been too quiet on how he would solve Albany's budget mess, which he'll inherit - if he's elected," said pollster Maurice Carroll.

A Cuomo spokesman declined to comment.

In the general election, Cuomo leads Republicans Rick Lazio, 58 percent to 26 percent, and Carl Paladino, 59 percent to 23 percent.

In the GOP primary, Lazio, who once represented Suffolk County in Congress, beats Paladino, a Buffalo businessman, 46-17.

In the race for U.S. Senate, incumbent Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand has a substantial lead over Republicans Bruce Blakeman, a former Nassau legislative chief, and David Malpass, a conservative economist.

The poll of 1,592 voters, conducted June 15-20, had a margin of error plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.