Poll: NY Dems favor Sanders, Bloomberg; Sanders rises since November poll

ALBANY — A new poll shows New York Democrats are embracing presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders as well as former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg as the top contenders to take on Republican President Donald Trump.

The Siena Research Institute poll found Sanders favored by 25% of New York Democrats polled. The result comes after Sanders had placed third in Siena’s November poll of Democratic candidates and was dropping in popularity. In that November poll, former Vice President Joe Biden had opened up a 10-point lead.

Monday’s poll was released after Sanders’ win in the Nevada caucuses on Saturday, which cemented his front-runner status — for now.

In Monday’s poll, 21% of New York Democrats favored Bloomberg. The span between him and Sanders, however, is within the poll’s margin of error of plus or minus 6.6 points.

Biden was favored by 13% of New York Democrats followed by Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who was selected by 11% of Democrats polled.

Biden is supported by much of the Democratic establishment including Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, although Cuomo hasn’t made a formal endorsement. Cuomo shared the stage with the former Delaware senator several times when Biden was the front-runner.

“I haven’t endorsed anyone in the race,” Cuomo said Monday when asked about Biden. He said, however, that he hasn’t soured on Biden. “I’m right where I’ve been. I’m nowhere different than where I have been.”

Cuomo said he doesn’t see Sanders’ recent success as evidence that a more progressive wing is winning out over the Democratic establishment.

“It’s still early,” Cuomo said.

In Nevada and in the New York poll, Sanders was attracting the youth vote.

“Bernie is trouncing with younger voters and Mike has a commanding lead with older voters,” said Steven Greenberg of the Siena College poll.

In a head-to-head contest with Republican President Donald Trump, the poll found any of the Democratic candidates would win in heavily Democratic New York.

Bloomberg led the pack at 58%-33% over Trump. But statistically, Bloomberg's margin over Trump was no larger than that of any of the other Democratic candidates.

Bloomberg, however, attracted more Republicans and more voters not enrolled in a political party than the other Democrats.

“This is more of a snapshot of Democrats than a preelection poll since it is likely that South Carolina and Super Tuesday will significantly reduce the size of the field; and this poll did not look at likely primary voters,” Greenberg said.

Super Tuesday is March 3. Voting will take place in Alabama, American Somoa, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and among Democrats living abroad.

New York’s primary is April 28.

Sanders won big in Nevada on Saturday and, after his wins of the popular vote in Iowa and New Hampshire, he enters Super Tuesday as the party’s front-runner.

The Siena poll questioned 658 registered voters Feb. 16-20. It had an overall margin of error of 4.5 points and a 6.6-point margin of error for questions asked only of Democrats.

By Michael Gormley

michael.gormley@newsday.com@GormleyAlbany

Michael Gormley has worked for Newsday since 2013, covering state government, politics and issues. He has covered Albany since 2001.