New polling shows support for hydraulic fracturing in NY on the rise.

The Siena Research Institute has released its most recent polling of New Yorkers taken from August 4-7, 2013.  Once again, the polling focused on a number of hot topics in New York (e.g., women’s rights, corruption, the Spitzer/Weiner campaigns in NYC, etc.).  However, it did include two questions on hydraulic fracturing.  These questions included whether the responder had heard or read about hydraulic fracturing and if they supported or opposed the process being allowed in parts of upstate New York.  Since the last polling in June, the numbers show an even split with 41% supporting hydraulic fracturing and 42% opposing it. The numbers, while split, can be seen as positive.   The numbers in support of hydraulic fracturing shows a 4% gain in those supporting hydraulic fracturing, above the margin of error, as well as a decline in those opposing it.   Moreover, the shift comes with more responders claiming to have enough information to form an opinion one way or the other.  Previously, 18% of responders claimed to lack sufficient information to form an opinion of had no opinion.  That number dropped dramatically to 12% in the latest polling, its lowest levels by far. Notably, Siena’s new poll showed that Governor Cuomo’s favorability rating has rebounded in part from its all time low in June (58-35 percent).  According to the poll, Cuomo is viewed favorably by 65 percent of voters and unfavorably by 30 percent, with a 52% favorable job performance rating.