Political genius: Spitzer’s re-elect number drops to 25%

It’s a good thing for NY Gov Eliot Spitzer that he’s less than a year into his term. He has three years to dig himself out of the Troopergate and licenses-for-illegals chasm that usually takes at least a term and a half to carve out. The latter has pushed his popularity down to Washington levels. Almost. But he can get there if he just tries a little harder. Whaddya say, Eliot?

Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s plan to provide illegal immigrants with driver’s licenses has sunk his favorability rating to an all-time low of 41 percent, and has left only 25 percent of voters planning to re-elect him, according to a poll the Siena Research Institute released Tuesday.

Forty-six percent had an unfavorable opinion of Spitzer, and 49 percent said they would “prefer someone else” as the next governor. Last month, 54 percent of voters had a favorable opinion of the governor.

“Eliot Spitzer’s standing with voters has fallen faster and further than any politician in recent New York history,” Siena spokesman Steven Greenberg said in a written statement. “Everything may not have changed on day one but from the voters’ perspective, everything about Governor Spitzer changed in year one.”

Spitzer swept to office last November with nearly 70 percent of the vote, carried largely by his reputation as a reformer and his campaign pledge to change everything starting on “Day One.”

Considering that Spitzer won with 70% of the vote in November, to be at 41% now and with a 25% re-elect, he’s in freefall.

Update (AP): What a sweet little gift to Republicans. A hugely popular AG swept into office as governor in one of America’s bluest states a year before the presidential election — and he implodes over one of the GOP’s core issues? We shouldn’t have to worry about the amnesty shills feeling too frisky for another few years after this.

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