#5 - Polling

Extensive research into polling data on 2016 presidential candidates reveal very little for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and most typically compare approval ratings within New York of Cuomo with fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton, or with neighboring New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.  A poll by the Siena Research Institute conducted last year pitted Gov. Cuomo with NJ Gov. Chris Christie in a hypothetical 2016 match-up, and the results showed that voters in New York would pick Christie over their own governor, Andrew Cuomo, in a hypothetical race for president in 2016. Forty-seven percent of those who participated in the poll favored Christie, a Republican, while 42 percent chose Cuomo, a Democrat — even though registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans nearly 2 to 1 in New York. The survey also shows 63 percent approve of the job Christie has done in New Jersey, while 25 percent say they don't. Cuomo's numbers are a bit behind — 61 to 32 percent.

A more recent Quinniac University poll conducted last August ranked Cuomo over Christie in approval ratings 47 to 37 percent - a marked improvement over his results in the Siena Institute's November polls. While Cuomo is ahead of Republican contenders Christie, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, much of the polling data showed that Cuomo trailed behind Clinton in favorability ratings. Clinton had the best favorability rating 62 - 34 percent of any of the contenders, and Cuomo followed with a 55 - 36 percent favorability.

Overall, polling data over Cuomo's potential 2016 presidential run is conducted within the state of New York, and is often compared to similar data on "New York's adopted daughter" Hillary Clinton, and NJ Gov. Chris Christie.  I feel that this shows very little public faith in the chance that Cuomo will be successful if he does put in a bid for 2016.