AP Photo
Albany:
A majority of New York state voters remain opposed to a mosque proposed as part of a planned Islamic cultural centre near the site of the September 11 attacks in New York City, and the issue will be a factor for many in November elections, according to a poll released on Wednesday.
The Siena College poll showed 63 per cent of the state's voters surveyed oppose the project, with 27 per cent supporting it. That compares with 64 per cent opposed and 28 per cent in favour two weeks earlier, results that are within the polls' sampling margins.
Democrats nationwide, including President Barack Obama, have defended the proposal as protected by the Constitution's guarantee of religious freedom. Many Republicans have called it an affront to the memory of those killed in the 2001 attacks at the World Trade Centre.
In a new question, the latest poll found that many in the state believe the project is protected by the Constitution, even if they oppose the plan.
Nearly two-thirds of voters, 64 per cent, say the developers have a constitutional right to build the mosque. Twenty-eight percent say they do not.
Among those who oppose building the mosque, about half agree that developers have the constitutional right to build it. Twenty-eight per cent of mosque opponents say they do not have that right.
Nearly a quarter of voters questioned said the issue will have a major effect on which candidate for governor they support. Thirty-seven per cent say it will have some effect, while about 40 per cent of voters say it won't matter.
The state at large is more conservative than heavily Democratic New York City.
The poll showed Republican Carl Paladino, who has taken the hardest line against the project among the candidates, is continuing to gain on Rick Lazio heading into the September 14 Republican primary and also gaining on Democrat Andrew Cuomo. Still, Cuomo continues to have twice the support of either Lazio or Paladino.
The Siena College poll showed 63 per cent of the state's voters surveyed oppose the project, with 27 per cent supporting it. That compares with 64 per cent opposed and 28 per cent in favour two weeks earlier, results that are within the polls' sampling margins.
Democrats nationwide, including President Barack Obama, have defended the proposal as protected by the Constitution's guarantee of religious freedom. Many Republicans have called it an affront to the memory of those killed in the 2001 attacks at the World Trade Centre.
In a new question, the latest poll found that many in the state believe the project is protected by the Constitution, even if they oppose the plan.
Nearly two-thirds of voters, 64 per cent, say the developers have a constitutional right to build the mosque. Twenty-eight percent say they do not.
Among those who oppose building the mosque, about half agree that developers have the constitutional right to build it. Twenty-eight per cent of mosque opponents say they do not have that right.
Nearly a quarter of voters questioned said the issue will have a major effect on which candidate for governor they support. Thirty-seven per cent say it will have some effect, while about 40 per cent of voters say it won't matter.
The state at large is more conservative than heavily Democratic New York City.
The poll showed Republican Carl Paladino, who has taken the hardest line against the project among the candidates, is continuing to gain on Rick Lazio heading into the September 14 Republican primary and also gaining on Democrat Andrew Cuomo. Still, Cuomo continues to have twice the support of either Lazio or Paladino.
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