Targeting Seniors In New York's 26th

By Jessica Taylor  //  April 29, 2011 | 3:36 p.m.
Updated: May 3, 2011 | 7:55 a.m.

It looks like Democrats have a tailor-made issue to use in next month's special election in New York's 26th District -- GOP Rep. Paul Ryan's budget plan.

The new Siena poll in the district shows seniors strongly oppose changing entitlement programs, and view President Obama relatively favorably.

It's the latest sign that Democrat Kathy Hochul has a fighting chance at winning next month's special election against Republican Jane Corwin. Hochul leads Corwin among voters aged 55 and over, 36 to 33 percent, with third-party candidate Jack Davis taking 23 percent.

Hochul has been attacking Corwin for supporting the GOP-backed budget plan that would alter federal entitlement programs. Davis, running on a Tea Party line, also opposes the plan.

While seniors across the country view Obama more negatively than any other age group, according to polling, in this Northeastern district, seniors view him more favorably. Overall, Obama has a 39 percent approval rating in the district, but the number improves to 46 percent among those 55 and over.

The poll also contains some encouraging news for the GOP: It shows seniors siding with Republicans when asked which party's approach they preferred on fiscal issues. A near 49 percent majority said they supported "Boehner and the Republicans" while 39 percent said they supported "Obama and the Democrats." Among seniors, Obama holds a 46 percent approval rating in the district, while Boehner's approval rating is at 44 percent.

And seniors ranked the federal budget deficit as the most pressing issue facing the country, ahead of jobs, health care, and taxes. One-third of seniors ranked the deficit as the top issue, while 26 percent ranked jobs first. -- Steven Shepard contributed to this report.

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