In the wake of Mayor Eric Adams' ongoing legal battles, a recent poll suggests that New Yorkers are yearning for the return of former Mayor Mike Bloomberg.
The survey, conducted by Morning Consult, revealed that 48% of respondents would welcome Bloomberg's re-entry into the political arena should Adams be ousted or step down.
According to the New York Post, the poll also indicated a lack of enthusiasm for a potential comeback by former Mayor Bill de Blasio, with 54% of respondents expressing disinterest. The survey further revealed that 33% of respondents were against the idea of Bloomberg, the 82-year-old billionaire, returning for a fourth term.
The poll also shed light on the public's sentiment towards other potential candidates. Ex-Governor Andrew Cuomo, who resigned in 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations, received support from 42% of respondents. State Attorney General Letitia James also garnered considerable backing, with 40% of adults expressing their support for her potential candidacy.
The survey's findings underscore the precarious position of Mayor Adams. A significant 58% of respondents disapproved of his job performance, while only 29% approved. Furthermore, a mere 7% believed in Adams' innocence regarding his criminal corruption indictment, and 57% called for his resignation.
"Even if Adams is able to beat the charges, as he has pledged to, our survey makes clear that he has already been convicted in the court of public opinion," Morning Consult stated in its analysis of the findings. The survey also suggested that New Yorkers are nostalgic for the Bloomberg era, a sentiment that future leaders should heed.
The poll also gauged support for other potential candidates, including Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and former city Comptroller Scott Stringer, both of whom received backing from about one-third of respondents. Current city Comptroller Brad Lander was supported by 28% of respondents.
The survey also revealed that 60% of respondents believed Bloomberg, who served as mayor from 2002 to 2013, improved the city, while only 19% thought he made it worse. In comparison, only 33% of respondents felt that de Blasio improved the city, while 42% believed he made it worse. Adams received the lowest rating, with 55% of respondents stating he has made the city worse.
The poll also highlighted the city's pressing issues, with seven in ten voters expressing concern about the rising cost of living and two-thirds identifying housing affordability as a problem. Approximately six in ten respondents felt that homelessness, immigration, and crime were worsening.
While Bloomberg's camp has remained silent on the poll's findings, one of his top aides, Kevin Sheekey, highlighted the favorable results in his daily news digest. A source close to Cuomo viewed the poll positively, suggesting that the ex-governor's moderate approach to governance and competence mirrored Bloomberg's.
The Morning Consult survey was conducted online between October 4-8, with a sample of 1,510 adults living in New York City. The results have a margin of error of plus or minus 3-percentage points.
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