HAMDEN CT - New York State Gov. David Paterson’s plunge in approval rating has bottomed out as voters disapprove 61 – 21 percent of the job he is doing, identical to results from March 5, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.  Another 17 percent are undecided.

Voters say 50 – 39 percent that Gov. Paterson should serve until the end of his term on December 31 rather than resign, with 11 percent undecided, the independent Quinnipiac University poll finds.  

Support for Paterson dropped dramatically in 48 hours last week: Voters said 61 – 31 percent March 3 that he should complete his term rather than resign.  By March 5, support for him to complete the term was 46 – 42 percent.

Paterson’s 21 percent approval is one of the lowest ever measured for any elected official in any state surveyed by Quinnipiac University in 18 years.

In this latest survey, black voters disapprove 40 – 35 percent of the job Paterson is doing, but say 70 – 24 percent that he should complete his term.  White voters disapprove 67 – 18 percent and say 45 – 41 percent that he should serve until December 31.

“When the headlines die down, Gov. David Paterson’s poll numbers level off,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

“Could the Governor’s job approval go any lower, we wondered when it hit bottom five days ago.  New Yorkers left it right where it was, at the lowest ever.

“It’s hardly a vote of confidence, but the should-he-stay or should-he-go number edged up a trifle in the Governor’s favor.”

New York State voters say 45 – 27 percent that Paterson would do a better job than Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch governing the state for the rest of the year, with 28 percent undecided.  This compares to a 37 – 32 percent vote for Paterson March 5.