Maurice Carroll, Director, Quinnipiac University Polling Institute (203) 582-5334 Rubenstein Associates, Inc.

Public Relations Contact: Pat Smith (212) 843- 2011 FOR RELEASE: OCTOBER 17,

NEW YORKERS BACK WALL ST. PROTESTERS 3 - 1, QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL FINDS; STAY AS LONG AS YOU WANT, EVEN REPUBLICANS SAY
By a 67 23 percent margin, New York City voters agree with the views of the Wall Street protesters and say 87 10 percent that it is okay that they are protesting, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Agreeing with the protesters views are Democrats 81 11 percent and independent voters 58 30 percent, while Republicans disagree 58 35 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Even Republicans, however, agree 73 23 percent with the protesters right to be there. New York City voters say 72 24 percent, including 52 41 percent among Republicans, that if the protesters obey the law, they can stay as long as they wish. A total of 72 percent of voters say they understand the protesters views very well or fairly well, with 17 percent who say not too well and 10 percent who say not well at all. Voters split 46 45 percent in their approval of the way police are handling the Wall Street protest, but approve 61 33 percent of how the police are doing their job overall. Its a free country. Let them keep on protesting as long as they obey the law, New Yorkers say overwhelmingly, said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. Critics complain that no one can figure out what the protesters are protesting. But seven out of 10 New Yorkers say they understand and most agree with the anti-Wall Street views of the protesters. For a while, the critics focused on the cops use of pepper spray at the protests. Voters are divided on how police are handling the protesters, but they say almost 2-to-1 that police are doing a good job overall. -more-

Quinnipiac University Poll/October 17, 2011 page 2 Asked who is to blame for the current state of the nations economy; 37 percent of New York City voters blame the administration of former President George W. Bush; 21 percent blame Wall Street and financial institutions; 18 percent blame Congress; 11 percent blame President Barack Obama. New York City voters support 61 28 percent an extension of the states so-called Millionaires Tax. Even Republicans support the extension 55 38 percent. Voters also support 73 19 percent, including 48 40 percent among Republicans, tougher government regulation of banks and Wall Street firms. New Yorkers, even Republicans, back the Wall Street protesters on at least two things theyre talking about, a get-tough attitude toward banks and Wall Street and continuation of the states Millionaires Tax, Carroll said. From October 12 16, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,068 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter.

7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the New York City police are doing their job? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 61% 33 6 Rep 78% 18 3 Dem 60% 35 6 Ind 63% 33 4 Men 67% 27 5 Wom 55% 39 6 Wht 77% 18 5 Blk 40% 55 5 Hsp 59% 35 6

Brnx Approve Disapprove DK/NA 59% 35 6

Kngs 53% 41 6

Man 64% 32 5

Qns 64% 27 9

StIsl 72% 28 -

EDUCATION.... No col College degree degree 56% 38 6 65% 30 5

AGE IN YEARS............ 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve Disapprove DK/NA 56% 38 6 54% 42 4 68% 28 4 67% 23 10

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 53% 38 8 60% 37 3 61% 34 4 72% 23 5

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the New York City police are doing their job? APPROVE....... High Low Feb 7 Apr 20 2002 2000 76 18 6 43 48 9

Oct 17 2011 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 61 33 6

Feb 18 2010 69 23 8

Jun 17 2009 64 31 5

May 8 2008 51 43 6

Mar 13 2008 60 33 7

14. Who do you think is mostly to blame for the current state of the nation's economy the Bush administration, the Obama administration, Wall Street and financial institutions, Congress, or someone else? Tot Bush Obama Wall Street Congress Someone else DK/NA 37% 11 21 18 7 6 Rep 7% 46 14 17 9 8 Dem 48% 1 23 18 5 5 Ind 30% 15 20 21 9 5 Men 32% 11 26 20 8 3 Wom 41% 12 17 16 7 8 Wht 27% 19 22 19 8 6 Blk 55% 18 18 6 3 Hsp 38% 8 19 19 6 10

Brnx Bush Obama Wall Street Congress Someone else DK/NA 41% 8 18 19 4 10

Kngs 40% 8 23 18 7 4

Man 37% 12 22 17 7 4

Qns 37% 13 20 17 9 4

StIsl 14% 26 22 18 10 10

EDUCATION.... No col College degree degree 39% 10 19 17 6 9 35% 12 23 19 8 3

Contd

14. (contd) Who do you think is mostly to blame for the current state of the nation's economy - the Bush administration, the Obama administration, Wall Street and financial institutions, Congress, or someone else? AGE IN YEARS............ 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Bush Obama Wall Street Congress Someone else DK/NA 37% 10 22 15 9 7 42% 8 24 16 6 3 37% 12 22 20 5 5 31% 13 19 21 8 9 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 47% 8 23 9 6 6 34% 10 19 22 6 9 37% 11 24 18 6 3 32% 14 23 21 8 2

15. How closely have you been following news about the Wall Street protests - Would you say you have been following it very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not at all? Tot Very closely Smwht closely Not too closely Not at all DK/NA 36% 44 15 4 1 Rep 37% 39 16 7 Dem 34% 46 14 4 1 Ind 36% 46 15 2 Men 39% 44 15 2 Wom 34% 44 15 6 1 Wht 36% 48 12 3 Blk 32% 45 16 6 1 Hsp 36% 35 25 2 1

Brnx Very closely Smwht closely Not too closely Not at all DK/NA 31% 40 21 8 -

Kngs 34% 43 17 5 1

Man 41% 47 10 2 -

Qns 35% 46 12 5 1

StIsl 44% 39 14 3 -

EDUCATION.... No col College degree degree 31% 43 18 6 2 40% 45 12 3 -

AGE IN YEARS............ 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Very closely Smwht closely Not too closely Not at all DK/NA 33% 41 22 3 1 32% 48 15 6 40% 43 14 3 41% 43 9 6 2

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 35% 44 14 6 1 35% 44 14 5 3 42% 41 14 3 37% 49 12 3 -

16. How well do you feel you understand the views of the Wall Street protesters? understand them very well, fairly well, not too well or not well at all? Tot Very well Fairly well Not too well Not well at all DK/NA 29% 43 17 10 2 Rep 26% 36 18 19 1 Dem 31% 47 14 7 2 Ind 25% 42 21 11 1 Men 32% 39 18 9 1 Wom 26% 46 16 10 2 Wht 27% 41 17 13 2 Blk 30% 47 15 8 1 Hsp 29% 39 22 7 2

Do you

Brnx Very well Fairly well Not too well Not well at all DK/NA 30% 36 21 12 1

Kngs 26% 45 18 10 1

Man 33% 43 14 8 2

Qns 27% 44 17 9 2

StIsl 30% 42 15 11 1

EDUCATION.... No col College degree degree 25% 42 19 12 2 32% 44 15 8 1

AGE IN YEARS............ 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Very well Fairly well Not too well Not well at all DK/NA 28% 47 15 7 2 30% 42 20 8 31% 41 17 10 1 26% 38 17 15 4

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 33% 39 17 10 1 23% 46 19 10 3 36% 45 10 8 1 27% 46 18 8 1

17. Regardless of how you feel about the Wall Street protests, do you generally agree or disagree with the protesters' views? Tot Agree Disagree DK/NA 67% 23 10 Rep 35% 58 7 Dem 81% 11 8 Ind 58% 30 12 Men 66% 25 10 Wom 69% 21 10 Wht 60% 31 8 Blk 86% 7 7 Hsp 64% 21 15

Brnx Agree Disagree DK/NA 64% 19 17

Kngs 72% 22 6

Man 71% 21 8

Qns 62% 26 12

StIsl 61% 31 9

EDUCATION.... No col College degree degree 65% 22 13 70% 23 8

AGE IN YEARS............ 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Agree Disagree DK/NA 69% 19 12 69% 21 10 72% 21 7 62% 27 11

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 67% 18 15 61% 29 10 78% 17 5 64% 29 8

18. And regardless of how you feel about the views of the Wall Street protesters, do you think it is OK that they are protesting, or do you think they should not be protesting? Tot OK to protest Shld not protest DK/NA 87% 10 4 Rep 73% 23 5 Dem 91% 6 3 Ind 85% 12 3 Men 92% 7 2 Wom 82% 12 5 Wht 82% 16 3 Blk 92% 6 2 Hsp 88% 5 7

Brnx OK to protest Shld not protest DK/NA 85% 12 3

Kngs 86% 11 3

Man 89% 8 3

Qns 87% 7 6

StIsl 83% 15 2

EDUCATION.... No col College degree degree 81% 13 6 91% 7 2

AGE IN YEARS............ 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ OK to protest Shld not protest DK/NA 91% 3 6 91% 7 2 89% 8 3 77% 19 4

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 83% 11 6 84% 11 5 90% 9 1 91% 8 1

19. Do you think the Wall Street protests are helping New York City's economy, hurting New York City's economy, or are they not making a difference to New York City's economy? Tot Helping Hurting Not making a diff DK/NA 17% 21 58 4 Rep 7% 44 47 2 Dem 20% 13 62 5 Ind 11% 27 60 3 Men 15% 22 62 1 Wom 18% 20 56 6 Wht 10% 29 58 3 Blk 28% 9 56 6 Hsp 19% 24 52 5

Brnx Helping Hurting Not making a diff DK/NA 18% 25 54 3

Kngs 21% 17 59 3

Man 13% 22 62 4

Qns 15% 20 59 6

StIsl 15% 29 54 2

EDUCATION.... No col College degree degree 21% 22 52 6 13% 20 63 3

AGE IN YEARS............ 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Helping Hurting Not making a diff DK/NA 18% 21 58 3 16% 17 64 2 19% 21 56 4 13% 24 55 8

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 28% 21 43 8 12% 20 65 4 15% 19 64 2 10% 23 64 2

20. If the Wall Street protesters obey the law, do you think they should be allowed to stay as long as they wish or do you think there should be a limit on how long they can stay? Tot Let stay Limit stay DK/NA 72% 24 4 Rep 52% 41 6 Dem 77% 20 3 Ind 69% 25 6 Men 73% 23 4 Wom 72% 25 4 Wht 71% 26 3 Blk 79% 18 3 Hsp 68% 27 5

Brnx Let stay Limit stay DK/NA 70% 26 4

Kngs 72% 22 6

Man 78% 20 2

Qns 69% 28 3

StIsl 68% 30 2

EDUCATION.... No col College degree degree 64% 29 7 78% 20 2

AGE IN YEARS............ 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Let stay Limit stay DK/NA 81% 15 4 76% 20 4 75% 23 2 54% 38 7

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 62% 34 4 65% 29 6 78% 21 1 81% 16 3

21. Do you approve or disapprove of the way New York City police have handled the Wall Street protests? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 46% 45 9 Rep 70% 23 7 Dem 40% 51 10 Ind 50% 44 6 Men 51% 41 8 Wom 42% 48 10 Wht 62% 29 9 Blk 32% 62 5 Hsp 37% 51 12

Brnx Approve Disapprove DK/NA 39% 50 11

Kngs 41% 49 10

Man 49% 46 5

Qns 51% 40 9

StIsl 62% 29 9

EDUCATION.... No col College degree degree 43% 47 10 49% 44 7

AGE IN YEARS............ 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve Disapprove DK/NA 37% 52 11 44% 51 5 50% 45 5 56% 27 17

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 38% 49 13 51% 43 6 48% 46 6 50% 43 7

22. Thinking about the regulation of banks and Wall Street firms: Do you support or oppose tougher government regulations of banks and Wall Street firms? Tot Support Oppose DK/NA 73% 19 9 Rep 48% 40 12 Dem 80% 13 7 Ind 69% 23 8 Men 75% 19 6 Wom 71% 18 11 Wht 74% 19 7 Blk 79% 14 7 Hsp 62% 25 13

Brnx Support Oppose DK/NA 65% 19 16

Kngs 79% 15 5

Man 75% 20 5

Qns 67% 20 13

StIsl 73% 23 5

EDUCATION.... No col College degree degree 66% 21 13 77% 17 6

AGE IN YEARS............ 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Support Oppose DK/NA 69% 20 11 76% 18 6 78% 17 5 67% 19 14

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 67% 22 11 71% 17 12 80% 16 5 75% 21 4

23. As you may know, New York State's so called "millionaires' tax" is set to expire in December. Do you think the state should extend the millionaires' tax, or end the millionaires' tax? Tot Extend tax End the tax DK/NA 61% 28 12 Rep 55% 38 7 Dem 62% 27 11 Ind 63% 24 13 Men 61% 29 10 Wom 60% 27 13 Wht 62% 25 13 Blk 61% 30 9 Hsp 54% 35 11

Brnx Extend tax End the tax DK/NA 63% 27 10

Kngs 59% 28 13

Man 64% 27 9

Qns 59% 28 13

StIsl 58% 30 12

EDUCATION.... No col College degree degree 55% 32 13 65% 24 11

AGE IN YEARS............ 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Extend tax End the tax DK/NA 58% 33 9 65% 23 12 61% 30 9 59% 27 14

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 55% 33 12 56% 35 9 64% 26 10 65% 22 13