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

Public Relations Contact: Pat Smith (212) 2012 FOR RELEASE: MAY 30, 843-

CUOMO APPROVAL TOPS 70 PERCENT, HIGHEST IN 11 YEARS, QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL FINDS; GILLIBRAND SCORES HIGH AS SHE BURIES GOP CHALLENGERS
New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo gets a 71 16 percent approval rating today, the highest score for an Empire State governor since Gov. George Pataki hit 81 12 percent in the wake of 9/11, and continuing Gov. Cuomos year-long trend with the highest approval rating of any governor in the seven states surveyed by the Quinnipiac University poll. Voters support 79 18 percent, including 61 34 percent among Republicans, raising the minimum wage, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Cuomos job approval is 68 20 percent among Republicans, 76 11 percent among Democrats and 69 19 percent among independent voters, 71 15 percent among Protestants, 71 18 percent among Catholics and 83 9 percent among Jews. There is no gender or racial gap. Approval is 68 19 percent upstate, 72 15 percent in New York City and 76 12 percent in the suburbs. New York State voters support 73 21 percent a key Cuomo initiative to create a new state agency to monitor treatment of the disabled and to investigate claims of abuse. Support is strong among all groups. Treatment of the disabled is so important that a new state agency is needed, 54 percent of voters say, while 31 percent say it concentrates too much power in the governors office. For the first time, Gov. Andrew Cuomos job approval tops 70 percent, said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. We havent seen scores this high since Gov. George Pataki and everyone else got a vote of confidence right after 9/11. Gov. Cuomo might not be the most popular governor in the nation, but hes the most popular Democrat or Republican in the seven states surveyed by Quinnipiac University. For example, hes well-ahead of New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christies all-time best 59 36 percent. Cuomo tops that score among Republicans in New York State. -more-

Quinnipiac University Poll/May 30, 2012 page 2 Many New York State voters want to hike the minimum wage beyond the $8.50 per hour presently under consideration in Albany:

32 percent of voters support an $8.50 per hour minimum wage; 6 percent support a raise, but not as high as $8.50; 40 percent support a raise higher than $8.50; 18 percent oppose any increase. Small businesses will not reduce the number of people they hire if the minimum wage is

increased, voters say 51 41 percent. Voters also support 56 33 percent the creation of Las Vegas-type casinos, with no opposition from any group. Support for changing the State Constitution, a necessary step to create non-Indian casinos, is 49 42 percent. Women are divided, with 45 percent opposed and 42 percent in support. Teacher evaluations should be made public, New York State voters say 56 40 percent, including 62 33 percent among voters who have children in public schools. Union households are divided 49 48 percent, but all other groups support the release. Voters say 45 18 percent, however, that the teacher evaluations are flawed. New Yorkers are consistent on the issues left for the Legislatures closing days. Were a true-blue state and we like raising the minimum wage, Carroll said. We want to better protect the disabled, even if it means another government agency. We want real casinos, but were a little less eager about changing the State Constitution. And we want to know how our teachers are doing, even if we dont trust the results of the tests. Voters approve 60 22 percent of the job U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is doing, matching her best score. Sen. Gillibrand tops any of her largely unknown Republican challengers 2-1: 56 26 percent over U.S. Rep. Robert Turner; 57 24 percent over Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos; 58 24 percent over businesswoman Wendy Long. The number of voters who dont know enough to form an opinion about the three Republican contenders ranges from 76 to 84 percent. From May 22 28, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,504 New York State voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 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.

5. If the election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Bob Turner the Republican and Kirsten Gillibrand the Democrat, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Turner Gillibrand SMONE ELSE(VOL) WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) DK/NA 26% 56 2 15 69% 17 1 13 3% 85 2 9 Sub 36% 47 2 15 26% 47 1 2 25 32% 51 3 15 21% 62 1 16 31% 53 1 14 10% 75 1 2 12 16% 62 2 20

UpStat NYC Turner Gillibrand SMONE ELSE(VOL) WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) DK/NA 29% 52 1 2 17 18% 66 2 14

TREND: If the election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Bob Turner the Republican and Kirsten Gillibrand the Democrat, for whom would you vote? May 30 Apr 05 2012 2012 Turner Gillibrand SMONE ELSE(VOL) WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) DK/NA 26 56 2 15 27 57 1 2 13

6. If the election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were George Maragos the Republican and Kirsten Gillibrand the Democrat, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Maragos Gillibrand SMONE ELSE(VOL) WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) DK/NA 24% 57 1 2 16 62% 20 1 1 16 3% 86 2 8 Sub 37% 45 2 16 22% 49 2 2 25 30% 53 1 3 13 18% 61 2 18 29% 54 1 2 15 9% 78 1 3 9 7% 64 3 26

UpStat NYC Maragos Gillibrand SMONE ELSE(VOL) WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) DK/NA 27% 54 1 2 16 13% 69 1 2 15

TREND: If the election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were George Maragos the Republican and Kirsten Gillibrand the Democrat, for whom would you vote? May 30 2012 Maragos Gillibrand SMONE ELSE(VOL) WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) DK/NA 24 57 1 2 16 Apr 05 2012 23 57 2 2 15

7. If the election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Wendy Long the Republican and Conservative party candidate and Kirsten Gillibrand the Democratic party candidate, for whom would you vote? Tot Long Gillibrand SMONE ELSE(VOL) WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) DK/NA 24% 58 1 3 15 Rep 61% 20 1 1 16 Dem 2% 88 2 7 Sub 36% 47 1 2 14 Ind 23% 49 1 4 23 Men 28% 54 4 14 Wom 20% 62 1 2 15 Wht 29% 54 1 2 13 Blk 7% 80 1 3 8 His 12% 64 2 22

UpStat NYC Long Gillibrand SMONE ELSE(VOL) WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) DK/NA 26% 55 1 3 16 14% 69 3 14

TREND: If the election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Wendy Long the Republican and Conservative party candidate and Kirsten Gillibrand the Democratic party candidate, for whom would you vote? May 30 2012 Long Gillibrand SMONE ELSE(VOL) WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) DK/NA 24 58 1 3 15 Apr 05 2012 25 58 1 3 13

8. Is your opinion of Kirsten Gillibrand favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about her? Tot Favorable Unfavorable Hvn't hrd enough REFUSED 50% 18 29 2 Rep 28% 40 29 2 Dem 68% 3 27 2 Ind 44% 22 31 2 Men 45% 24 29 2 Wom 54% 13 30 3 Wht 50% 22 26 2 Blk 60% 5 34 1 His 43% 6 45 6

TREND: Is your opinion of Kirsten Gillibrand favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about her? (*Low also 24% Feb 2009) FAVORABLE.... High Low May 30 Apr 6 2012 2009* 50 18 29 2 24 11 64 1

May 30 2012 Favorable Unfavorable Hvn't hrd enough REFUSED 50 18 29 2

Sep 01 2010 38 21 39 2

Jun 22 2010 37 23 39 1

Apr 13 2010 37 23 39 1

Feb 3 2010 33 22 44 1

9. Is your opinion of Bob Turner favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Favorable Unfavorable Hvn't hrd enough REFUSED 12% 11 76 1 25% 2 73 5% 18 75 2 12% 8 79 2 13% 12 73 2 11% 10 78 1 13% 9 77 1 8% 17 73 1 11% 16 69 4

10. Is your opinion of George Maragos favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Favorable Unfavorable Hvn't hrd enough REFUSED 7% 8 84 1 17% 3 80 4% 11 84 1 5% 6 89 1 8% 8 83 1 7% 7 85 1 7% 8 85 1 5% 8 85 1 11% 8 79 2

11. Is your opinion of Wendy Long favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about her? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Favorable Unfavorable Hvn't hrd enough REFUSED 6% 8 84 1 14% 1 85 3% 11 84 2 7% 7 86 1 7% 8 84 1 6% 8 85 1 7% 6 86 1 8% 11 80 1 6% 11 80 3

12. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling his job as Governor? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 71% 16 13 Rep 68% 20 12 Dem 76% 11 13 Sub 76% 12 12 Ind 69% 19 12 Union HsHld 67% 23 10 Men 71% 17 12 Wom 72% 15 13 Wht 73% 16 11 Blk 74% 11 15 His 65% 17 19

UpStat NYC Approve Disapprove DK/NA 68% 19 13 72% 15 13

HAVE KIDS... <18 PubSch 70% 20 9 67% 22 11 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME <30K 30-50 50-100 >100 65% 16 19 72% 16 12 74% 15 10 78% 16 5

COLLEGE DEG Yes No Approve Disapprove DK/NA 74% 15 11 70% 16 14

AGE IN YEARS..... 18-34 35-54 55+ 64% 18 18 72% 19 9 76% 12 12

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling his job as Governor? APPROVE....... High Low May 30 Apr 04 Feb 15 Dec 20 Oct 26 May 30 Feb 23 2012 2012 2012 2011 2011 2012 2011 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 71 16 13 68 19 13 69 19 12 68 17 15 65 19 15 71 16 13 56 15 29

13. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charles Schumer is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 64% 26 10 Rep 41% 51 8 Dem 81% 7 12 Ind 60% 31 9 Men 62% 31 7 Wom 66% 21 13 Wht 61% 30 9 Blk 81% 6 13 His 74% 12 14

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charles Schumer is handling his job as United States Senator? (*High also 69% Oct 2001) APPROVE....... High Low Dec 08 Apr 15 2004* 1999 69 16 15 51 22 28

May 30 2012 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 64 26 10

Apr 05 2012 63 25 12

Feb 15 2012 60 29 11

Dec 21 2011 62 27 11

Oct 26 2011 61 28 11

14. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Kirsten Gillibrand is handling her job as United States Senator? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 60% 22 18 Rep 35% 45 20 Dem 80% 6 15 Ind 55% 26 19 Men 56% 26 18 Wom 64% 18 17 Wht 58% 24 18 Blk 78% 6 16 His 64% 11 25

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Kirsten Gillibrand is handling her job as United States Senator? (*High also 60% Apr 2012) APPROVE....... High Low May 30 Feb 17 2012* 2009 60 22 18 28 10 62

May 30 2012 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 60 22 18

Apr 05 2012 60 21 19

Feb 15 2012 47 26 27

Dec 21 2011 50 23 27

Oct 26 2011 50 24 26

18. Currently, Republicans control the House of Representatives and Democrats control the United States Senate. After the election in November, would you prefer that the Democrats control both houses of Congress, the Republicans control both houses of Congress, or would you prefer that control is split as it is today? Tot Democrats Republicans Split DK/NA 42% 23 31 4 Rep 2% 60 34 3 Dem 70% 1 26 2 Ind 34% 23 35 8 Men 40% 28 28 4 Wom 44% 17 34 5 Wht 37% 29 29 5 Blk 60% 1 38 1 His 53% 9 35 3

21. Would you support or oppose raising the minimum wage in New York State, which is now $7.25 an hour? Tot Support Oppose DK/NA 79% 18 2 Rep 61% 34 5 Dem 92% 7 1 Ind 78% 21 2 Men 75% 23 2 Wom 83% 14 2 Wht 74% 23 3 Blk 95% 4 1 His 89% 11 -

COLLEGE DEG Yes No Support Oppose DK/NA 77% 20 3 81% 17 2

AGE IN YEARS..... 18-34 35-54 55+ 86% 13 1 80% 19 1 77% 20 3

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME <30K 30-50 50-100 >100 85% 14 2 78% 20 2 79% 19 2 77% 21 2

TREND: Would you support or oppose raising the minimum wage in New York State, which is now $7.25 an hour? May 30 2012 Support Oppose DK/NA 79 18 2 Apr 04 2012 78 20 3

22. (If support q21) Do you think that the minimum wage should be $8.50 an hour, should be less than $8.50 an hour, or should be more than $8.50 an hour? SUPPORTS INCREASE Q21...................................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Exactly $8.50 Less than $8.50 More than $8.50 DK/NA 40% 7 50 2 54% 11 35 36% 6 55 3 39% 8 51 2 41% 7 49 3 40% 8 51 2 45% 9 43 3 26% 4 70 34% 7 58 1

COLLEGE DEG Yes No Exactly $8.50 Less than $8.50 More than $8.50 DK/NA 40% 8 49 4 41% 7 51 1

AGE IN YEARS..... 18-34 35-54 55+ 41% 9 48 2 38% 8 53 1 42% 7 49 2

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME <30K 30-50 50-100 >100 40% 3 57 38% 8 51 2 50% 9 40 1 35% 11 49 5

TREND: (If support) Do you think that the minimum wage should be $8.50 an hour, should be less than $8.50 an hour, or should be more than $8.50 an hour? SUPPORT INCREASE May 30 Apr 04 2012 2012 Exactly $8.50 Less than $8.50 More than $8.50 DK/NA 40 7 50 2 37 8 52 3

22a.(COMBINED Q21 & Q22)Would you support or oppose raising the minimum wage in New York State, which is now $7.25 an hour? IF SUPPORT: Do you think that the minimum wage should be $8.50 an hour, should be less than $8.50 an hour, or should be more than $8.50 an hour? Tot Increase to $8.50 Increase < $8.50 Increase > $8.50 Oppose increase DK/NA 32% 6 40 18 4 Rep 33% 7 21 34 5 Dem 33% 6 51 7 4 Ind 30% 6 39 21 3 Men 31% 5 37 23 4 Wom 33% 6 43 14 4 Wht 34% 6 32 23 5 Blk 25% 3 67 4 1 His 30% 6 52 11 1

COLLEGE DEG Yes No Increase to $8.50 Increase < $8.50 Increase > $8.50 Oppose increase DK/NA 30% 6 37 20 6 33% 6 41 17 3

AGE IN YEARS..... 18-34 35-54 55+ 35% 7 41 13 3 31% 6 42 19 2 32% 5 37 20 5

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME <30K 30-50 50-100 >100 34% 2 49 14 2 30% 7 40 20 4 40% 7 32 19 3 27% 8 38 21 6

TREND: (COMBINED Q21 & Q22)Would you support or oppose raising the minimum wage in New York State, which is now $7.25 an hour? IF SUPPORT: Do you think that the minimum wage should be $8.50 an hour, should be less than $8.50 an hour, or should be more than $8.50 an hour? May 30 2012 Increase to $8.50 Increase < $8.50 Increase > $8.50 Oppose increase DK/NA 32 6 40 18 4 Apr 04 2012 29 6 41 20 5

23. Do you think small businesses will reduce the number of people they hire if the minimum wage is raised, or don't you think so? Tot Yes No DK/NA 41% 51 8 Rep 56% 36 7 Dem 30% 59 10 Ind 42% 53 5 Men 40% 55 4 Wom 42% 47 11 Wht 42% 50 8 Blk 33% 59 7 His 42% 49 8

COLLEGE DEG Yes No Yes No DK/NA 38% 55 7 43% 48 9

AGE IN YEARS..... 18-34 35-54 55+ 46% 49 5 38% 57 5 41% 48 11

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME <30K 30-50 50-100 >100 42% 49 9 48% 43 9 37% 57 6 38% 58 4

TREND: Do you think small businesses will reduce the number of people they hire if the minimum wage is raised, or don't you think so? May 30 2012 Yes No DK/NA 41 51 8 Apr 04 2012 41 51 8

28. Do you support or oppose the creation of non-indian casinos in New York State, similar to those in Atlantic City and Las Vegas? Tot Support Oppose DK/NA 56% 33 11 Rep 64% 30 6 Dem 52% 34 14 Sub 58% 32 10 Ind 55% 35 10 Men 62% 32 6 Wom 50% 34 15 Wht 55% 35 10 Blk 68% 22 10 His 58% 32 10

UpStat NYC Support Oppose DK/NA 55% 35 10 55% 32 13

TREND: Do you support or oppose the creation of non-indian casinos in New York State, similar to those in Atlantic City and Las Vegas? May 30 2012 Support Oppose DK/NA 56 33 11 Feb 15 2012 54 38 8 Dec 21 2011 64 31 5 Sep 21 2011 56 37 7

29. There is a proposal to change the state constitution to allow for the creation of non-indian casinos in New York State, similar to those in Atlantic City and Las Vegas. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Good idea Bad idea DK/NA 49% 42 9 Rep 51% 40 8 Dem 49% 42 9 Sub 50% 41 9 Ind 48% 43 8 Men 57% 38 5 Wom 42% 45 12 Wht 49% 43 9 Blk 51% 39 10 His 56% 32 12

UpStat NYC Good idea Bad idea DK/NA 49% 43 7 49% 41 11

TREND: There is a proposal to change the state constitution to allow for the creation of non-indian casinos in New York State, similar to those in Atlantic City and Las Vegas. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? May 30 2012 Good idea Bad idea DK/NA 49 42 9 Feb 15 2012 50 42 8

30. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling education? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 47% 31 22 Rep 41% 37 22 Dem 54% 25 22 Sub 51% 27 22 Ind 45% 33 21 Union HsHld 47% 36 17 Men 51% 29 20 Wom 43% 32 25 Wht 46% 30 24 Blk 54% 32 14 His 43% 36 21

UpStat NYC Approve Disapprove DK/NA 44% 35 21 47% 29 24

HAVE KIDS... <18 PubSch 47% 37 16 45% 41 14

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling education? May 30 2012 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 47 31 22 Feb 16 2012 45 42 13

31. Some people say that public school teachers who do an outstanding job should be rewarded with additional pay, so called merit pay. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Good idea Bad idea DK/NA 64% 31 5 Rep 60% 34 6 Dem 70% 25 5 Sub 62% 35 3 Ind 61% 36 3 Union HsHld 56% 41 4 Men 64% 31 5 Wom 65% 30 5 Wht 61% 33 6 Blk 67% 31 2 His 84% 16 -

UpStat NYC Good idea Bad idea DK/NA 59% 35 6 72% 23 5

HAVE KIDS... <18 PubSch 66% 29 5 65% 29 6

TREND: Some people say that public school teachers who do an outstanding job should be rewarded with additional pay, so called merit pay. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? May 30 2012 Good idea Bad idea DK/NA 64 31 5 Feb 16 2012 64 31 5 Jun 02 2011 68 28 4 Apr 14 2011 67 30 3 Feb 24 2011 64 33 3

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32. Some people have suggested that firing public school teachers should be made easier. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Good idea Bad idea DK/NA 62% 29 8 Rep 76% 19 5 Dem 53% 38 8 Sub 70% 25 5 Ind 66% 25 9 Union HsHld 60% 32 8 Men 66% 27 7 Wom 59% 32 9 Wht 68% 24 8 Blk 38% 56 6 His 53% 42 6

UpStat NYC Good idea Bad idea DK/NA 61% 30 8 59% 31 10

HAVE KIDS... <18 PubSch 65% 29 6 62% 32 5

TREND: Some people have suggested that firing public school teachers should be made easier. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? May 30 2012 Good idea Bad idea DK/NA 62 29 8 Feb 16 2012 67 26 7 Jun 02 2011 63 31 6 Apr 14 2011 64 31 5 Feb 24 2011 62 33 5

33. If public school administrators need to lay off teachers, do you think they should lay off teachers based on seniority or based on their performance? Tot Seniority Performance DK/NA 11% 83 6 Rep 8% 88 4 Dem 11% 82 7 Sub 10% 85 4 Ind 12% 84 4 Union HsHld 20% 72 8 Men 11% 84 5 Wom 11% 83 6 Wht 11% 84 5 Blk 10% 85 5 His 13% 81 6

UpStat NYC Seniority Performance DK/NA 13% 82 5 9% 84 7

HAVE KIDS... <18 PubSch 12% 85 3 13% 85 2

TREND: If public school administrators need to lay off teachers, do you think they should lay off teachers based on seniority or based on their performance? May 30 2012 Seniority Performance DK/NA 11 83 6 Feb 16 2012 9 87 4 Jun 02 2011 13 82 5 Apr 14 2011 14 82 4 Feb 24 2011 12 85 4

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34. Do you approve or disapprove of releasing to the public the results of evaluations of public school teachers? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 56% 40 4 Rep 65% 31 4 Dem 52% 43 5 Sub 58% 40 3 Ind 55% 42 3 Union HsHld 49% 48 2 Men 59% 38 3 Wom 54% 41 5 Wht 54% 42 4 Blk 64% 34 2 His 54% 42 4

UpStat NYC Approve Disapprove DK/NA 56% 40 5 56% 40 4

HAVE KIDS... <18 PubSch 59% 36 4 62% 33 5

35. Do you trust the results of the recently released teacher evaluations or do you think the teacher evaluations were flawed? Tot Trust results Results flawed DK/NA 18% 45 37 Rep 21% 41 38 Dem 19% 43 37 Sub 22% 41 37 Ind 16% 48 35 Union HsHld 15% 52 33 Men 20% 45 35 Wom 16% 44 40 Wht 15% 43 42 Blk 25% 48 28 His 27% 48 25

UpStat NYC Trust results Results flawed DK/NA 17% 41 42 17% 51 33

HAVE KIDS... <18 PubSch 22% 48 30 23% 47 30

42. Do you support or oppose creation of a new state agency to monitor treatment of disabled people and to investigate claims that workers abused the disabled? Tot Support Oppose DK/NA 73% 21 6 Rep 63% 29 8 Dem 83% 10 7 Ind 67% 28 5 Men 67% 27 6 Wom 78% 16 7 Wht 69% 24 7 Blk 85% 9 6 His 79% 14 7

43. Which comes closer to your point of view? Treatment of the disabled is an important issue requiring creation of a new state agency OR The creation of this new state agency is concentrating too much power in the Governor's office. Tot Important issue Too much power DK/NA 54% 31 15 Rep 36% 48 16 Dem 67% 18 15 Ind 50% 36 14 Men 48% 38 14 Wom 59% 24 17 Wht 50% 34 16 Blk 66% 24 10 His 65% 19 17

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