Not publicly relapsing after resigning over a sex scandal is proving to be an effective campaign strategy: Eliot Spitzer has expanded his lead over Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer to 19 points, according to a Quinnipiac poll released today. Beyond the 56–37 percent gap overall, Spitzer is winning big among women, 54–36 percent, and black voters, 68–21 percent. (For comparison’s sake, fourth-place Weiner currently has about 8 percent of the female vote, with Bill de Blasio at 31 percent and Christine Quinn at 26 percent.)
While Stringer held his own in two surprisingly personal debates, alluding repeatedly to his opponent’s moral failings, the former governor’s name recognition and uneventful time away from politics are working for him: Just 23 percent of those surveyed said the prostitution scandal disqualifies him, while 32 percent said it doesn’t matter at all.
With four weeks left, Stringer is still trying to get noticed. In addition to eating a cronut today, his first television ad will air tomorrow and targets the middle class. The voice-over spot does not mention Spitzer at all, knowing full well that he can get enough TV coverage on his own.
