The two New York City politicians aiming to overcome sex scandals and get back into office may still have some serious convincing to do.
A new Siena Poll out Monday shows that a majority of New York City voters are embarrassed by the national attention being paid to disgraced congressman Anthony Weiner and former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, two Democrats seeking citywide office this fall. Weiner is running for mayor, Spitzer for comptroller.
Sixty-eight percent of statewide voters - including 62 percent of New York City voters - say the national attention from their efforts to return to office is embarrassing. Sixteen percent of statewide voters say the attention is not a big deal while eight percent say it's entertaining.
As for their approval ratings, they're what's to be expected: Weiner, who has continued to be hit with questions about the lewd online conversations he had with various women, is facing an unfavorable rating of 80 percent - a record for the Siena poll.
Spitzer, who, in comparison to Weiner, is long past answering questions about his 2008 prostitution scandal, has a 59 percent unfavorable rating, down from the 79 percent unfavorable mark he had following his resignation as governor.
The Siena Poll was conducted August 4-7 among 814 New York State registered voters. The poll's margin of error is +/- 3.4 percent.
Weiner, meanwhile, has released the first TV ad in his New York City mayoral bid, making no mention of his scandal in the ad.
"Powerful voices have made it clear from the very beginning that they didn't want me to win. But this isn't about what they want. They've gotten their way for far too long. If you give me the chance, I will fight for you and your family every single day." Weiner says in the ad.
The website Politicker reports that Weiner's campaign spent $500,000 on the ad buy.
