NEW YORK—Democratic mayoral nominee Bill de Blasio widened his lead over Republican candidate Joe Lhota, according to a Quinnipiac poll released Thursday morning.
De Blasio was up 71 percent to Lhota’s 21 percent with five percent undecided, in a survey of 1198 likely voters. Adolfo Carrion Jr., who is running on the Independent line, received only two percent, with 73 percent saying they had not heard enough about him.
De Blasio leads heavily in minority categories with 90 percent of black respondents and 79 percent of Hispanics choosing de Blasio.
“It is grateful and humbling,” de Blasio said in an interview on 1010WINS this morning. “I don’t take anything for granted even though it is a wonderful poll.” He said he would continue to campaign until the election.
The poll also addressed the issue of stop and frisk, something de Blasio was able to capitalize on during the primary season. His message of being the “only candidate to end the stop and frisk era” came at a time when the controversial police practice was ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge, and the City Council voted to put two reform measures in place.
According to the poll, the message came across loud and clear. Of those who said they would vote for de Blasio, 87 percent said stop and frisk was excessive.
In the 1010WINS interview, de Blasio was asked what he would replace stop and frisk with. The mayoral candidate has never said he would end stop and frisk, but rather stop the unconstitutional stops. He did not correct the interviewer, saying he wants to improve community and police relationships.
During his campaign, de Blasio has said he will replace current NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly. In the morning radio interview de Blasio was asked who he would replace Kelly with. Former Commissioner Bill Bratton had been a name de Blasio had thrown out during the campaign, however de Blasio did not mention any names, saying he prefered a New Yorker, or someone who has substantial New York experience.
Bratton spoke at NYU on Wednesday, saying he had not met with de Blasio about the job, but would be open to it.
Following the release of the poll, the de Blasio campaign released their latest television ad, called “Everyone.” The ad showed parts of de Blasio’s primary night speech in Park Slope. With his family by his side, an image that has become a staple during this campaign, de Blasio summarizes his campaign message: giving everyone a shot in the city.
The ad was reminiscent of President Obama’s “remember election night?” ad from his reelection bid.
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