In the first polling conducted after the latest round of revelations about Anthony Weiner's racy online relationships, the mayoral candidate's favorability rating has sharply tanked since June. According to a new NBC4 New York/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn is leading among registered Democrats at 25%, with Weiner at just 16%.
A poll conducted last month had Weiner leading Quinn 25% to 20%. And just one week ago, Weiner was ahead of the pack and enjoyed a three-point lead over Quinn, according to a Quinnipiac poll.
When participants were asked this week whether Weiner should stay or drop out of the race, 47% of New York Democrats said he should stay in the race, while 43% said he should drop out. Last month's poll showed 59% of Democrats saying he deserved a second chance at politics. Weiner has said he will not drop out of the race and has continued campaigning despite mounting calls for him to do so.
Respondents were also asked whether his wife's support makes Weiner more trustworthy as a candidate; 73% said it makes no difference, 15% said it makes the more likely to trust him and 12% said her support makes it less likely.
The one-day poll was conducted July 24, a day after Weiner admitted to exchanging sexually charged messages online even after his 2011 resignation from Congress. The poll questioned 551 Democratic voters, and has a margin of error of plus-minus 4.2 percentage points. Democratic mayoral candidates face a Sept. 10 primary.