Amid 2014 Fundraising, Cuomo Approval Rating Dips to New Low

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has raked in more money than any other gubernatorial candiate in the country facing election next year, according to a report released Monday by The Wall Street Journal. 

 

As of July, Cuomo had raised $27.8 million for his campaign. At the same time, Gov. Jerry Brown of California had raised $10 million, Doug Gansler of Maryland had raised $5.2 million and John Kasich of Ohio had raised $4.4 million.

 

And following a strong fundraising push over the summer, experts believe Cuomo's funds will continue to rise -- perhaps even far beyond what is needed for him to secure a second term as governor. 

 

Then the question becomes: What does he plan to do with the money left over?

 

Bruce Gyory, a political consultant, told The Wall Street Journal that Cuomo would likely need between $20 million and $30 million to win a second seat as governor. (Cuomo spent $28 million in 2010 to win by a large margin, The Wall Street Journal reported.)

 

It is unclear whether Cuomo will run for president in 2016, but political experts say that whatever money is left over next year's election could potentially be put toward a federal super PAC.

 

In the meantime, Cuomo's job-approval rating is slipping, according to a poll released Monday afternoon by Siena College. In fact, the numbers are as low as they have ever been for Cuomo.

 

Fifty-six percent of New Yorkers say Cuomo is doing a fair or poor job, the poll found. Forty-four percent said he was doing an excellent or good job after three years in office.

 

Cuomo has lost the most support in New York City, while maintaining strong bonds upstate where he has been traveling recently to mend wounds as a result of his strong push for gun control restrictions, the Associated Press reported.

 

His peronal favoribility rating remained high at 61 percent, the poll found. But it's a drop from the 71 percent he had secured at the beginning of the year.