Maurice Carroll, Director, Quinnipiac University Polling Institute Rubenstein Associates, Inc.

Public Relations Contact: Pat Smith (212) 843-

FOR RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

UPSTATE NEW YORK VOTERS DIVIDED ON GAS DRILLING, QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL FINDS; VOTERS STATEWIDE SUPPORT VEGAS-STYLE CASINOS
While New York State voters support by a thin 45 41 percent margin drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale because they think economic benefits outweigh the environmental concerns, upstate voters are divided, with 47 percent opposed because they are more worried about the environment and 43 percent in support, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. New York City voters split on drilling 41 41 percent and suburban voters support drilling 56 31 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Support is 69 20 percent among Republicans and 47 42 percent among independent voters while Democrats are opposed 52 35 percent. There is a gender gap as men support drilling 52 39 percent while women are opposed 44 39 percent. Tax the companies that drill for natural gas, New York State voters say 51 36 percent. By a strong 74 19 percent, New Yorkers believe drilling will create jobs. Support among upstate, New York City and suburban voters is similar. But voters believe 51 13 percent, with 35 percent who dont know, that hydro-fracking will damage the environment. There is strong concern about the environment, 54 16 percent, among upstate voters. Would hydro-fracking produce jobs? Overwhelmingly voters say yes. Would it damage the environment? Another yes but less emphatically, said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. Upstate voters, who have the most to gain in terms of jobs and the most to lose in terms of the environment, oppose natural gas drilling, while suburban voters support it. -more-

Quinnipiac University Poll/September 21, 2011 page 2 New York State voters support 56 37 percent the creation of casinos similar to those in Atlantic City and Las Vegas. Support is 56 37 percent in New York City, 58 36 percent in the suburbs and 54 37 percent upstate. All groups support casinos with the strongest support, 61 32 percent, among voters with a union member in the household. Casinos would be good for the economy, voters say 64 31 percent, with all groups agreeing. By a similar 63 33 percent, voters say casinos will lead to an increase in gambling addiction, also with agreement among all groups. Roll the dice. Spin the wheel. Hit me. New Yorkers of every stripe say what stays in Vegas should stay in the Empire State as well, Carroll said. Casinos would be good for the economy, voters think, but they also think thered be an increase in gambling addiction. From September 13 18, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,016 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter.

21. Some people say there should be drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale because of the economic benefits. Others say there should not be drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale because of the environmental impact. Which comes closer to your point of view? Tot Drilling No drilling DK/NA 45% 41 13 Rep 69% 20 12 Dem 35% 52 13 Sub 56% 31 13 Ind 47% 42 11 Union HsHlds 48% 41 11 Men 52% 39 9 Wom 39% 44 17

UpStat NYC Drilling No drilling DK/NA 43% 47 10 41% 41 18

TREND: Some people say there should be drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale because of the economic benefits. Others say there should not be drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale because of the environmental impact. Which comes closer to your point of view? Sep 21 2011 Drilling No drilling DK/NA 45 41 13 Aug 11 2011 47 42 12

22. Do you support or oppose a new tax on companies drilling for natural gas in the state's Marcellus Shale? Tot Support Oppose DK/NA 51% 36 12 Rep 35% 52 13 Dem 61% 28 11 Sub 52% 38 11 Ind 55% 32 12 Union HsHlds 55% 34 12 Men 52% 40 8 Wom 51% 33 16

UpStat NYC Support Oppose DK/NA 49% 39 12 54% 32 14

TREND: Do you support or oppose a new tax on companies drilling for natural gas in the state's Marcellus Shale? Sep 21 2011 Support Oppose DK/NA 51 36 12 Aug 11 2011 59 29 12

23. Do you think that drilling for natural gas in the state's Marcellus Shale will create jobs or not? Tot Yes No DK/NA 74% 19 7 Rep 86% 8 6 Dem 71% 22 8 Sub 77% 15 8 Ind 74% 19 7 Union HsHlds 74% 19 7 Men 78% 17 5 Wom 70% 21 9

UpStat NYC Yes No DK/NA 75% 20 5 71% 20 9

TREND: Do you think that drilling for natural gas in the state's Marcellus Shale will create jobs or not? Sep 21 2011 Yes No DK/NA 74 19 7 Aug 11 2011 75 17 8

24. Have you heard or read anything about hydro-fracking? Tot Yes No DK/NA 53% 46 1 Rep 57% 43 1 Dem 45% 54 1 Sub 45% 55 1 Ind 61% 38 1 Union HsHlds 56% 43 1 Men 61% 38 1 Wom 45% 54 1

UpStat NYC Yes No DK/NA 73% 25 1 35% 64 1

TREND: Have you heard or read anything about hydro-fracking? Sep 21 2011 Yes No DK/NA 53 46 1 Aug 11 2011 57 42 1

25. Natural gas drilling companies want to practice hydro-fracking in New York State. Hydro-fracking is the process of pumping water and chemicals into the ground under high pressure to fracture rocks. This releases natural gas trapped in the rocks which is then collected. Do you think hydro-fracking will cause environmental damage or not, or don't you know? Tot Yes/Will damage No/Won't Damage Don't Know REFUSED 51% 13 35 Rep 33% 26 39 1 Dem 65% 5 30 Sub 40% 15 45 Ind 47% 15 38 1 Union HsHlds 49% 16 34 Men 45% 18 36 Wom 56% 8 35 HEARD Q24 Yes No 55 19 25 47 6 47 -

UpStat NYC Yes/Will damage No/Won't Damage Don't Know REFUSED 54% 16 29 54% 9 37 -

TREND: Natural gas drilling companies want to practice hydro-fracking in New York State. Hydro-fracking is the process of pumping water and chemicals into the ground under high pressure to fracture rocks. This releases natural gas trapped in the rocks which is then collected. Do you think hydro-fracking will cause environmental damage or not, or don't you know? Sep 21 2011 Yes/Will damage No/Won't Damage Don't Know REFUSED 51 13 35 Aug 11 2011 52 15 33 -

31. Do you support or oppose the creation of non-indian casinos in New York State, similar to those in Atlantic City and Las Vegas? Tot Support Oppose DK/NA 56% 37 7 Rep 60% 35 5 Dem 52% 42 6 Sub 58% 36 6 Ind 61% 33 6 Union HsHlds 61% 32 7 Men 60% 35 6 Wom 52% 39 8

UpStat NYC Support Oppose DK/NA 54% 37 8 56% 37 6

32. Do you think the creation of these casinos would be good for the economy or not? Tot Yes No DK/NA 64% 31 5 Rep 67% 28 5 Dem 61% 34 5 Sub 63% 33 4 Ind 69% 27 5 Union HsHlds 71% 25 4 Men 66% 30 4 Wom 62% 32 6

UpStat NYC Yes No DK/NA 62% 32 6 67% 28 5

33. Do you think the creation of these casinos would lead to an increase in gambling addiction or not? Tot Yes No DK/NA 63% 33 4 Rep 57% 37 6 Dem 66% 30 4 Sub 57% 37 6 Ind 62% 35 2 Union HsHlds 57% 39 4 Men 65% 31 3 Wom 61% 35 4

UpStat NYC Yes No DK/NA 67% 30 3 62% 34 3