Buffalo, NY (WBEN) With a new Siena poll showing a majority of New Yorkers opposed to state funding for a new Bills stadium, observers are wondering if this will become a hot button issue in the governor's race.
Two frequent WBEN analysts think it will be a factor, but more of a secondary issue.
Republican strategist Carl Calabrese says it will be a big issue. "Not only are the top line numbers very unfavorable towards the stadium deal, but when you break it down by ethnic groups, gender, region, income groups, racial groups, it is across the board negative by big numbers," says Calabrese. He says challengers to Governor Hochul will likely bring it up in areas like Long Island, further away from Bills Country in Western New York.
Ken Kruly of Politicsandstuff.Com says expect campaign ads as the primary and general election seasons draw closer. "It's a little bit delicate because her primary opponents, both Tom Suozzi and Jumaane Williams, both say they want the Bills to stay but they haven't identified how that would be paid for," says Kruly. He notes that can be turned right back on him that they're being kind of hypocritical.
Calabrese says the ads are already popping up. "The Democrat candidates for governor are using this already in their stump speeches in their campaign pieces, their advertising. So you're gonna see it in the June primary," says Calabrese.
As far as November though, Calabrese says the stadium issue will be a secondary issue. "It's not going to be a dealmaker or a dealbreaker," says Calabrese. "When you look at the poll, number one issue in New York State now is crime, followed by fiscal responsibility, followed by the economy and jobs." He says in some circles, it will play and it may be a tiebreaker for some voters,
Kruly agrees. "The results will be determined much more about things like bail reform and crime activity, economic development activities, what's been done for schools, health programs, housing," says Kruly.
The state put $600 million toward the stadium.
