Pollster John Zogby spoke with Bill Keeler of WIBX First News with Keeler this morning  to discuss the latest entries into the race for President in 2016.

Making announcements so far this week were Republicans Dr. Ben Carson and business executive Carly Fiorina.  Before addressing their chances, however, he spoke about political scandals a little closer to home, the surrender to federal authorities of New York Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and his son, Adam Skelos.

Dean Skelos    Photo Credit: Kristine Bellino
Dean Skelos    Photo Credit: Kristine Bellino
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The charges against Skelos come not long after charges were filed against former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.

WIBX post May 4, 2015
WIBX post May 4, 2015
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Zogby says he cannot comment on the specifics of the case.  However, he says, there is, "...a lot resting on this prosecutor...Symbolically... these are very important (cases)...Whether these charges are going to hold in court [remains to be seen.]...We have to remember Joe Bruno.  All the years and years and all the money that was spent to take him down...and they didn't."

 

 

 

 

On the latest GOP candidates Zogby says, "Ben Carson's polling numbers are pretty good.  Plus he's...exciting,...very well-respected as a surgeon...He's got potential in Iowa running as a social, or Christian, conservative...He's got two problems... The competition is going to be very heavy among Christian conservatives in Iowa. But, it's hard for me to see how he does anything at all in New Hampshire...His other problem is...(he's) very articulate but he's not briefed well enough on...issues and that's going to be a real problem."

Photo Credit: Andrew Burton, Getty Images
Photo Credit: Andrew Burton, Getty Images
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One subject that could be potentially challenging to Carson is his stance on same sex marriage. Zogby says the gay rights movement in this race is "extremely strong... It's not only that the movement is...stronger...it has become mainstream...There is a considerable amount of momentum that is being held by the LGBT community....You can arguably say that Ben Carson and social conservatives are just on the wrong side of history."

 

 

On yesterday's announcement that Carly Fiorina, a former executive with Lucent Technologies and former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, would enter the race as a GOP candidate Zogby was direct.

Photo Credit: Alex Wong, Getty Images
Photo Credit: Alex Wong, Getty Images
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"There is a strong anti-Carly Fiorina movement out there...former employees and that network of former employees...they are very bitter about her tenure at Hewlett Packard.   She was not highly regarded as a good CEO...She is very popular on the lecture tour.  She's a strong speaker.  She has a significant degree of charisma, but she hasn't won anything.  She ran for the Senate a few years ago against Barbara Boxer in California and did very poorly.  I think she's out there to position herself to be on the ticket but it's hard for me to see her getting on the ticket."

 

 

He acknowledges that Fiorina may be the GOP's attempt to put a woman on the ticket int he interest of achieving some diversity. However, he says, "Like Hillary on the Democratic side, Fiorina on the Republican side (is) perhaps not the right woman at this moment."

Photo Credit: Andrew Burton, Getty Images
Photo Credit: Andrew Burton, Getty Images
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On Hillary Clinton's approach to the campaign he says, "She's just very awkward out there campaigning for this position.  It really is almost as if she expects to be President by years of momentum...  'I've wanted it longer than anyone else and I've been here longer than anyone else.  Let's get this over with.'  And that's not (going to) happen."

The full interview is below:


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