Eye On Politics: Quinn Says Her 'Record Of Delivering' Sets Her Apart From Field
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - City Council Speaker and Democratic mayoral hopeful Christine Quinn is leading the pack, according to a new new poll released Thursday.
Quinn spoke with WCBS 880's Steve Scott as part of the Eye On Politics segment.
The New York Times/Siena College poll has Quinn with a nine-point lead over her closest competitor, Anthony Weiner.
But Quinn said the numbers don't matter much to her.
Eye On Politics: Christine Quinn
"Polls go up, polls go down. That's one thing you could rest assured on. I think the real issue for me has been, and continues to be, continue to have conversations with New Yorkers about the issues they care about and my record of results in those areas," Quinn told Scott. "What New Yorkers care about isn't poll numbers, it's what candidate has delivered for them because that makes them know when you're mayor, you can get the job done."
"Of all the people in the race, no one has the record of delivering like I do," she added.
Quinn said Weiner entering the race has not shifted her focus, but said politicians seeking a second chance must earn it.
She reiterated her point that, in her assessment, both Weiner and former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who's running for city comptroller, have not done enough in the years since their respective sex scandals to earn a second chance.
LINK: NYT/Siena College Poll Results (pdf)
Quinn also said Weiner doesn't have a track record of success.
"What Anthony Weiner can say of his dozen or more years in Congress -- he passed one bill, a bill at the request of a campaign contributor who is a tobacco magnate. Forget everything else, that's not delivering for New Yorkers," she told Scott.
Scott questioned Quinn on a topic she's taken a lot of heat for -- backing a change to the law to allow Mayor Michael Bloomberg to run for a third term.
"I made a decision that I thought was right. I stood up and made that decision, cast my vote knowing that there might be political consequences. And that's what you want in a leader: somebody who can stand up and do what they think is right even if it's tough," she told Scott.
Poll: Quinn Holds 9-Point Lead In Dem. Mayoral Primary
She said she's also been an effective leader as City Council speaker during those four years.
"I didn't let one schoolteacher get laid off, I didn't let one fire house or library close and I grew manufacturing and high-tech jobs during those tough years," said Quinn. "I think that's exactly the kind of results-delivering leadership we need in a mayor."
Quinn also defended her position on installing an inspector general to oversee the NYPD. She said monitors in similar large cities have been successful.
You May Also Be Interested In These Stories
