Nov 21, 2007 8:10 pm
Spitzer Struggling To Regain Public's Approval

Marcia Kramer NEW YORK (CBS) ― With his popularity plummeting, Gov. Eliot Spitzer has been in damage control mode for days. He's been traveling the state with good news announcements.

But is it working?

Spitzer wasn't talking turkey Wednesday. He was carving it to help feed the poor.

"Good training for my next profession," Spitzer said.

But that unguarded moment as he volunteered with his family at the Bowery Mission underscores the point he's reached after nearly a year in office.

"The governor's popularity has just declined steadily and now has actually plummeted," said pollster Mickey Blum.

To recoup from a corruption scandal involving Republican leader Joe Bruno, and the unpopular plan to give driver's licenses to undocumented aliens, the governor has been on a charm offensive.

On Tuesday he stepped in and crushed any idea of an MTA fare hike.

"We can save the $2 fare," he said.

"The governor has been trying to do things he thought were important but he did them in a way that just didn't work," Blum said.

On Wednesday it was feeding the poor and a $5 million grant for food pantries and soup kitchens.

"This has been a spectacular year," Spitzer said. "You don't change the world by whispering. If there's push back there's pushback."

Did he pick up votes Wednesday?

"It's a photo op," Paul Caruso said.

Added Louis Colon: "This was just a service he provided today, you know, what he does with the rest of his year is totally different."

Not everyone saw it that way.

"This shows that he really cares," Cebert Danverse said.

Said Anthony Kravit: "A lot of things he needs to work on."

Caruso said Spitzer's job improvement can only get better.

"Supposedly the IQ of presidents goes up. Bush's English is improved so seeing miracles like that can happen I only expect better things from Mr. Spitzer," Caruso said.

In the latest poll only 25 percent of New Yorkers said they would re-elect the governor so photo ops or not he's got a long way to go.

Blum says it's not too late for Gov. Spitzer, but she says he needs to learn to govern by consensus, not decree.

http://wcbstv.com/local/eliot.spitzer.g ... 93471.html