An Irish American lesbian politician is now the unquestioned front runner to be New York’s next mayor, two new opinion polls reveal.
Christine Quinn, whose grandmother sailed on the Titanic and lived to tell the tale, looks like she's making her own history as she has raced to a 20 point lead in the Democratic nomination race for mayor in 2013.
She leads her major Republican rival Police Commissioner Ray Kelly by 13 points.
Indeed, the only person who may stop her is Kelly, who is being wooed by Republicans to run on their ticket.
Kelly, according to a separate poll in the New York Daily News, trails Quinn by a 49 percent to 36 percent margin, with 15 percent not sure.
Either way it seems New York will have its first Irish Mayor since Robert Wagner in 1965 whose mother was from County Cork, like Quinn’s family. New York may also have its first female and gay mayor.
The poll, as seen in the New York Post, showed that City Council Speaker Christine Quinn has jumped to a massive 20-point lead. The Marist College poll released last night put Quinn at 32 percent; former Comptroller Bill Thompson, 12 percent; Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, 10 percent; Comptroller John Liu, nine percent; Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, seven percent and publishing executive Tom Allon, one percent. Twenty-nine percent were undecided.
Quinn’s clout is in Manhattan where she has massive support,with over 50 percent of the vote. Gay voters and Irish Americans go heavily for her but she is also enjoying Jewish support.
Quinn is very popular in the Irish American community. She has allotted millions in city funds for the building of a new Irish Arts Center in the city and is a frequent attender at Irish events.
Irish neighborhoods Quinn and Kelly would be fighting over include North Riverdale, Bronx Woodlawn, Bronx, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, Gerritsen Beach, Brooklyn Marine Park, Brooklyn, Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn,Vinegar Hill, Brooklyn, Broad Channel, Belle Harbor, Breezy Point, Queens Rockaway Park, Queens, Rockaway Beach, Queens,Sunnyside, Queens, Maspeth, Queens, Woodside, Queens St. George, Staten Island, West Brighton, Staten Island Randall Manor, Staten Island.
Quinn has enjoyed a burst of publicity recently over such gay marriage and she has announced she will marry longtime girlfriend Kim Catullo in June.
Talking about those plans in the wak of the passage of gay marriage in New York, Quinn stated "We were loath to talk about our plans because we didn't want to get our hopes up," Quinn said. "I never said in my own mind, 'This would absolutely happen.' But now we can start to plan."
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.BrianO | Apr 29, 2012, 12:46 AM EDT
the 09:31 were mine, the ic glitch again I'm sure.
seanomelb | Apr 27, 2012, 11:08 PM EDT
The 09:31 comments are not mine(not that I disagree with the comments)
STEVENSTAR | Apr 27, 2012, 07:09 PM EDT
@@@ SEANOMELB..... WHATEVER !!!
seanomelb | Apr 26, 2012, 09:10 PM EDT
I.m convinced stevenstar is a nut job I wonder who flew over his cuckoo's nest.
seanomelb | Apr 26, 2012, 09:31 AM EDT
Fake paddy hardly, American patriot possibly, appreciation for what has come before me definetly. Aran sweaters are a cottage industry that's true, but by belittling this tradition instead of embracing the skills of the weavers you make it harder for them to continue making a living. Why would a citizen of a country wish ill will on a fellow citizen's trade. Seems Anti-Irish, and a bit self loathing, do you wish to erase all symbols of Ireland's traditional iconic trades? and to twinkle twinkle steven star, in America we like to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and are not embarrassed by your Irish heritage which includes Irish hand knit sweatears.
STEVENSTAR | Apr 26, 2012, 08:53 AM EDT
I STILL SAY HER ABOUVE LOOKS LIKE SHE JUST WALKED OUT OF AN IRISH SOUVENIR SHOP OR ELSE SHE HAS GOT A NEW JOB WORKING IN ONE HAHA!!
STEVENSTAR | Apr 26, 2012, 08:52 AM EDT
@@@@ancavker | Apr 25, 2012, 01:33 PM EDT STEVEN I USE A TANNING BED: Nah!!! I will take the Irish-American in the sweater, or the green pants suit any time over a man, Irish or otherwise who uses a tanning bed. Seriously how can any one take you seriously. You watch too much American television!!!>>>>>>>>>>> I DONT WATCH AMERICAN TELEVISION MATE .. WE GET A FEW AMERICAN TV SHOWS OVER HERE MOSTLY ON AT 1 2 IN MORNING LIKE JERRY SPRINGER WHERE YOU SEE LOUD AMERICANS SHOUTING ROARING KICKING AND PUNCHING EACH OTHER ROLLING AROUND ON THE FLOOR AND NOT BEEN SO CIVILISED .. NOT REALLY MY CUP OF TEA SORRY
seanomelb | Apr 25, 2012, 08:21 PM EDT
now Springfield9 why would wear an Aran sweater on a hot day and not have a raincoat when it rains,There's no pleasing some people.
AMWilson | Apr 25, 2012, 07:45 PM EDT
@@@@@@@@STEVENSTAR, YOU'RE NOT AMERICAN, SO MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Springfield9 | Apr 25, 2012, 01:39 PM EDT
Christ! I feel like St. Francis. 1) I don't care what KQ does in her spare time. Aran sweaters are a cottage industry at the end of the Earth. I took the ride over from Doolin and bought one for 180 Euros. I couldn't wear it for the heat - until I went fishing - it got wet and I was warm. As for the "green sprigs", sweaters, etc. it's a sign of a good thing. America hasn't always been kind to us, even though we bled the fields of the Civil War. Quinn, Kelly ...... I hope one of them wins. As for comments about the Brits - well, that will end when they go home and take everything with a crown on it with them. The fate of the "Scots" Irish is clearly shown in Cavan. There are both factions of the "Troubles" and there is no overt provocations - like Belfast's flag hobby.
ancavker | Apr 25, 2012, 01:33 PM EDT
STEVEN I USE A TANNING BED: Nah!!! I will take the Irish-American in the sweater, or the green pants suit any time over a man, Irish or otherwise who uses a tanning bed. Seriously how can any one take you seriously. You watch too much American television!!!
Bythebay | Apr 25, 2012, 01:17 PM EDT
BrianO, it will fit you well - fake paddy. Might be worth telling Carrolls Irish Gifts to have a few made. Great laugh.
jamieLM | Apr 25, 2012, 11:52 AM EDT
@Stevenstar, evidently you don't care much about whether all those Irish people selling souvenirs, sweaters, and other things don't have jobs anymore when tourists from every country quit buying what they have to sell. Why don't you go and tell all the Irish selling sweaters to close up their shops because it offends you to see their sweaters on tourists???
jamieLM | Apr 25, 2012, 11:36 AM EDT
@Stevenstar, is that all you can rant and rave about? YOU are the only one hung up on all this Hollywood fantasy and anti-British stuff that you keep harping on, ad nauseum. Get over it. Quit obsessing about what you wrongly think Americans think. It's none of your business what Americans think, anyway. You're an embarrassment to all the sane, sensible, intelligent Irish posters on this site. @BrianO - you nailed it.
STEVENSTAR | Apr 25, 2012, 11:29 AM EDT
@@@BrianO | Apr 25, 2012, 09:42 AM EDT I'm going to have to get an aran sweater and wear a touch of green, it has a great effect on irritating bigots>>>>>>>>>> WHY ? SO U CAN ANNOY YOURSELF EACH TIME U LOOK IN A MIRROR... HONESLY MATE THE IRISH SOUVENIR SHOP LOOK ITS NOT A GOOD LOOK ... ID STICK TO T SHIRTS RUNNERS AND JEANS IF I WAS YOU ...
STEVENSTAR | Apr 25, 2012, 11:27 AM EDT
@@@ancavker | Apr 25, 2012, 11:22 AM EDT STEVEN: No we just cannot take seriously an Irishman or any other man quite frankly who uses a tanning bed. Just too, too, funny!!!>>>>>>>>>>> NOT HALF AS FUNNY AS SOMEONE GOING ROUND DRESSED LIKE THEY WORK IN AN IRISH SOUVENIR SHOP .. THAT ARAN JUMPER / GREEN POLO ... 'SCREAMS; IM AN AMERICAN AND IVE BEEN TO IRELAND ON A COACH TRIP !!
ancavker | Apr 25, 2012, 11:22 AM EDT
STEVEN: No we just cannot take seriously an Irishman or any other man quite frankly who uses a tanning bed. Just too, too, funny!!!
BrianO | Apr 25, 2012, 10:25 AM EDT
I've figured it out. The caps locked button is stuck on the computer in the asylum.
BrianO | Apr 25, 2012, 09:42 AM EDT
I'm going to have to get an aran sweater and wear a touch of green, it has a great effect on irritating bigots.
STEVENSTAR | Apr 25, 2012, 09:38 AM EDT
PPPPS AMERICANS ALSO CANNOT DEAL WITH AN IRISHMAN LIKE MYSELF WHO COME OUT AND MAKE COMMENTS LIKE I DO.. BELIEVE ME THERE ARE ALOT OF IRISH WHO THINK AS I DO... BUT WHEN YOU SAY IT ON LIKE I DO ON HERE... IT DOESNT GEL WITH THESE AMERICANS AND THE HOLLYWOOD 'FANTASY' IMAGES THEY HAVE OF IRELAND AND THE IRISH ... BUT IF THEY WANT TO COME OVER TO VISIT THEY'LL BECOME A BIT MORE EDUCATED TO IRELAND 2012 ..
STEVENSTAR | Apr 25, 2012, 09:38 AM EDT
PPPPS AMERICANS ALSO CANNOT DEAL WITH AN IRISHMAN LIKE MYSELF WHO COME OUT AND MAKE COMMENTS LIKE I DO.. BELIEVE ME THERE ARE ALOT OF IRISH WHO THINK AS I DO... BUT WHEN YOU SAY IT ON LIKE I DO ON HERE... IT DOESNT GEL WITH THESE AMERICANS AND THE HOLLYWOOD 'FANTASY' IMAGES THEY HAVE OF IRELAND AND THE IRISH ... BUT IF THEY WANT TO COME OVER TO VISIT THEY'LL BECOME A BIT MORE EDUCATED TO IRELAND 2012 ..
STEVENSTAR | Apr 25, 2012, 09:34 AM EDT
I@@@@relandNorth | Apr 25, 2012, 06:25 AM EDT>>>>>>>>>> ALAN TAKE NO NOTICE THE GUY IS OBVIOUSLY AN AMERICAN NUT JOB... IM CATHOLIC LIVE IN CO CORK ( ANYONE WHO WANTS A MOBILE NUMBER TO PROVE IM IRISH AND I LIVE IN IRELAND CAN HAVE THAT) I HAVE NO PROBS WITH CATHOLICS OR PROTESTANTS OR BRITISH PEOPLE LIKE MOST OF US IRISH PEOPLE .. ITS ONLY WHEN I LOGGED ONTO THIS NEWSPAPER TO READ COMMENTS FROM CRAZY AMERICANS 'TRYING' TO BE IRISH BECAUSE SOMEONE THEY NEW IMMIGRATED TO AMERICA A 100 YEARS AGO, U REALISE HOW NUTTY THAT IS.... AMERICANS SEEM TO BE ANTI BRITISH AND DISLIKE THE FACT THAT IN THE YEAR 2012 MOST IRISH AND BRITISH GET ON WELL AND RELATIONSHIP HAS BECOME A GOOD ONE... THEY LIVE IN THE OLDEN DAYS, TIMES GONE BY AND ARE OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE IRISH AND IRELAND IN 2012.. ITS A SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS BUT HEY THATS THEIR PROB NOT MINE .. IM IRISH IM HAPPY AND IM NOT TYRING TO BE ANOTHER NATIONALITY THEN THE ONE THAT I AM ...
BrianO | Apr 25, 2012, 08:44 AM EDT
What does someones sexual preference have to do with governing well?
IrelandNorth | Apr 25, 2012, 06:25 AM EDT
NOTICE TO POSTERS! STEVENSTAR IS REALLY ALAN07 IN DRAG. ALAN07 HAS HERETOFORE IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS AN ULSTER UNIONIST/LOYALIST/PRESBYTERIAN-PROTESTANT (I.E. NORTHERN-IRISH BRITISH) IN HIS LATE 40'S, LIVING AND WORKING IN THE SOUTH COAST OF ENGLAND. HIS POSTS AS A REACTIONARY "IRISHMAN" IN IRELAND ARE DESIGNED TO ALIENATE IRISH-AMERICANS FROM IRELAND. IT'S NOT FOR A NORTHERN IRISH BRITISHER TO DICTATE SOMEONE ELSES' NATIONALITY OR CULTURAL HERITAGE. BUT THEN, THAT'S WHAT THEY DONE IN NORTHERN IRELAND FOR 800/90 YEARS. OLD HABITS ARE HARD TO BREAK. AND I THOUGH [ST]ALAN07STEVESTAR SAID ONLY ROMAN CATHOLICS LIED?
KatieMurphy | Apr 25, 2012, 01:16 AM EDT
I'm just thrilled that a lesbian is a serious contender for the Mayorship of the largest USA city. No I dont live there but this is real progress for our gay and lesbian friends and neighbors. And says a lot about how the Irish have become accepted in the USA as well As far as I know, the largest city with a gay mayor is Houston where a lesbian just recently won a second term despite some of the usual bigot crap. HOuston is the 4th largest USA city.
el rubio | Apr 25, 2012, 01:10 AM EDT
The list of Irish neighborhoods looks like it was copied and pasted off Wikipedia.
KPDownes | Apr 25, 2012, 12:17 AM EDT
Ms. Quinn won't get my vote. I'm a gay, Irish-American, Democrat. But she was instrumental in defying the will of New Yorkers who twice voted for term limits (I voted against them), and gave us a third administration of Mayor Bloomberg. Why? Because she was fresh off of a scandal and wasn't ready to run for City Hall. Is this what we need after Guiliani and Bloomberg?
STEVENSTAR | Apr 24, 2012, 07:12 PM EDT
@@@@manhattan | Apr 24, 2012, 02:33 PM EDT>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> WELL NO MOST IRISH PEOPLE DONT DRESS LIKE HER IN THAT WOOL ARAN JUMPER AND GREEN POLO, NOT UNLESS THEY WAS WORKING IN A SOUVENIR SHOP ... HAHAH!!!!
STEVENSTAR | Apr 24, 2012, 07:09 PM EDT
@@@ancavker | Apr 24, 2012, 10:28 AM EDT STEVEN: You are right, you would be more likely to find some woman dressed as Lady Ga ga, with piles of make up on (after she used her tanning bed of course) Why do Irish people in Ireland always pretend to be American or English? Steve you do not like Irish-Americans calling themselves Irish, but yet you over there copy everything American or English. Interesting>>>>>>>>>>>> WHAT DO U MEAN COPY AMERICANS ? I DONT THINK SO HAHA... I NEVER EAT MC DONALDS TO BEGIN WITH, I NEVER WATCH JERRY SPRINGER AND I NEVER WEAR RUNNERS WITH HOODIES, I DONT EAT JUNK FOOD EITHER.. WHAT I DO IS I LOVE ORGANIC FOODS, I LOVE TO TRAVEL IN EUROPE I ALSO DRESS EUROPEAN, I WATCH MAINLY UK IRISH TV SHOWS AND WHEN I GO ON HOLIDAY IT WOULD BE TO GREECE.. SO AS A MATTER OF FACT I DONT FOLLOW AMERICAN CULTURE AT ALL AND PERHAPS IF I AM FLICKING TV AND THE SIMPSONS COMES ON ILL QUICKLY TURN IT OFF... I DONT FOLLOW AMERICAN CULTURESO SORRY YOUR TOTALLY WRONG MATE !!
BrianO | Apr 24, 2012, 07:08 PM EDT
by the bay what chickens? I have no dog in the New york Mayoral fight.
hollabackgurl | Apr 24, 2012, 06:54 PM EDT
The internet is flypaper for haters, seanomelb. Say gay, black, jew, Muslim or Irish and they'll congregate like flies on you know what.
Eschetic | Apr 24, 2012, 06:48 PM EDT
Bottom line, it doesn't matter a whit to mature, responsible voters whether the lady is Irish or lesbian, Republican or Democrat, or even that she's a woman. What does matter is that she's the best person for the job with the best broad-based administrative experience - and that her most talked about rival for the job, while arguably an adequate Police Commissioner - maybe even better - has too much baggage from scandals in that department under his watch and almost no administrative experience beyond it. We've come a long way since the days when New Yorkers even remember Tammany; the most recent convicted politicians are as often Republicans (my party) as Democrats. Quinn'll be a very good mayor during the second Obama term (we're nominating Mitt because he will do the least damage to the "under ticket," not because he can win, the right wingers in the party have assured that - but will BLAME Moderates for the loss). Count on it.
seanomelb | Apr 24, 2012, 06:30 PM EDT
I find it amusing that the anti Irish morons posting here are anti gay,anti black, anti Muslim and I should add anti common sense. They are a sad lot.
hollabackgurl | Apr 24, 2012, 05:42 PM EDT
They're always enraged over something. Give them some Xanax and a glass of water. It's the 21 century, it's time they got the memo.
Bythebay | Apr 24, 2012, 05:35 PM EDT
hollabackgurl, I don't think so, they get enraged even at the thought of it!! Cardinal Dolan will be enraged. The AOH will be enraged. The County Societies will be enraged.
hollabackgurl | Apr 24, 2012, 05:14 PM EDT
I think they'll be able to cope.
Bythebay | Apr 24, 2012, 04:49 PM EDT
Imagine the New York St. Patrick's Day Parade including gays, can Irish America handle that??
hollabackgurl | Apr 24, 2012, 04:13 PM EDT
As Mayor she'll be able to tell her kids about the olden days when news articles referred to her as Gay Christine Quinn.
RedBranch | Apr 24, 2012, 04:06 PM EDT
Statues of Che in Times Square then?
MikeRock | Apr 24, 2012, 04:06 PM EDT
You wish.
Bythebay | Apr 24, 2012, 04:00 PM EDT
BrianO, don't count your chickens before they're hatched. She's nowhere near being elected yet. I have noticed some positioning in Irish America in regard to her with one bar owner holding a celebration of the marriage equality act in a very Irish neighborhood.
BrianO | Apr 24, 2012, 03:42 PM EDT
You can bet the picture of Quinn was taken during the St. Patrick's Day parade, hence the green and Aranwear, It's a shame that her sexual preference trumps her political views but the tolerant left has to label people, she is lucky she is a democrat or the tolerant left would be crucifying her gay or not. New york hasn't had a moderate to conservative mayor since Guiliani, and personal freedoms have been decreasing since-smoking,transfats,undocumented residents,islamic detractors.
ancavker | Apr 24, 2012, 03:03 PM EDT
Oh great!!! A return to the Dinkin days!!!
el rubio | Apr 24, 2012, 02:48 PM EDT
Christine Quinn will not make it out of the Democratic primary. The left wing will not accept someone they view as being too cozy with the city's business interests and subserviant to Bloomberg in his quest for a third term. The Dem nominee will be either a minority candidate such as Thompson, Carrion or Diaz Junior or the liberal Manhattan BP Stringer. Furthermore, Quinn's Irish roots are more of a liability among liberals, who tend to see anyone with an Irish Catholic background as being a closet reactionary. It doesn't matter that Christine Quinn is a Manhattan lesbian, her heritage makes her suspect in the eyes of the city's liberals who believe she is not liberal enough. Read about Frank O'Connor, the Democratic former Queens D.A. and city council president who ran against Rockefeller in the 1960s. O'Connor was abandoned by the liberal power brokers in the general election because they associated an Irish Catholic from Queens as tainted by Tammany Hall and reaction. Even self-hating Irishman Jimmy Breslin was distrusted by the village literary crowd until he effectively turned his back on his culture and community.
peterson | Apr 24, 2012, 02:45 PM EDT
Maybe she will turn New York City into another San Francisco !!
manhattan | Apr 24, 2012, 02:33 PM EDT
Steven(hate Americans)Star, Christine Quinn is a proud Irish American and you say no one in Ireland would wear what she is wearing in the picture? Does that mean you wouldn't buy your own products? Tsk Tsk shame on you. You will never understand the we Irish Americans have an entirely different lifestyle and it really is an American Irish culture. We certainly know we weren't born in Ireland and I'm glad I wasn't after thinking there might be people like you there. She is to be thanked for what she has done especially for the older Irish immigrants and it isn't any of your business what she does in this city. You are a knucklehad.
jjkleprechaun | Apr 24, 2012, 01:20 PM EDT
I agree with Phlutie Phan. When a State has liars as politicians the next casualty is without a doubt morality. Sorry guys...I call it as I see it. If all it takes is Bill Clinton to make one "happy" you, hyattsville, need a lot of prayers and serious help.
Bythebay | Apr 24, 2012, 12:32 PM EDT
Ha, ha, ha, she's so wonderful because she spent taxpayer money for an Irish Arts Center? That doesn't benefit all the people of New York at all. How narrow minded and bigoted. The millionaires should be funding the likes of that including the vocal "I'm so Irish" Americans. Taxpayer money should NOT be used for one nationality.
hyattsville | Apr 24, 2012, 12:32 PM EDT
In which case it's her policies that should be of interest not her sexual preferences. I was happiest in this country when Bill Clinton was president, who he slept with was absolutely none of my business.
Bythebay | Apr 24, 2012, 12:29 PM EDT
KittyMurphy, she's not Irish American, she's American.
weeknocky | Apr 24, 2012, 12:27 PM EDT
NY City deserves her. Maybe she can stop the financial drain on the rest of NY State. I, for one, am tired of supporting the slugs in NY City(who are welcomed by the current a**)
GaelMcC | Apr 24, 2012, 12:11 PM EDT
Why is "Gay" for first defining word about her? Have you ever printed "Hetero Candidate....."? What, are we defined by our sexual preferences now?
Murph46 | Apr 24, 2012, 11:52 AM EDT
Yeah Doc, much as was the vast right wing conspiracy!
DrTrelawney | Apr 24, 2012, 11:27 AM EDT
"the secret life of Hillary Clinton" Oh Lord. Get a life. The driving doctrine of American conservatives now seems to be conspiracy theory.
Murph46 | Apr 24, 2012, 11:26 AM EDT
PhlutiePhan is closer to the truth than most on these posts!
mayoman | Apr 24, 2012, 11:07 AM EDT
PhlutiePhan: Do you ever have any idea what the hell you're talking about? Bracelets on the police. Befriending terorists? Quinn is rebelling against her Church? Total delusional tripe! Utter fiction.
PhlutiePhan | Apr 24, 2012, 10:43 AM EDT
This is no surprise with the deterioration of morality in our society accelerating. You know that the first thing that she will do is "put the bracelets" on the police and make friends with the terrorists. This all comes from the radical beliefs of the Obama crowd and the secret life of Hillary Clinton. A case in point is the marriage officiated at by Bill Clinton of Anthony Wiener and Hami Abelin, the ethnic Pakistani whose Daddy was Iranian of Indian ethnicity. These are dangerous times and Ms. Quinn is making light of the ramifications of her election. It is no longer a surprise tht a Catholic woman is rebelling against her Church of origin. "Brave Heart" Dolan will be her favorite target.
ancavker | Apr 24, 2012, 10:28 AM EDT
STEVEN: You are right, you would be more likely to find some woman dressed as Lady Ga ga, with piles of make up on (after she used her tanning bed of course) Why do Irish people in Ireland always pretend to be American or English? Steve you do not like Irish-Americans calling themselves Irish, but yet you over there copy everything American or English. Interesting.
KittyMurphy | Apr 24, 2012, 09:58 AM EDT
@STEVENSTAR - If you'd care to read the second paragraph of the article and stop shouting...Ha. She's Irish American, of course.
STEVENSTAR | Apr 24, 2012, 09:47 AM EDT
SHE IS NOT IRISH SHE IS AMERICAN .. I CAN EVEN TELL THAT BY LOOKING AT HER WOOLY JUMPER AND THE GREEN POLO NECK .. THATS AMERICAN YOUD BE HARD PUSHED TO FIND AN IRISH PERSON OVER HERE IN IRELAND DRESSED LIKE THAT ...