Mosque near 9/11 site to be key factor in NY state vote

A MAJORITY of voters in New York state remain opposed to a mosque proposed as part of a planned Islamic cultural centre near the site of the 11 September attacks in New York City, and the issue will be a factor for many in November's mid-term elections, according to a new poll.

The poll, commissioned by the state's Siena College, showed 63 per cent of the state's voters surveyed oppose the project, with 27 per cent supporting it.

Democrats nationwide, including President Barack Obama, have defended the proposal as protected by the Constitution's guarantee of religious freedom. Many Republicans have called it an affront to the memory of those killed in the 2001 attacks at the World Trade Centre.

A CNN/Opinion Research poll last week found almost 70 per cent of Americans opposed the plan and 29 per cent approved.

The latest poll found many in the state believe the project is protected by the Constitution, even if they oppose the plan.

Nearly two-thirds of voters - 64 per cent - say the developers have a constitutional right to build the mosque. Twenty-eight per cent say they do not.

Among those who oppose the mosque, about half agree developers have the constitutional right to build it. Twenty-eight per cent of opponents say they don't have that right.

Nearly a quarter of voters said the issue would have a major effect on which candidate for state governor they support.

The poll showed Republican Carl Paladino, who has taken the hardest line against the project among the candidates, is continuing to gain on Rick Lazio heading into the 14 September Republican primary and also gaining on Democrat Andrew Cuomo. However, Mr Cuomo has twice the support of either Mr Lazio or Mr Paladino.