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Just 40 percent of voters citywide have a favorable opinion ofRev. Al Sharpton, according to a new Quinnipiac University Poll. But hewasnt worried about those numbers.

Tobe honest with you, I think that after the last six weeks of my name every day beingconnectedto Rachel [Noerdlinger] and to Sandy Rubenstein, I thoughtit would be lower than that, Mr. Sharpton told the Observer today in a brief telephone interview.

Mr. Sharptons National Action Network blasted out a press release crowingaboutthe poll focusingnot about hisnegative favorability rating, but instead on his beingnamed the most important black leader in the city and his high marks among black voters.

And eventhough 45 percent of voters overall dontlike him, Mr. Sharpton pointed out by phone that his approval rating was mostly unchanged since the last poll in August, despite plenty of less-than-prime press.

Hisformer spokeswoman, Ms. Noerdlinger, hasbeen the subject ofconstant negativeheadlines for weeks. And Mr. Rubenstein, a prominent attorney, was accused or raping a woman after Mr. Sharptons birthday party.

I think the real storyhere is that were talking about maybe a few pointsdropped from the last one, and this barrage of things that Ihad nothing to do with had my name attached to them, Mr. Sharpton said.

While he performed poorly with white voters, some69 percent of black voters view him positively, according to the poll. And when asked to name the citys top black leader, 17 percent of those polled named Mr. Sharpton more thanPresident Barack Obama or Congressman Charles Rangel. Among black voters, 24 percent named him the most important leader.

That, Mr. Sharptonsaid, should quiet the critics who say Mayor Bill de Blasio should not be turning to him for advice.

It makes all my criticshave to explain if his numbers are thathigh among blacks, if blacks say overwhelmingly that hes the most importantblackleader in the city, then why are you questioning why the mayor and the president speak to him? Mr. Sharpton asked.

Police unions in particular have slammed Mr. de Blasios relationship with Mr. Sharpton characterizing him as anti-police and expressing anger after Mr. Sharpton was seated at a table with Police Commissioner Bill Bratton following the death of Eric Garner in NYPD custody. Criticshave griped the move gave Mr. Sharpton too much credibility but Mr. Sharpton said that credibility was what got him invited.

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Despite Negative Numbers, Sharpton Touts Quinnipiac Poll Results