Siena Poll Reveals Fracking Debate to Affect Election Choices

New York's four-year debate over natural gas drilling is bound to affect candidates running for local, sate and federal offices.

The issue has separated candidates into those for and those against fracking even though politicians have little to say in where when and if the DEC begins issuing permits.

The issue has split voters and widened the gap between candidates. A May poll by Siena College revealed that 34 percent of upstate voters were in support of hydrofracking and 45 percent opposed it.