The Quinnipiac Poll The Mayor Probably Won’t Cite . . .

. . . came out today with a majority opposed to his plan:

By a narrow but significant margin, 51 percent to 45 percent, New York City voters oppose extending the eight-year term limit to 12 years so that Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg might serve a third term, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday morning.

The poll suggested that a remarkable shift in public opinion had occurred in recent weeks, as the mayor’s proposal to extend term limits through City Council legislation — nullifying the results of two voter referendums — has been engulfed by controversy. In the new poll, 89 percent of respondents said the issue should be decided through another referendum, not by the Council.

The poll results suggested deep conflicts in the electorate, with many voters struggling to reconcile their fondness for Mr. Bloomberg and for his agenda against their belief that term limits are generally a good idea and represent the will of the people.

Nearly three weeks ago, when the Quinnipiac poll asked city voters whether they supported extending term limits to allow Mr. Bloomberg to serve four more years, 54 percent said yes and 42 percent said no. That survey, on Oct. 3, was conducted before the mayor formally announced that he would ask to extend term limits.