Lhota trails behind Democratic mayoral hopefuls in poll

Wednesday January 16, 2013 5:33 PM By IVAN PEREIRA

Photo credit: Mayoral candidate and former MTA chief Joe Lhota. (Getty Images) | Mayoral candidate and former MTA chief Joe Lhota. (Getty Images)

Quinnipiac University released its latest poll on the mayoral race Wednesday, including new candidate Joe Lhota, the former head of the MTA.

Lhota, who is set to formally make his run under the Republican ticket later this week, leads others in the GOP ticket with 23% of the vote, according to the poll.

More than half of the GOP voters, however, are undecided about their pick and Lhota will have to work hard to play catch up with the numerous potential Democratic front-runners, Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute said.

Lhota, who has a 36% approval rating for his nine-month tenure at the MTA, would lose to the Democrats, according to the poll:

Christine Quinn vs Lhota: 62% to 17%

Bill de Blasio vs Lhota: 57% to 17%

Bill Thompson: vs Lhota: 55% to 19%.

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