Cuomo still leads Paladino in poll

ALBANY - With less than two weeks until the election, Democrat Andrew Cuomo is far ahead of Republican Carl Paladino among likely voters, according to a poll released Wednesday.

The Siena College Research Institute found Cuomo, the state attorney general, leads Paladino, a Buffalo developer, 63 percent to 26 percent. Nine percent were undecided.

The gap of 37 percentage points between the candidates compares with 24 points two weeks ago. Paladino's waning support coincides with his controversial comments about homosexuality before a group of ultraorthodox Jews, for which he has since apologized.

Cuomo beats Paladino in yesterday's poll by 25 points on Long Island and in the other New York City suburbs, and in the city by 59 points.

Nearly 70 percent of voters expecting to cast ballots statewide view Paladino unfavorably; only 23 percent of voters have a favorable opinion of him, and Republicans are evenly split.

"It's going to take more than a minor miracle by the Paladino campaign to turn the gubernatorial race around," said Siena pollster Steven Greenberg.

In the contest to succeed Cuomo as attorney general, Democrat Eric Schneiderman has a small lead over Republican Daniel Donovan, 44 percent to 37 percent. Nineteen percent were undecided.

The attorney general race is the closest of the five for statewide offices. "It's a barn burner," Greenberg said.

In the state comptroller's race, incumbent Thomas DiNapoli, a Democrat, is leading Republican challenger Harry Wilson, 49 percent to 32 percent, an improvement for Wilson from a month ago. Nineteen percent were undecided.

In the U.S. Senate contests, incumbent Democrats Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand both continue to have big leads over their GOP challengers.

Schumer beats Jay Townsend, a political consultant from Cornwall-on-Hudson, 67 percent to 28 percent. Five percent were undecided.

Gillibrand, running for the first time since being appointed by Paterson, is ahead of former Rep. Joseph DioGuardi of Westchester, 60-31. Nine percent were undecided.

The poll of 647 likely voters, conducted Oct. 14-18, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 points.