Poll shows Cuomo way ahead of Paladino
At left, Republican candidate Carl Paladino attends a meeting at Elks Lodge in Riverhead. At right, Democratic candidate Andrew Cuomo speaks to students at SUNY Old Westbury. Paladino and Cuomo are running for governor of New York. (Sept. 10, 2010 / Sept. 7, 2010)
ALBANY - With the election less than a week away, Democrat Andrew Cuomo leads Republican Carl Paladino by 20 percentage points, according to a poll of likely voters released Wednesday.
The Quinnipiac University Poll found Cuomo, the state attorney general, ahead of Paladino, a Buffalo real estate magnate, 55 percent to 35 percent among people expecting to cast ballots Nov. 2.
Four percent planned to vote for someone else, and 7 percent were undecided.
In a separate question, 11 percent said they could change their mind on which candidate to support.
The matchup was virtually unchanged from Quinnipiac's Oct. 7 survey that showed Cuomo beating Paladino, 55-37.
Cuomo's performance is equally strong in recent polls by Marist College and the Siena College Research Institute.
In the Quinnipiac survey, voters who aren't registered with a political party were the only group split between Cuomo and Paladino.
Cuomo was strongest among women and Democrats, while Paladino did best with Republicans.
Quinnipiac pollster Maurice Carroll said Wednesday, "Cuomo can start measuring the Executive Mansion curtains. This race is all but over."
In contests for the U.S. Senate seats, Democratic incumbent Charles Schumer leads political consultant Jay Townsend of Cornwall-on-Hudson 64 percent to 32 percent.
Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand was ahead of Republican Joe DioGuardi of Westchester County, 57-34.
The poll of 672 likely voters, conducted Oct. 18-24, has a margin of error of 3.8 percentage points.
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
