De Blasio rises to the top of Democratic candidates in latest poll

Bill de Blasio has leapt to first place among the Democrats running for mayor, according to a Quinnipiac poll released Tuesday.

The public advocate, who was fourth in July 24 Quinnipiac poll, was chosen by 30% in the new survey, giving him a six-point lead over runner-up City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.

Former City Comptroller Bill Thompson came in third with 22%, followed by Anthony Weiner with 10% and City Comptroller John Liu with 6%.

Maurice Carroll, the director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, said the results were surprising because de Blasio got a mere 15% in the July 24 survey. "Follow the bouncing ball, folks. This lineup keeps changing," Carrol said in a statement.

De Blasio's campaign manager said he's more focused on his ideas to improve the city rather than figures.

"Whether we are ahead in the polls or behind, Bill de Blasio's message has always been clear," he said in a statement.

The other candidates didn't give immediate responses.

The university surveyed 579 Democratic voters between Aug. 7 and 12 and the results have a margin of error of +/- 4.1%.