Poll: Ray Kelly could be top mayoral contender

New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly could be a top contender if he is persuaded by behind-the-scenes nudging to run for mayor, according to a poll commissioned by an anonymous businessman and released Wednesday.

The poll of 600 likely voters suggested Kelly's entry would "catapult him to instant frontrunner status" in both the Republican primary and general election, said Kellyanne Conway, a GOP strategist who heads The Polling Co., in Washington.

Kelly's chief spokesman, Paul Browne, said Wednesday his boss "has no plans to run for mayor." Browne did not respond directly when asked if Kelly had flatly ruled it out.

The poll, pitting Kelly against two Democrats, said he would beat City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, 41 percent to 38 percent, and former city Comptroller Bill Thompson, 40 percent to 39 percent. His leads were within the 4.85 percentage-point margin of error.

Conway said that although Kelly is undeclared, his name recognition and high job-approval rating drives his popularity. She said a "curious, independent businessman" she would not identify paid $17,000 for the poll.

A Quinnipiac University poll released last week found that 56 percent of those polled would "probably not" or "definitely not" vote for Kelly.

Conway says the two polls' results diverge because she pitted Kelly head-to-head against actual candidates, whereas the Quinnipiac poll did not.

Conway acknowledged that she didn't test other Democratic contenders, such as City Comptroller John Liu, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and former Rep. Anthony Weiner. She said her poll also included Republican contenders Joe Lhota and John Catsimatidis, but she didn't provide those results.

The declared candidates either didn't return calls seeking comment or declined to comment, except for Catsimatidis, who said in a statement: "I think the world of Ray Kelly and I hope he would stay on as police commissioner in a Catsimatidis administration."

Republicans such as state chairman Ed Cox have been encouraging a Kelly candidacy since last year. Cox declined to comment Wednesday.