Spitzer lead Pataki by 12, Clinton leads Pataki by 22 and Powell by 5 in NY

[Nym90]

ALBANY, N.Y. - Democrat Eliot Spitzer has a double-digit lead over Republican Gov. George Pataki in the 2006 governor's race, but the state attorney general trails outgoing Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) in a hypothetical matchup, according to a poll released Wednesday.

The poll was conducted even before Spitzer announced Tuesday that he would run for governor, a move that generally gives a candidate at least a temporary boost in the polls.


Spitzer led Pataki 50 percent to 38 percent in the poll by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.


The poll respondents favored Powell by 47 percent, to 42 percent for Spitzer. Powell, who announced last month he would not serve in President Bush (news - web sites)'s second term, has not commented on speculation about a bid for governor. The New York City native has never run for political office.


Pataki has not yet said if he will seek a fourth term as governor two years from now. He has also been considered a possible opponent to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (news - web sites) in 2006, but the poll showed the senator widely favored, 58 percent to 36 percent.


"Pataki loses to Spitzer. If the governor tries his hand in Washington, Senator Clinton trumps him by more than 20 points," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac institute.


The poll also showed Powell trailing Clinton in a hypothetical 2006 Senate race, 44 percent to 49 percent.


Spitzer has won headlines in the past few years with his investigations of investment banks, mutual fund managers and, most recently, the insurance industry.


The telephone poll of 1,186 registered New York voters was conducted Dec. 3-6 and has a sampling error margin of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

[Nym90]

Agreed, Demo Hawk. Someone like Spitzer is needed, someone who isn't afraid to take on some of these corporations.

Elliot better watch his back though. His crusades are going to bring him a lot of enemies. Folks don't take kindly to trying to bring to the light of day some of the things that have happened.

[Nym90]

I'm actually somewhat surprised Pataki has lasted this long. He should quit while he's ahead. And New York should avoid a disaster in waiting like Spitzer. The New York economy will be the nation's worst by the end of a four year term if he wins.

Yeah, you can write that shiznit down and take it to the bank.

You've been duly noted. We'll come back in 2010 and see if you are right.