WXXI Public News Room
Poll Shows Spitzer Far Ahead Before Debate
Karen DeWitt

ALBANY, NEW YORK (2006-07-24) One day before the only scheduled debate between Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner Eliot Spitzer and his challenger Tom Suozzi, a new poll shows Spitzer leads the race by nearly 70 points.

The latest poll from Siena College shows Attorney General and Democratic candidate for Governor Eliot Spitzer at 78%, far ahead of his primary challenger, Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi's 9%, a lead Siena's Steve Greenberg calls "stunning" .

Greenberg says Suozzi would have to achieve almost the impossible if he wants to turn the race around during what will possibly be his only face to face encounter with Spitzer before the primary on September 12th.

"Tom Suozzi has an incredible amount of work to do, starting tomorrow night with the debate, if he wants to try to get into this match," Greenberg said. "Because right now, he's not in it."

Siena also polled likely voters in the two other Democratic primaries, and found, that in the Attorney General's race, Andrew Cuomo has gained ground against Mark Green. He is now leading Green by an even wider margin, at 45% to 27%.

Senator Hillary Clinton also faces a Democratic primary challenge from little known anti war activist Jonathan Tasini. Greenberg says the poll found that Clinton is well ahead of her opponent, at 79% to 12%.

"Ironically, Tasini is dong a little bit better than Tom Suozzi ," said Greenberg.

When asked about Clinton's chances for a possible Presidential race in 2008, the poll found Clinton gets some competition from former Vice President and 2000 Presidential candidate Al Gore. Gore is just 15 points behind Clinton among New York Democratic primary voters.

If the 2008 New York Presidential primary were held now, Clinton would receive 38% of the vote, Gore would get 23%, 2004 Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards would receive 15%, and 2004 Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry would get 5%.