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New Poll Shows Paladino Gaining On Cuomo

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo is set to receive a big endorsement at City Hall today, as a new poll out shows him facing stiff competition in November.

The latest Quinnipiac University survey released today finds likely voters are almost ready to start calling Carl Paladino governor. A few days ago, many New Yorkers didn't even know him.

But now the Quinnipiac poll finds the Republican nominee is within six points of Cuomo.

The Democrat leads the Republican 49-43 percent, with seven undecided. The margin of error is 3.6 percentage points.

According to the poll, voters want change in Albany and believe Paladino can bring it. Moreover, Cuomo is simply not winning the war of putting Republicans and independents in his corner.

Cuomo has Democrats locked up, 87-8. But with Republicans, Paladino leads 83-13 percent. Independents also favor Paladino, 49-43.

The poll does not include Rick Lazio, who is on the Conservative Party line and could take away votes from Paladino if he ends up running. But it also doesn't include left-leaning candidates who may do the same with Cuomo.

At this hour, there has been no official statement from Cuomo’s campaign.

The Cuomo campaign, however, has said that it will make a major announcement today at City Hall Park, which is expected to be the endorsement by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Bloomberg had said he would stay out of the gubernatorial race. But that was when Lazio was vying for the Republican nod.

This announcement will sap Paladino's ability to raise money in Manhattan circles. But it also may burnish Paladino's credentials as a true upstart outsider.

Yesterday, Bloomberg was reluctant to share his thoughts about Cuomo's new opponent.

"I've never met Carl Paladino so I can't just tell you [about my thoughts on the midterm election]," said the mayor. "You never know what the reports are, if they're accurate or not."

Political experts expect that Bloomberg, an independent and former Republican and Democrat, will talk about the need to come together as one state.