Attorney General, Comptroller Races Now Neck-and-Neck: New Poll

MANHATTAN -- The Republican candidates for Attorney General and Comptroller have closed the gap behind their Democratic rivals and both races are now a dead heat, according to a new poll.

In the attorney general race, Republican district attorney Dan Donovan, who was down by seven points on Oct. 20, is now tied with Democratic State Sen. Eric Schneiderman at 44 percent, the Siena College poll found.

In the comptroller race, Republican Harry Wilson, who was 17 points behind in the group's last poll, has also managed to close the gap and is now tied with incumbent Democrat Tom DiNapoli with 44 percent of the vote.

"The race for Attorney General was tight two weeks ago, and now it can't get any tighter," Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said in a statement announcing the results.
Donovan was able to pick up support among independents as well as in the downstate suburbs, where he now polls 21 points ahead, the poll found.

Wilson, meanwhile, has been able to steal DiNapoli's support among suburban voters and voters upstate. He is also doing well among Cuomo supporters, indicating a willingness to vote across party lines.

"No matter what sports analogy you use, it is clear that momentum is on Wilson's side," Greenberg said.

But some things haven't changed.

In the Governor's race, Andrew Cuomo has maintained his dominating lead over Carl Paladino. The poll shows him 25 points ahead, at 58 percent to 33 percent.

In New York City, the gap is even greater, with Cuomo leading 78 to 15 percent.

"No matter how you slice the numbers, Cuomo has a seemingly invincible lead," Greenberg said.

Democratic Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand are also expected to cruise to victory with wide leads, the poll found.

"With just days to go, it certainly looks like game, set, match," Greenberg said of the Schumer race.

The poll, conducted between Oct. 27 and 30, has a margin of error of plus or minus four percent.