AG Andrew Cuomo may have lost the battle for Hillary Clinton's US Senate seat, but, as it turns out, he has gained considerably from losing.
Today's Siena poll shows Gov. David Paterson's lead over Cuomo in a hypothetical head-to-head match-up has fallen from 23 points in December to just two points today (35-33 from 49-26 last month).
Another Democrat sometimes mentioned as a potential 2010 contender, Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, doesn't even register among New York voters, while 33 percent are unsure.
If the election were held today, Paterson would edge Republican Rudy Giuliani by just two points (44-42, with 14 percent undecided), while Cuomo would handily defeat the former mayor (48-39, 13).
And, for the first time since May, Cuomo has a better favorable/unfavorable rating than Paterson. Cuomo is at 64-17, while Paterson is at 60-23.
Asked if they would vote to elect Paterson or "someone else" in 2010 if the election, 36 percent chose an anonymous challenger over the current governor, who got just 32 percent. Another 32 percent were unsure.
(lifted from Liz)
