ALBANY (AP) -- Three new statewide polls show races for governor, attorney general, and comptroller heating up as we head into the final weeks of the 2010 campaign.
First, a new poll of voters in New York state shows Democrat Andrew Cuomo has opened a 37-point lead over Republican Carl Paladino in the race for governor.
The Siena College poll released Wednesday shows Cuomo not only has a lead that Siena's pollster called "overwhelming," but he also has the momentum as the race enters its final two weeks.
Paladino's opportunity for a comeback are also hurt by a high 69 percent disapproval rating.
Siena interviewed 647 likely voters from Oct. 14 to Monday, ending just before the only scheduled debate in the race. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 points.
Second, a new poll shows Republican Harry Wilson closing the gap in the New York comptroller's race, but Democratic incumbent Thomas DiNapoli still well ahead with a 17 percentage point lead.
The Siena College poll found 49 percent of likely voters would choose DiNapoli, with 32 percent picking political newcomer Wilson.
That narrows DiNapoli's advantage from a 26-point lead among registered voters reported four weeks ago. That Siena poll included voters considered unlikely to vote Nov. 2.
The new survey shows 70 percent have no opinion of Wilson, a former hedge fund manager recently endorsed by the New York Times and the Daily News.
Siena interviewed 647 likely voters from Thursday through Monday. The poll released Wednesday has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 points.
Finally, Republican Dan Donovan has narrowed the margin in the race to be New York's next attorney general. A new poll shows Democrat Eric Schneiderman now leads by just seven points.
The Siena College poll of likely voters found Schneiderman, a state senator, leading the Staten Island prosecutor by 44 percent to 37 percent among likely voters, with 19 percent undecided.
Siena's poll released Sept. 23 gave Schneiderman a lead of 45 percent to 32 percent among registered voters. That poll included voters considered unlikely to vote Nov. 2.
Siena pollster Steven Greenberg says the race is shaping up to be a "barn burner."
Siena interviewed 647 likely voters from last Thursday through Monday. The poll released Wednesday has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 points.
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