Status Quo In New York State Races, Marist Poll Says

We were away for a couple of days and while we caught up on national issues earlier this evening, it's time now to check in on some New York stuff.

Last night a new WNBC/Marist Poll for New York was released. Not a lot has changed from other recent polls.

In the governor's race, Eliot Spitzer leads fellow Democrat Tom Suozzi 72%-12%. The Democrat leads his two Republican challengers John Fasso and Bill Weld buy 70%-20% margins in one-on-one races. Fasso leads Weld on the GOP side 30% to 21%, with 49% still undecided.

In the race for U.S. Senate, incumbent Democrat Hillary Clinton leads all three of her Republican challengers - John Spencer, KT McFarland and William Brennar by roughly 30 points one-on-one. In a GOP matchup of the three, its Spencer 26%, McFarland 14% and Brennar 13%.

Approval ratings: President Bush 24%; Gov. Pataki 30% (down from 43% in Jan.); Clinton 51%; Sen. Schumer 56%

In the Democratic race for attorney general, Andrew Cuomo leads Mark Green 39% to 20%, with all other Democrats in single digits. Either Democrat would beat Republican Jeanine Pirro - Cuomo 52% to 34% and Green 48% to 34%.

McFARLAND LANDS TWO MORE COUNTY PARTY ENDORSEMENTS

KT McFarland, the former Reagan Defense Department spokeswoman, picked up a couple of more endorsements for her Senate campaign in the last two days. Today McFarland's office announced the backing of Chautauqau County Republican Party Chairman John Glenzer. Yesterday she recieved the support of the Cortland County Republican Party. According to the Urban Elephants Web site, that gives McFarland support of about 17% of the delegates to the state convention. She needs to get 25% to be placed on the primary ballot without resorting to petitions.

WESTCHESTER COUNTRY REPUBLICANS BACK FASSO

Former Assembly Minority Leader John Fasso picked up the Westchester County Republican Party's endorsement in his race for governor today. According to the running tally on Urban Elephants , the endorsement gives Fasso the 25% support he needs to get on the ballot on the Republican line in the primary. He's already been endorsed by the New York State Conservative Party.

WORKING FAMILY PARTY ENDORSES GILLIBRAND FOR CONGRESS

The Working Families Party, a self-described center-left party for working people, has endorsed Kirsten Gillibrand, the Democrat running for Congress against incumbent John Sweeney in New York's 20'th District.

Gillibrand, yesterday announced a plan to offer education tax breaks for middle-class parents. Under the plan, college tuition would be deductable up to $10,000 a year. Gillibrand says eliminating President Bush's tax cuts for those who make $1.2 million or more a year would save $56.2 billion, enough to pay for her tuition tax break plan for five years.