New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has a better than two-to-one lead over incumbent Governor David Paterson in next year’s likely Democratic Primary gubernatorial showdown.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely Democratic Primary voters in the Empire State finds Cuomo ahead of Paterson 61% to 27%. Four percent (4%) prefer some other candidate, and nine percent (9%) are undecided.

This is the first Rasmussen poll of New York’s Democratic Primary. Earlier general election polling showed Cuomo leading Rudy Giuliani but Giuliani leading Paterson.

In the primary competition, Cuomo captures 66% of the male vote and 57% of women. Older voters give the challenger even larger majorities over Paterson, the state’s first African-American governor who succeeded to the office in March 2008 after Elliot Spitzer resigned because of a sex scandal.

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On Thursday, Rasmussen Reports will release new numbers showing how both men fare against potential Republican gubernatorial candidate Rudy Giuliani. Also coming Thursday will be new findings in the contentious 2010 Democratic Senate race where incumbent Kristen Gillibrand faces a tough challenge from New York Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney.

Paterson was initially well-received in the state but quickly lost ground after contentious budget battles and the controversy over filling Hillary Clinton’s Senate seat when she left to become secretary of State.

Likely Democratic primary voters now are almost evenly divided in their views of Paterson. Forty-nine percent (49%) have a favorable opinion of the governor, with 12% very favorable. Fifty percent (50%) view him unfavorably, including 14% very unfavorable.

Cuomo, who has revived his own political career through his aggressive performance as attorney general, is seen favorably by 78% of likely primary voters, with 28% who have a very favorable view of him. Just 15% see Cuomo unfavorably.

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