Republican hopeful Rick Lazio remains ahead of incumbent Democrat David Paterson but badly trails state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo in this year's race for governor in New York.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely New York voters shows Lazio ahead of Paterson 45% to 38%. Nine percent (9%) of voters would opt for some other candidate, while eight percent (8%) are undecided. In November, Lazio led Paterson by four points, 41% to 37%. In September, the two men were tied at 38% each.

But Cuomo who is expected to challenge Paterson for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination now leads Lazio by 19 points, 54% to 35%. Five percent (5%) like some other candidate, and seven percent (7%) remain undecided. Cuomo had a 28-point lead in mid-November. In late September, Cuomo led Lazio 65% to 26%.

While Lazio is faring better against both his Democratic opponents, it is unclear if he is benefiting from the backlash against the national health care plan that seems to be helping many other GOP candidates in other parts of the country.

Against Paterson, Lazio carries voters not affiliated with either of the major political parties by 23 points. Unaffiliateds break even when Cuomo is the Democratic candidate.

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Forty-four percent (44%) of New York voters have a favorable opinion of Paterson, up from 36% in November. Most voters (53%) view him somewhat or very unfavorably.

Views of the governor's job performance have improved slightly since November, with 43% who somewhat or strongly approve of the job he’s been doing. But 56% still disapprove of Paterson’s performance.

Thirteen percent (13%) have a very favorable opinion of Paterson, while 25% view him very unfavorably. For Cuomo, very favorables total 32% and very unfavorables 14%.
Lazio is viewed very favorably by 14% and very unfavorably by 14%. Voters are much more likely, however, not to have an opinion about Lazio because they don't know him well enough. Unlike his Democratic opponents, the former congressman has not held statewide office, but he did run unsuccessfully against Hillary Clinton for the U.S. Senate in 2000.
At this point in a campaign, Rasmussen Reports considers the number of people with strong opinions more significant than the total favorable/unfavorable numbers.

In New York’s Democratic primary for Senate, incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand holds a big lead over potential challenger Harold Ford Jr.

Rasmussen Reports has released data on the 2010 governor’s races in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas.

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