Potential challengers to New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand have come and gone almost from the day she was appointed last year to fill the seat vacated by Hillary Clinton. Now former Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford Jr., a Manhattan investment banker, is showing interest in the race. One Ford adviser told the New York Post, "If Coakley loses or wins by less than five [in the Massachusetts Senate race], it increases the likelihood that he gets in."

But the first Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of the potential Democratic Primary match-up shows that Ford faces an uphill fight if he enters the race.

Among likely New York Democratic Primary voters, Gillibrand leads by a 25-point margin, 48% to 23%. Ten percent (10%) prefer another candidate, and 18% are undecided.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

Fifty-nine percent (59%) of likely primary voters have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of the current senator while just 27% voice a negative assessment.

For Ford, the numbers are 36% favorable and 30% unfavorable.

However, opinions are far from etched in stone.

Just eight percent (8%) have a Very Favorable opinion of Gillibrand, while 13% have a Very Unfavorable view.

Eleven percent (11%) offer a Very Favorable assessment of Ford, and nine percent (9%) give him Very Unfavorable reviews.

The Republicans have not found a challenger yet for Gillibrand, and some have suggested that Ford ultimately may run as an independent candidate.

New data also has been released on Senate races in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Connecticut, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Florida. and California. New election night polling also been released from the special Senate election in Massachusetts.

Please sign up for the Rasmussen Reports daily e-mail update (it’s free) or follow us on Twitter or Facebook. Let us keep you up to date with the latest public opinion news.

See survey questions and toplines. Crosstabs are available to Premium Members only.