New York Gov.Kathy Hochul expanded her lead over Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman to double digits in a new poll showing the Democratic incumbent pulling further ahead in the final days before Election Day.Hochul leads the Nassau County executive 54% to 40% among likely New York voters, according to a Siena Research Institute survey released Wednesday.
The 14-point margin is five points wider than her lead in September, when she led 50% to 41%."Heading into the final stretch, Hochul has a 14-point lead, with Blakeman quickly running out of time to close a gap that is growing rather than narrowing," Siena pollster Steven Greenberg said in a statement.NEW YORK GOVERNOR DEBATE HEATS UP AS BLAKEMAN, HOCHUL SPAR OVER TRUMP, SANCTUARY STATUS, ICE SHOOTINGNassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, left, and New York Gov.Kathy Hochul.
(NDZ/Star Max/GC Images/Getty Images; Alexander MacDougall/Albany Times Union via Getty Images)The poll also showed Blakeman struggling to establish an advantage in areas where Republicans typically need strong support to compete statewide.The candidates are virtually tied in upstate New York and the downstate suburbs, while Hochul leads independent voters by 11 points.Republicans generally need strong margins in those regions and among independents to overcome Democrats' roughly two-to-one voter registration advantage and their dominance in New York City, Greenberg noted."But with only a week to go, Blakeman and Hochul are running virtually evenly upstate and in the downstate suburbs, while Hochul has an 11-point lead with independents," Greenberg said, noting that Blakeman is "quickly running out of time to close a gap that is growing rather than narrowing."Despite Hochul's overall advantage, the survey revealed uncertainty among voters over whether either candidate would make life more affordable for average New Yorkers.DEBRA MESSING SAYS COST OF LIVING, SUBWAY VIOLENCE PUSHED HER TO BACK TRUMP-ENDORSED REPUBLICANA plurality of voters, ...