By Hank Russell
A new internal poll has found that Kathy Hochul’s lead in the race for governor has shrunk to single digits, with her opponent within striking distance of taking the lead.
According to a poll from McLaughlin & Associates that was released to Politico, Hochul, a Democrat, leads her GOP opponent, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, by only nine points, 52%-43%.
This comes out after the Siena University Research Institute released a poll showing Blakeman’s deficit shrinking from 26 to 20 points and a Marist Poll from late last month showed Hochul holding a smaller lead at 17 points, 50%-33%.
As Politico reported, the outlet received a memo from McLaughlin & Associates. The memo stated, “These are ominous results for the Democratic incumbent governor. … More important, the results provide a path to victory for Bruce Blakeman. … With enough resources Bruce Blakeman can define himself to the electorate and defeat Kathy Hochul in November.” This was later shared with City & State New York.
Republican strategist David Catalfamo, a GOP strategist, said Hochul is a “vulnerable candidate, telling City & State, “It’s obvious: people are being crushed by affordability and they’re unhappy about it. That’s why Hochul’s been historically vulnerable and remains vulnerable.”
Meanwhile, state Democrats were mocking Blakeman over a paperwork error he filed for his campaign, which could cost him $7 million in matching funds. “One thing everyone can agree on about Bruce Blakeman: He knows how to run a losing campaign, and he doesn’t need our help to do it,” Hochul campaign spokesperson Ryan Radulovacki said.
Blakeman told The New York Post that this is “dirty politics” on the part of Hochul and New York State Democrats, who he says are preventing him from the matching funds. “[T]hey’re not going to defeat the will of the people,” he said.