Poll Shows Spitzer Leads Stringer for NYC Comptroller

NEW YORK (AP) — A Quinnipiac Poll released yesterday gives Eliot Spitzer the early advantage in the New York City Comptroller race.

The former New York Governor has a wide lead over Democratic rival Scott Stringer in the first poll conducted largely since the New York City Comptroller rivals faced off in heated debates.

Spitzer gets support from 56 percent of likely Democratic voters. Stringer is at 37 percent. Some previous surveys also logged leads for Spitzer, though a Quinnipiac poll last month found them roughly even.

The new poll surveyed 579 likely Democratic primary voters between Aug. 7 and Monday. Its margin of error is 4.1 percentage points.

The candidates debated for the first time Friday and again Monday. Spitzer resigned from state governor amid a prostitution scandal in 2008.