By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – With New York's presidential primary now less than four months away, polls show there is still no clear favorite emerging in the state.
Now that this year's general election is out of the way, perhaps voters will start concentrating on the upcoming presidential primary in New York. Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean made an appearance over the summer at a convention of young Democrats in Buffalo. And just ten days ago, Senator Joseph Lieberman campaigned here, gaining support from several high profile Democrats, including Assembly Majority Leader Paul Tokasz.
But pollster Maurice Carroll of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute says none of the candidates has been able to break from the pack in New York.
"What the Quinnipiac numbers say is that you have a free-for-all," Carroll said. "You have five Democrats all with double digit numbers in New York. Each has substantial support, but no one is dominating."
According to the Quinnipiac poll, Lieberman leads the pack with the support of 17 percent of Democrats. Dean is next with 15 percent while retired General Wesley Clark comes in at 12 percent and Senator John Kerry and activist Al Sharpton with 11 percent each.
Carroll says it's a pattern he's seeing in other states, making for a very exciting race leading up to primary season. New York's presidential primary is March 2nd.