COULD THIS BE POSSIBLE? – AT 8:15 A.M. ET:  The Quinnipiac poll is highly respected.  Q is out this morning with a real New York stunner:

ALBANY - A stunning new poll this morning shows Democratic Attorney General Andrew Cuomo holding a mere six point lead over bomb throwing Buffalo businessman Carl Paladino in what until now has been Cuomo's runaway race for governor.

The startling Quinnipiac University survey of likely voters showed Cuomo ahead of Republican Paladino by 49-43 percent, a far cry from the 60-23 percent lead he held in a Quinnipiac poll of registered - but not necessarily likely - voters released Sept. 1.

Since the poll's margin of error is plus- or minus-3.6 percent, the findings - if accurate -- mean the race between the popular and well-known attorney general and the little-known but highly controversial, Tea Party-linked, Paladino could be a dead heat.

COMMENT:  The key here is "likely voters."  Enthusiasm this year is far higher among conservatives than among liberals, who are crushed that The One has not yet brought peace on Earth and good will toward men. 

We'll wait for other polls, which may or may not confirm this result.  But if the poll is accurate, we may see a political revolution in New York.  And, if accurate, it may be an indicator of what's happening around the country.  We stress the word "may." 

I'm underwhelmed by Paladino, who has the elegant style of a junkyard dog.  But I can't help but be impressed by his winning the GOP gubernatorial nomination.  Stand by on this one.

September 22, 2010