Run, Rudy, run!

Democratic incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand may have a serious problem on her hands if Rudy Giuliani gets in next year's race for the U.S. Senate in New York State. A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of voters in the state finds Giuliani, the former Republican mayor of New York City, leading Gillibrand by 13 points - 53% to 40%. Four percent (4%) like some other candidate, and just two percent (2%) are undecided. News reports that Giuliani has ruled out a run for governor next year and is interested In the Senate race could turn Gillibrand's bid to fill out the rest of Hillary Clinton's term from a close struggle to an uphill climb. Just last week a Rasmussen Reports survey in the Empire State found Gillibrand leading former GOP Governor George Pataki in a hypothetical 2010 match-up by just three points 45% to 42%. But Pataki, too, was not an announced candidate and was only rumored to be interested in the race.

Via TPM