Spitzer dives in latest poll

{mosads}The telephone survey of 602 likely Democratic primary voters showed the former New York governor tied with his rival, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, with each candidate getting 46 percent support.

The drop is a severe one. Just two weeks ago, a survey had Spitzer leading Stringer 56 percent to 37 percent, and Spitzer had led every poll since he entered the race in July.

Stringer has benefited recently from winning the endorsements of The New York Times, the New York Post, and the Daily News, which may have helped him close a vast name-recognition gap with Spitzer.

Spitzer’s bid for comptroller is an attempt at a political comeback for the former governor and rising Democratic star. In 2008, he was forced to resign after a police sting revealed he patronized expensive prostitutes.

The poll was conducted from Aug. 22 through 27 and has a sampling error of 4 percentage points.