The first poll taken since Eliot Spitzer leaped into the New York City comptroller's race shows the ex-governor gaining a quick advantage over fellow Democrat Scott Stringer.
The Wall Street Journal-NBC 4 New York-Marist poll shows registered Democrats favoring Spitzer over Stringer by 42 percent to 33 percent. That includes voters who are undecided but leaning toward a candidate.
Spitzer resigned amid a prostitution scandal in 2008. Stringer is Manhattan's borough president.
Spitzer launched his campaign Monday. The poll surveyed 546 Democrats Monday and Tuesday. Those results have a margin of error of 4.2 percentage points.
Spitzer says he's gratified by the numbers but won't base his approach on polls.
Stringer’s campaign manager has expressed confidence that Stringer will prevail as more voters get to know him.
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.