Democratic mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio has maintained his big lead over Republican Joe Lhota, with only 2 weeks to go to Election Day. Mr. de Blasio now leads Mr. Lhota by 44 points (68 – 24) percent among likely voters, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Independence Party candidate Adolfo Carrion has 2 percent. This compares to a 71 – 21 percent de Blasio lead in an October 3 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.

Mr. de Blasio leads 54 – 42 percent among white voters, 94 – 5 percent among black voters, 79 – 10 percent, with 6 percent for Carrion, among Hispanic voters, 71 – 21 percent among women, 65 – 29 percent among men, 86 – 9 percent among Democrats and 55 – 33 percent among independent voters. Lhota takes Republicans 84 – 13 percent.

Only 5 percent of likely voters remain undecided and 8 percent of those who name a candidate say there’s a “good chance” they will change their mind by November 5.

“The good news for Public Advocate Bill de Blasio is that he probably can start drafting his inauguration speech,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

“The bad news is that New York City voters’ priority for the next mayor is – you guessed it – jobs, something over which a mayor has very little control. The next priority is education and if he can succeed where so many have not, they can name a school after him.”

With 15 days to go, Mr. Lhota could find comfort with that fact that on the issues that matter most to NYC voters, Mr. Lhota’s position is closer to them than the to-become mayor.

On Stop-and-Frisk, voters – By a 62-3- margin – say keeping crime rates down is more important than reforming the stop and frisk policy. Voters, however, are divided on the issue of stop and frisk as 48 percent say it is excessive harassment while 45 percent say it is an acceptable way to make the city safer.

On the issue of Education, which remains at the top of voters mind, according to the poll, 39 percent of likely voters say the next mayor should increase the number of charter schools, while 18 percent want fewer charter schools and 35 percent say keep the number the same.

“As he drafts that inauguration speech, Bill de Blasio will have to ponder the judgment by a sizable minority of voters that he won’t be able to reform stop-and-frisk without crime going up. Plus the fact that charter schools – about which he’s not enthusiastic – are popular,” Carroll noted.

Whether Mr. Lhota manages to close the gap or land bruising punches over the next two week, remains to be seen. But as it looks, it seems that Mr. de Blasio’s personality – or Mr. Lhota’s lack of connectivity – has inspired many, many New Yorkers.

Quinnipiac mayoral poll of likely voters

(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)