A Public Opinion Strategies poll conducted for the NRCC of the NY-23 race found the GOP nominee, Matt Doheny, with a wide lead over Democratic incumbent, Rep. Bill Owens, in a hypothetical head-to-head match-up.

The poll was conducted Sept. 22-23 – long before Doug Hoffman decided to suspend his candidacy on the Conservative line and call on his supporters to support Doheny, who won the Sept. 14 GOP primary.

The poll, which questioned 400 likely voters and has a margin of error of +/- 4.9 percent, did not include Hoffman, even though his name will remain on the Nov. 2 ballot. It found Doheny leading Owens, 51-37, with the Republican candidate picking up some 68 percent of Hoffman’s voters.

Owens, who has held office since winning a special election last fall against Hoffman and Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, whose name was on the ballot even though she has been forced out of the race due to her moderate views, has a higher name recognition in the district. His favorable/unfavorable rating is 42-23, while Dohney’s is 37-15.

Thirty percent of voters said Owens deserves to be re-elected, while 47 percent said they think it’s time for someone new in the seat that had been held by the GOP for about a century prior to the Democratic newcomer’s election.

“Matt Doheny is well-positioned in this race to become the district’s next Congressman,” POS’ Neil Newhouse wrote in a memo to NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions.

“The district is strongly tilting toward the GOP, Owens has done little to coalesce his support, and Doug Hoffman’s departure from this race and full support for Doheny has boosted Matt into a double-digit lead. The stage is set for Matt to put this seat back in GOP hands.”

UPDATE: The DCCC forwarded the following response:

“When it comes to Upstate New York, it’s tough to take anything from the NRCC seriously. As Upstate New Yorkers learn more about Wall Street’s Matt Doheny and his history of laying off workers while helping executives land millions in bonuses, they’ll quickly realize he’s the wrong choice this November.”

Doheny October 2010 PAC Memo

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