Eliot Spitzer has a big lead over Gov. George Pataki going into next year's New York governor's race, according to the latest Siena poll.

According to Joe Caruso of the Siena poll, this is actually good news for Pataki:

"Freshly back from basking in the glow of Iowa's influential Republican presidential caucus voters, George Pataki is doing better with New York voters than he has all year as he prepares to announce a decision on whether to seek a fourth term as governor," said Joe Caruso, Director of Polling for the Siena Research Institute (SRI). "His 12 point loss margin against Spitzer (37-49 percent) is the lowest it has been all year, and his favorability rating (52-40 percent) is the best it's been in six months.

Still, given the New York Republicans' pathetic track record in big races of late, Democrats in New York could be forgiven for wide grins these days.