Brian J. (GNS) Tumulty

Journal Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON -- The race to replace retiring Republican Rep. Chris Gibson of Kinderhook really is a tossup, according to a new poll.

Republican John Faso of Kinderhook, a former state assemblyman, led Democrat Zephyr Teachout of Clinton Corners, an associate law professor, by 1 percentage point, 43-42 percent, in the Time Warner Cable News/Siena College poll of 678 likely voters. That's well within the poll's margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.

The race in the 19th District, which covers the mid-Hudson Valley and Catskills region, is touted as one of the closest in the nation by the non-partisan Cook Political Report.

Faso and Teachout each has support from 75 percent of registered voters within their respective parties, the poll found.

Among independents, Faso had a razor-thin lead of 42-41 percent.

Teachout led in Dutchess and Ulster counties by 51-36 percent.

Faso led 52-33 percent in Montgomery, Schoharie, Greene, Columbia and Rensselaer counties. The former assemblyman led by a smaller 43-38 percent margin over Teachout in Sullivan, Broome, Delaware and Otsego counties.

"Teachout, with a net 11 point positive favorability rating, is viewed a little more favorably than Faso, with a net two point positive favorability rating, while each remains unknown to nearly four in ten likely voters,” Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said. “Both have room for growth, which is not surprising given that 55 percent say they have not seen a Faso commercial or been contacted by his campaign, and 44 percent say the same about Teachout.”