NEW YORK – A recent Gravis Marketing Poll shows Larry Sharpe, Libertarian candidate, running a strong third behind Gov. Andrew Cuomo and GOP challenger Marc Molinaro.

However, those asked how they would vote after taking the poll, Sharpe would beat Molinaro 25 to 19 percent, with Cuomo being reelected with 38 percent.

The poll shows Cuomo leading with 48 percent, Molinaro second with 25 percent and Sharpe third with 13 percent. Stephanie Minor logged 8 percent and Howie Hawkins 6 percent.

While not leading, Sharpe is polling well ahead of any previous third party candidate’s actual election results in state history. The best result by a Libertarian candidate was in 2010, when Warren Redlich received 1 percent of the state vote. Overall, Libertarians gubernatorial candidates have averages 3.8 percent since 1978/

Totals may be higher than 100 percent because the numbers were rounded.

Voters who participated in the poll said New York’s tax burden is the top issue this election year. Government corruption was second, economic opportunity was third and Second Amendment rights fourth.

Voters said they would prefer a career politician in the Governor’s Mansion, with business person second and a political activist as the third choice.

As for corruption in state government, 56 percent of those polled said an outsider would be better equipped to police the corruption while 44 percent said a political insider would be preferred.

Regarding the Safe Act, only 27 percent of polled voters know that Sharpe is the only candidate calling for the repeal of the controversial gun law.

Polled voters said they trusted Cuomo to protect Second Amendment rights with 31 percent support. Sharpe and Molinaro garnered 25 percent, while Hawkins tallied 11 percent and Miner 8 percent.

Asked who would support and help expand small businesses and economic opportunity the most, Cuomo received 35 percent support. Molinaro received 27 percent, and Sharpe 21 percent. Miner tallied 10 percent and Hawkins, 8 percent.

Sharpe is second among candidates most likely to ease the heavy tax burden with 23 percent. Cuomo registered 35 percent, Molinaro 22 percent, Miner 12 percent and Hawkins 8 percent.