Despite a new poll showing Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan with a commanding lead over her two most prominent challengers, Sheehan says she's not taking anything for granted.

"We're still full steam ahead, out there knocking on doors and moving the campaign forward," Sheehan said Monday. "I think the poll is just that - a poll. This is really about making sure that we communicate with voters, and get voters out to the polls."

Sheehan is supported by 50 percent of likely Democratic voters while Common Council member Frank Commisso Jr. is backed by 20 percent of the party's voters and Common Council President Carolyn McLaughlin is backed by 13 percent of the voters, according to a Siena College Research Institute poll conducted for Spectrum News.



Ahead of the Democratic Primary for mayor Sept. 12, the poll found Sheehan had a favorability rating of 68-25 percent. McLaughlin's favorability stood at 45-18 percent and Commisso's stood at 37-22 percent.



Commisso said the poll doesn't accurately reflect the pulse of the community.



"We see a significant disparity between the Siena poll and what is happening on the ground," he said. "We started going out to speak to voters at their homes on Monday, March 13, and that hard work is going to pay off on Sept. 12."



Democrats hold a heavy enrollment edge in the city and victory in a Democratic primary usually ensures victory in the general election for the party's nominee.



Two Green Party candidates, Daniel Plaat and Bryan Jimenez, also are vying for the seat and face their own primary. Joseph Sullivan is running on the Conservative line.



The Siena poll was conducted Aug. 2-7 by landline and cellphones. It was conducted in English to 600 likely Democratic primary voters, the Siena poll reported.

SEE THE FULL POLL HERE

The release of the poll comes days after candidates submitted the latest in campaign finances, which shows Sheehan with a slight lead on a final balance of $67,515. Commisso has $65,011 in his coffers, while McLaughlin has $16,582, according to the 32-day pre-primary report.



The latest filings show Sheehan loaned $162,000 to her campaign to fund a television advertisement, with total expenditures rising to $193,492.



"I thought it was really important to get the message out about what we accomplished," Sheehan said of self-funding the ad. "I had the ability to do that, and I wanted to be able to communicate directly with residents."



Sheehan is running for a second, four-year term.



Commisso called into question Sheehan loaning money to her campaign, reflecting on how his campaign is debt-free. His campaign spent $17,918, with a large portion going to campaign consulting fees and fundraisers.



"We are a debt-free campaign, that is much in line with how I'd run the city to seek revenue and reduce expenditures," he said. "The question we received the most – voters are concerned of how the incumbent mayor plans to be paid back for her loans."



Sheehan has received donations from various individuals, corporations and local attorneys.



Campaign manager Steve Napier said, "If fundraising efforts exceed our costs then we would pay it back."



McLaughlin also has loaned herself money. Her campaign spent $27,418, mostly on campaign literature, lawn signs and wages, according to the latest filing. She didn't return a call for comment Monday.



The Times Union will host a debate involving Commisso, McLaughlin and Sheehan at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29, at the Times Union's new Hearst Media Center.

SEE THE DETAILS ON THE DEBATE