Hochul ahead of Corwin in the polls

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Some startling numbers are out from the 26th Congressional District.

The latest poll gives Democrat Kathy Hochul a six-point lead over GOP candidate Jane Corwin on the the eve of the special election. A Public Policy Polling survey released late Sunday gives Hochul 42 percent, to 36 for Corwin. Independent Jack Davis trails with 13 percent.

Down four to six points in the most recent polls, Jane Corwin and her volunteers are hoping a big Republican voter turnout will put her over the top. Kathy Hochul has also rallied the volunteers. Her troops and Republicans got some national help over the weekend.

Hochul said, "I've got to tell you we have a great incredible operation. People helping us from all over. The grass roots operation we have is second to none."

Jack Davis has his army of volunteers who each have a hundred Davis supporters who will be given rides to the polls if necessary.

Davis said, "If they don't turn out, I don't win. I got to win. It's not only important to me, it's important to everyone in the United States."

Kathy Hochul had Lt. Governor Robert Duffy by her side.

"She's a local government person. She's what we need. She'll protect Medicare and especially look at a restaurant like this. A lot of senior citizens here. Somebody who will fight," said Lt. Gov. Duffy.

Corwin got support from a national critic of President Obama's health care reforms, who says he is raiding Medicare to bolster medicaid.

Obama critic Betsy McCaughey said, "It's robbing grandma to pay Medicaid beneficiaries and the result is going to be less care."

Davis was assured by Iraq veteran David Bellavia that loyal Davis supporters will not forsake him.

"You know, they say Jack's a spoiler. I guess when you win an election you do spoil, you know, you're gonna spoil it a lot for two candidates. I'm real confident that's going to happen," said Bellavia.

This could go down as the costliest special election ever in New York State, approaching perhaps $11 or $12 million. Right now, all efforts are being made to get the voters out on a spring day in May.