Ray Kelly (Getty)

New Quinnipiac poll numbers show NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly at the top of the heap of potential mayoral candidates with 24% of voters saying they'd support his City Hall bid. However, a Kelly candidacy seems increasingly unlikely. Earlier this week, former Mayor Ed Koch told Politicker Mr. Kelly has assured him he's not going to make a run for mayor.

If Mr. Kelly indeed isn't in the race, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn would lead the way with 23% followed by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz at 16 percent, 2009 runner up Bill Thompson with 9 percent, Comptroller John Liu also at 9, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio with 8 percent and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer at 6 percent.

“City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Public Advocate Bill de Blasio have OK job approval ratings, but voters don’t seem enchanted with the prospect of either elected official as mayor," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “When you line them all up, Speaker Quinn is number one – unless Police Commissioner Ray Kelly jumps into the ring.”

Quinnipiac's poll doesn't include the one person who's officially launched a campaign--Manhattan Media LLC CEO Tom Allon. Mr. Allon has little name recognition in the general public and his run is widely seen as a longshot bid.

Occupy Wall Street protesters marching in Manhattan last night. (Getty)

A new Quinnipiac poll found that New York voters largely agree with the Occupy Wall Street protesters. New York Republicans, however, do not support the movement. The poll also found New York voters support the so-called "millionaire's tax" and are divided on natural gas drilling. 

Overall, Quinnipiac's pollsters said 58% of New York voters agree with the views of the protesters. However, support for Occupy Wall Street came mostly from Democrats. Only 12% of Democrats in the poll said they disagreed with Occupy Wall Street compared to 74% who viewed the movement favorably. In contrast, 53% of New York Republicans in the poll said they disagreed with Occupy Wall Street. Nearly one third of Republican voters, 32%, said they agreed with the movement.

New Yorkers overwhelmingly support Occupy Wall Street's right to protest with 82% of Democrats and 71% of Republicans saying they're "OK that they are protesting."

Quinnipiac found 66% of New York voters support extending the so-called "millionaire's tax," which provides higher tax rates for wealthy residents. Interestingly, Quinnipiac found 66% of New Yorkers making over $100,000 per year supported the tax. Governor Cuomo has steadfastfly refused to extend the tax, which has drawn the ire of Occupy Albany protesters who are camped outside his main office in the State Capitol Building

The poll also showed voters remain divided about hydrofracking in the Marcellus Shale with 44 percent supporting the natural gas drilling because of the economic benefits and 43 percent in opposition. Support for hydrofracking is down ever so slightly from the past three months.
because of environmental concerns..

Though the majority of New York voters seems to have an opinion of Occupy Wall Street, they're not all clear on what exactly is going on. Quinnipiac's poll also found just 60% of city voters said they "understand" the views of the protesters "fairly well" or "very well."

Cuomo is a better leader than President Barack Obama, voters say 46 – 38 percent, and is a better leader than New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, voters say 51 – 35 percent.  Democrats say the president is a better leader than Cuomo 63 – 22 percent, while Cuomo leads 72 – 12 percent among Republicans and 55 – 28 percent among independent voters.

Bloomberg is a better leader, Republicans say 45 – 40 percent, but Cuomo leads 59 – 29 percent among Democrats and 50 – 36 percent among independent voters.  New York City voters salute Cuomo as a better leader 50 – 42 percent.

The biggest measure of success, perhaps, came when people were asked to describe Cuomo in a single word, which was mostly positive.

In fact, only one person offered a profanity.

Kirsten Gillibrand posted a 54-percent approval rating, tying the best she's ever done in the poll. And with just 22-percent disapproving of the job she's doing, it's slightly better than her previous best.

Chuck Schumer got a 64 - 24 approval rating, his best showing in years (though short of his personal best 69 percent approval back in 2004.)

It's not clear why exactly the public is so fond of both senators right now. Senate Democrats haven't exactly made big headlines in Washington of late, as they wrangle with Republicans over slightly opaque issues like the federal debt ceiling and judicial appointments.

File any theories in the comments.