With fewer than 60 days before voters go to the polls, Siena found that Owens, a Democrat from Plattsburgh, holds a double digit lead. "Despite large GOP plurality, voters prefer Democrat on all issues," the pollster reported.

The survey found that Doheny, a Republican from Watertown, is winning just 60 percent support from Republicans, with more than a quarter of GOP voters breaking away and siding with Owens.

In a statement issued Monday morning, Doheny spokesman Jude Seymour said that polls are "merely snapshots in time."

"Siena was in the field during the Democratic National Convention, so it's laughable to think three nights of wall-to-wall television coverage didn't have a bearing on these numbers."

Seymour noted that Owens is still polling under 50 percent.

Still, the poll indicated strong support for the Democrat, among voters of all stripes.

Asked whether they would prefer to re-elect Owens, or "prefer someone else," 34 percent of GOP voters chose Owens.

"By virtually every measure, Owens has a significant lead, and it's not just the horse race where he has a 13 percent lead," said Siena spokesman Steven Greenberg. He noted that Owens also has a sizable lead on issues and on "favorability."

The poll also found strong support for Barack Obama in the 21st district.

To hear Brian Mann’s full interview with Siena’s Steven Greenberg, click on “listen with NCPR player” on this story’s page.