Less than a week before Election Day, a new Siena poll of likely New York voters shows Gov. Kathy Hochul pulling further ahead of Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County executive. Hochul now leads 54 percent to 40 percent, a 14-point gap that is up from her 50 to 41 lead in September. Her personal numbers have improved too, with 51 percent of likely voters viewing her favorably and 51 percent approving of her job. Siena pollster Steven Greenberg noted that her favorable rating had never reached 50 percent in her five years as governor. Voters also overwhelmingly expect her to win, with 68 percent saying so compared to 23 percent who think Blakeman will.

Hochul is not the only statewide Democrat gaining ground. Attorney General Letitia James leads her Republican challenger 54 to 39 percent, and Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli leads his Republican opponent 59 to 32 percent, with both up slightly from September. Still, the poll isn't all good news for Hochul, since she and Blakeman are running about even upstate and in the downstate suburbs, and her lead rests on New York City and an 11-point edge among independents. About 49 percent of voters also say the state is heading in the wrong direction. A poll is a snapshot rather than a prediction, so the big question is whether Blakeman can close the gap in the final days.