The newest Siena Poll, released yesterday, shows a hunger for change among New Yorkers, a stronger governor, and conflicting positions on how to resolve what is widely viewed as a serious budget crisis.

Specifically, 48% of New Yorkers describe the state's fiscal position as poor, 37% as fair, and 11% as good. Voters are divided as to a proper remedy, however; support for the governor's tax cap plan clocks in at 66%, with 23% opposed; support for a circuit-breaker as endorsed by the WFP polls at 75% support, 18% opposed, and asked to choose between the two, 58% support the circuit-breaker proposal, 33% a tax cap. However, by 55% to 43%, New Yorkers aren't confident that the state's leadership will effectively address the crisis.

Good news for Governor Paterson: his favorability rating is holding steady at 59%. Better news for Senate Democrats: 47% of voters support a Democratic State Senate, 42% a republican majority. Generically, an individual incumbent polling under 50% at this point in the cycle is considered endangered.