By Dave Bollard
Oswego, NY – U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand appears to have benefited from the talk of a primary challenge.
A new poll from Marist College finds that Gillibrand's approval ratings rose over the last month.
The Marist poll finds her with a large lead over Harold Ford, the former congressman who thought about fighting a democratic party primary against her.
Ford said this week he would not run.
Gillibrand holds large leads in the poll against any republican challenger, except one.
Former Gov. George Pataki holds a tiny lead over Gillibrand in the Marist Poll. Pataki has not said whether he will run.
Gillibrand's approval ratings have also risen in the last month. They're now above 50 percent.