Cooperstown News Bureau

COOPERSTOWN - Disorganized though it may be, the Independence Party has become a force to contend with in New York.

A poll published Thursday by ABC Eyewitness News-Survey USA showed gubernatorial candidate B. Thomas Golisano gaining on both Republican incumbent George Pataki and Democrat H. Carl McCall. Golisano received 22 percent behind Pataki's 46 percent and McCall's 29.

In the last month, Golisano's percentage among likely voters has almost doubled.

"His support upstate has also increased by more than 10 percent, putting him one point above Pataki, 41 to 40 percent," the poll reported.

In two previous gubernatorial bids, Golisano got 4 and then 7 percent of the vote.

This time, however, he appears to be taking off, and should he finish first or second, the Independence Party — the state's third largest party — would be listed either first or second on the ballot for the next four years, according to Patricia Murray, deputy counsel for the state Board of Elections.

According to the state Constitution, election boards are selected by the two parties that garner the most votes in the preceding election. The Constitution does not specify whether this is just the gubernatorial race or all races in the state. Murray said if Golisano comes in first or second, but the Democrats and Republicans garner more votes in other races, they would remain in control of boards of election.

However, Peter Kosinski — deputy director of the state Board of Elections — said Thursday he was uncertain whether that interpretation was correct.

Kosinski said the matter might be decided by a court in the event Golisano overtakes McCall, Pataki or both.

Figures show New York is home to 5,192,717 Democrats; 3,114,972 Republicans; and just 219,715 Independence Party members — as well as 2,208,610 independent, or unaffiliated voters. To win the race, Golisano will have to draw from these other large pools.

According to Vincent Stark, former chairman of Otsego County's Independence Party, confusion over the terms independent and Independence Party may have helped his party grow, but other factors are probably more important.

"I think some people who wanted to be independent have signed up in our party, but there are lots of others who are looking for something beside the Republicans and Democrats," Stark said.

The state's Independence Party stems from the United We Stand America movement begun by Texas billionaire Ross Perot, who ran for president in 1992.

The state party is not affiliated with the movement now, Stark said, but people who belong to it may share the values Perot espoused, including opposition to NAFTA and a desire to keep "soft money" from corrupting political campaigns.

Last November in Otsego County, there were 13,766 Republicans, 9,106 Democrats and 937 Independence Party members. Now there are 13,727 Republicans, a loss of 39; 9,071 Democrats, a loss of 35; and 986 Independence Party members, a gain of 49.