It's a good news, bad news thing for Hillary in the new Marist poll out tonight.

The good news: " 54% of New York State’s registered voters say they would definitely vote to re-elect Hillary Clinton to the U.S. Senate in 2006 including most Democrats and a majority of independent voters." Additional (though not surprising) good news for Mrs. Clinton: she's running 30-points ahead of her nearest GOP challenger for the Senate.

The bad news: "Should Hillary Clinton decide to run for president in 2008, 62% of New York State’s registered voters do not think it is likely that she will be elected." BTW, that includes 54% of registered Democrats. 

Also in the bad news category:  "Clinton’s controversial comment about the Republicans running the House of Representatives like a plantation was not well received by New York State’s registered voters."

Given that Hillary wants to be president more than she wants to be a Senator from New York for life, I'd think the bad news in this poll outweighs the good. It's more evidence her White House bid might be much more difficult than many had assumed.