[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/01/26/art.gillibrand5.gi.jpg caption ="A new poll indicates that former New York Gov. George Pataki is in a dead heat with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in a hypothetical Senate election match up."](CNN) - A new poll indicates that former New York Gov. George Pataki is in a dead heat with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in a hypothetical Senate election match up. There's only one problem: The former two-term Republican governor has not publicly indicated that he has any desire to challenge Gillibrand, a Democrat.

According to a Marist College Institute for Public Opinion survey released Monday, 47 percent of New York State voters would back Pataki and 45 percent would support Gillibrand if the general election were held today, with 8 percent undecided.

The poll also indicates that 27 percent think Gillibrand's doing either an excellent or good job in office, with just over one in three saying she's doing a fair job, 17 percent adding that she's performing poorly and just over one in five undecided. Gillibrand, who was a congresswoman from upstate New York, was appointed to the Senate last year by New York Gov. David Paterson to replace Hillary Clinton, who stepped down to become secretary of State. Gillibrand is running this year to serve the final two years of Clinton's term.

"Former Governor Pataki is the big unknown for Gillibrand," says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, "With her approval rating at 27 percent, Gillibrand will almost certainly have her work cut out for her if Pataki enters the race."

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