For those who are young and unfamiliar: Thomas DiNapoli, 72, of Great Neck Plaza, has been the New York State comptroller since 2007. He was first placed in the job in a bipartisan vote by the State Legislature after the late Alan Hevesi resigned as part of a plea bargain related to the use of state employees to take care of his ailing wife.

DiNapoli, a Democrat, has been elected four times since. He has been such a Long Island fixture for decades that it might have been a jolt to some when the Siena Research Institute poll last week found that just 33% of Democrats statewide say they'd vote to reelect him, with 23% preferring "someone else" and 35% declining to answer or saying they didn't know. By comparison, ticket mate Attorney General Letitia James has 65% in her party saying they will vote for her and only 13% giving no answer.

It is still too early to bet winners and losers, of course. The AG and comptroller races are secondary on the ballot to Gov. Kathy Hochul's reelection........

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