Candidates for New York’s U.S. Senate seat come and go, but the latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state finds Democratic incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand still in a virtual dead heat with former Gov. George Pataki.

Gillibrand now holds a statistically insignificant 44 percent to 42 percent lead over Pataki. Just four percent (4 percent) would vote for some other candidate, while nine percent (9 percent) are undecided.

The last time Gillibrand was matched with Pataki in November, the Democrat held a similar 45 percent to 42 percent lead, nearly identical to findings two months earlier.

Male voters favor the former governor, while female voters give the edge to Gillibrand. Voters not affiliated with either of the major parties prefer Pataki by 19 points.

Pataki has still not said whether he will run for the Senate position. But just this week publisher Mortimer Zuckerman announced he will not run against Gillibrand as a Republican, while former Congressman Harold Ford Jr. dropped his plans for either a Democratic Primary challenge of the incumbent or an independent run for the Senate.