The results of a new poll show that Kathleen Rice has a strong lead in the upcoming congressional race for the 4th District.

The News 12/Newsday/Siena College poll shows that 55 percent of respondents said they'd elect the current Nassau County district attorney to Congress.

A total of 37 percent said they'd vote for Bruce Blakeman, Rice's Republican opponent. Another 8 percent said they were undecided.

Rice declined a request to be interviewed, but her campaign issued a statement, saying, "It's clear that voters know Kathleen's record and they trust her independence."

However, Blakeman says he believes it will be a "strong Republican year." He is counting on anti-Obama sentiments to help turnout voters for GOP candidates like himself.

The poll also shows that more than half of those who responded were unfamiliar with Blakeman, a former Nassau County Legislature presiding officer. While Blakeman says the poll results don't bother him, he admits that he has to make himself better known in the district.

Hofstra University political analyst Larry Levy agrees that Blakeman needs to boost his name recognition within the district, to help him secure contributions from elsewhere.