Just 24 percent of voters back Kennedy for the Senate seat, compared to 31 percent favoring her rival, State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, the poll from Quinnipiac University showed.

Kennedy, the only surviving child of assassinated president John F. Kennedy, is angling to take up the Senate seat that will be vacated by Hillary Clinton following her likely confirmation as secretary of state.

The poll could be a blow for Kennedy, who grew up in the White House, in Greece and New York and is stepping into the political fray for the first time as fellow Democrat president-elect Barack Obama prepares to take office.

The decision rests with New York state governor David Paterson, who has so far given little indication of his preference.

However, the poll showed 38 percent believe Paterson will appoint Kennedy. Only 33 percent believe he will not.

Whoever is chosen would have to defend the seat in an election in 2010.

Kennedy's bid has come under fire because she has no experience in elected office and is seen as having done a poor job of explaining to the public why she wants such a prominent job.

The poll found that voters believe 48 to 37 percent that Kennedy is not qualified to be a senator.

"Caroline Kennedy's stumbling start in her first interviews may have cost her the lead," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"It's close, but Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is number one among voters in the race for Hillary Clinton's Senate seat."

The poll surveyed 1,664 voters in the state between January 8-12 and has a margin of error of 2.4 percent.

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