Ex-congressman and convicted tax cheat Michael Grimm leads incumbent Rep. Dan Donovan by 10 points in the fierce Republican primary on Staten Island, according to a poll released Monday night.
Grimm leads 47 to 37 percent among likely GOP voters in the 11th CD, which includes south Brooklyn, the NY1-Siena College survey found.
But it’s women voters who are putting Grimm over the top, with 50 percent to Donovan’s 32 percent.
Among men the race was virtually a draw — with 43 percent for Grimm and 42 percent for Donovan.
And 93 percent of voters said they are absolutely certain or fairly certain they won’t change their mind before the June 26 primary.
The survey of 513 likely voters was taken between May 29 and May 31.
President Trump endorsed Donovan on May 30.
But voters — by a 54-to-29 percent margin — told pollsters that Grimm would do a better job working with Trump.
And when it comes to the hot-button issue of fixing immigration policy, 49 percent said Grimm would better represent their interests compared to 31 percent for Donovan.
The survey also has a margin of error of 4.3 percent.
Donovan, a three-term district attorney, ran for the congressional seat after Grimm, an ex-FBI agent and Marine, was forced to step down in 2015 after pleading guilty to tax evasion in connection with a Manhattan restaurant business he ran.
He served seven months behind bars.
Despite the baggage, Grimm has nearly an identical likable rating among Republicans as Donovan.
Fifty seven percent said they have a favorable opinion of Grimm, while 33 percent said they had an unfavorable view.
Donovan had a 57-31 favorability rating.
Grimm is ahead even though more Republicans believe Donovan has a better change of winning in November against a Democratic opponent — 46 percent to 35 percent.
But when asked which candidate did a better job representing them in Congress, 46 percent chose Grimm and 34 percent selected Donovan.
The likely Democratic nominee is Max Rose, a decorated Army veteran and current infantry commander in the National Guard.
