Recent polls show the presidential race virtually deadlocked, but not so much here in New York, where an exclusive NY1/Marist College poll shows President Barack Obama with a commanding lead. NY1's Bobby Cuza filed the filed reporter.

There is a reason President Barack Obama will be seen in places like Ohio the next couple of weeks, and not around New York City. That is because New York’s 29 electoral votes are virtually in the bag.

The latest NY1/Marist College poll has Obama leading Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney 61 percent to 35 percent among likely state voters.

It is similar numbers to 2008, when Obama beat then-Republican nominee John McCain by 63 percent to 36 percent in New York City.

"There’s a reason why in New York we’re not seeing a lot of TV ads tailored towards New York, and that’s because he’s got just a huge margin," said NY1/Marist College pollster Lee Miringoff.

As for the 2016 presidential election, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s name has been floated as a possible candidate. Her approval rating’s now 55 percent and only 36 percent disapprove of her, according to the latest poll.

It's a huge bump from a NY1/Marist poll in April, when New Yorkers were split: 42 percent approval, 42 percent disapproval.

A slew of campaign ads have likely raised her profile. It’s a far cry from 2010, when Republicans saw her as vulnerable.

"People weren’t as sure about her, there was a greater unknown factor, it was a strong Republican year," said Miringoff. "If there was a time to make a strong run against Gillibrand, it was probably two years ago."

Now, the NY1/Marist College poll shows Gillibrand trouncing Republican Wendy Long by almost three to one, 68 percent to 24 percent.

Gillibrand of course, is not the only New Yorker thought to be presidential material. Governor Andrew Cuomo, another member of that club, continues to enjoy sky-high approval ratings -- 59 percent in the new poll.

What’s more, 56 percent of voters believe the state is moving in the right direction; just 39 percent say the wrong direction. It's the brightest outlook since 2002.

"You have to go back 10 years to see the kind of numbers we’re looking at right now. So people are responding very favorably to what’s going on here in New York," said Miringoff.

That is something on which presidential candidate could hang his or her hat.