While city voters are still divided over whether Mayor Michael Bloomberg deserves a third term, the mayor still leads his potential rivals by large margins, according to a Marist poll released today.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has a 59 percent approval rating among voters, but respondents were evenly divided over whether Bloomberg deserves a third term - with 47 percent agreeing and 48 percent saying no.

It's an increase from February's Marist poll, when 55 percent of voters disagreed with the mayor having a third term and only 40 percent approved.

Nevertheless, Bloomberg earned at least half the votes in all the survey's hypothetical elections. He earned 50 percent to Congressman Anthony Weiner's 36 percent, 51 percent to Comptroller Bill Thompson's 33 percent and 52 percent to Queens Councilman Tony Avella's 27 percent.

Regardless of which mayoral candidate they support, 73 percent of respondents said that Bloomberg will be re-elected, and only 18 percent thought someone else would be elected mayor.

Also, 73 percent of surveyed voters said Bloomberg's advantage in campaign spending will not affect the way they will vote in the mayoral election. Eleven percent said they were more likely to vote for the mayor, while 16 percent said they were less likely.

Voters said in a potential Democratic primary, Weiner would lead with 34 percent, Thompson would get 29 percent and Avella would trail behind with 8 percent.