In the Democratic primary race for New York comptroller, local council leader Scott Stringer has moved ahead of disgraced former New York governor Eliot Spitzer by just 2 percentage points in the latest poll.

Spitzer is trying to make his political comeback after being forced to resign as governor in 2008 because of a prostitution scandal. He had been far ahead in the race for the post as the city's financial chief, but his lead eroded and by the end of last month the two candidates were locked in a dead heat.

On Wednesday, a new Quinnipiac University poll of likely primary voters in next Tuesday's primary election found 47 per cent were likely to favour Stringer, while 45 per cent preferring Spitzer.

"The Democratic primary for New York City comptroller is no longer an Eliot Spitzer romp," said Maurice Carroll, director of the university's polling institute, adding that the race was still "too close to call".