New Yorkers want top cop Kelly as next mayor: poll

New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly (C) stands with onlookers as US President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama make a personal visit for dinner and a Broadway play in New York, May 30, 2009.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York's police commissioner is the top choice for the city's next mayor to be elected in 2013, according to a new poll released on Wednesday.

Ray Kelly, who has served as police commissioner under both three-term Mayor Michael Bloomberg and David Dinkins, was the choice of 23 percent of voters, including 18 percent of Democrats, in the Quinnipiac University poll.

Kelly, 69, who has not spoken of political ambitions, beat out City Council President Christine Quinn, named by 18 percent, although Quinn beat Kelly among Democratic voters.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and City Comptroller John Liu received 12 percent and 10 percent respectively.

Former U.S. Representative Anthony Weiner had been considered a front runner until a scandal over his sending sexual images to women forced his resignation in June.

Voters by a strong margin of 54 to 26 percent said the next mayor should be someone with experience in government, rather than business. Billionaire Bloomberg had never held elective office before being elected in 2001. He had a 45 percent to 43 percent job approval rating in the poll.

The telephone poll was conducted July 19-25 among 1,234 registered voters, and had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points.

(Reporting by Chris Michaud; Editing by Vicki Allen)