Comptroller Bill Thompson has been trailing Mayor Bloomberg in the polls by two digits in the past few weeks, but he must have been hoping that the first mayoral debate — the first time Hizzoner was forced to treat Thompson as an equal foe — would have given him a boost. According to a Marist poll released today, though, he didn't get a bounce. He's still lagging 16 percent behind Bloomberg among likely voters. What's worse, more Democrats are planning on voting for Bloomberg (47 percent) than for Thompson (39 percent). If only Obama had said he was his best friend, not just his friend. That might have made all the difference!

Poll: Mayor beating Thompson by 16 points [NYP]