Television loves running stories about political polls because they fill time with little effort.

Many lazy journalists and candidates do not understand what polls are used for in good political campaigns. To qualify political professionals, the horserace-style, "Who's ahead" questions usually yield the least important information. To those in the trenches, polls are used to test assumptions and educated guesses about potential strategies and tactics. Knowing the level of current support for a candidate is useless without knowing the firmness of that support and the kinds of information that can change that firmness. Good polling can show this and can help create a road map to victory.

There have been three publicly published polls since Congressman Lazio entered the race, and the latest one, published by Quinnipiac College is the most valuable because some information on strength of support was included. This poll measured momentary support for both Lazio and Clinton at 44 percent of the voters each.

Far more important, and absent from nearly all coverage of the poll, was the juicy stuff released along with the stupid head-to-head support questions. Juicy stuff that puts the lie to the idea that the constant release of head-to-head polling results six months from election day in any way can predict who will actually win in November.

About two out of three Clinton supporters have made up their minds, while three out of four Lazio supporters have made up theirs. One out of three Clinton supporters have reservations about their support, twice the rate of reservations among Lazio supporters. About half of independent voters, the most vital swing group, don't feel Mrs. Clinton has the right kind of experience to be a senator. Another poll, Blum & Weprin, confirmed that just over half of Lazio's supporters would be upset if he lost, while only one in six Clinton supporters would be upset if she lost.

Though superficially the race seems about even, there is strong potential for a Lazio breakout. My own chitchat with insiders confirms that internal campaign polling data are similar, as well as this interpretation. Worse for Mrs. Clinton, her strongest support is among groups with traditionally low turnout.

Lazio, blessed with perhaps $20 million worth of free publicity, just after he became a candidate, has closed much of the recognition gap. The challenge to Hillary Clinton is to make it clear who she is and what she wants to do as a senator. Most people are with her on issues. The campaign is turning on her, her personality, her motives, her goals. Just as her own campaign made Giuliani the main issue, now she is the main issue and she isn't coming through.

This is no time for stupid commercials with slow-motion smiles. Look into the camera and say what you need to say, Mrs. Clinton. Say the kind of things that energizes the state's natural progressive base.

Or, on Election Night you will be saying congratulations to Senator-elect Lazio.