A Democratic poll released on Wednesday showed the gap between state Assembly Minority Leader Jim Tedisco (R) and venture capitalist Scott Murphy (D) narrowing in the 20th district special election.According to the poll, conducted Feb. 24-25 for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee by the Benenson Strategy Group, Tedisco was favored by 44 percent of voters in the upstate district compared with Murphy’s 37 percent. Libertarian Eric Sundwall, who has not yet secured a place on the March 31 ballot, had 4 percent.The poll of 400 likely special election voters had a 4.9-point margin of error.For Murphy, the poll illustrates progress. In an independent poll taken a week earlier, Tedisco’s lead was at 12 points, and a poll conducted for the Republican in late January showed him holding a 21-point lead.Tedisco, who has spent more than a quarter-century in the Legislature, is well-known in the district, while Murphy is making his first bid for public office. Both candidates are spending liberally on TV ads, and the two Congressional campaign committees are also on the air in the district.Tedisco was on Capitol Hill Tuesday meeting with House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and other party leaders. House Republicans have already donated or pledged about $175,000 to Tedisco’s campaign.