"Two new statewide polls show Republican Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger widening his lead over Democrat
Phil Angelides with just six weeks to go before the election," reports Tom Chorneau in the Chron.
"Dominating the news in recent weeks with splashy bill-signing ceremonies and celebrity news events, Schwarzenegger
has jumped to a 17 percentage-point advantage over the state treasurer, according to a survey from the Public Policy Institute of California -- an increase of 4 points since August."
(There will be
one more splashy bill signing today in Malibu as the governor stands with Speaker Fabian Nuñez and Senate leader Don Perata to sign
AB 32, the greenhouse gas emissions bill.)
"The
Field Poll found that Schwarzenegger has improved 2 percentage points since July and
now leads 44 to 34 percent among likely voters. Perhaps even more telling is that nearly 7 out of 10 voters said they think the governor will be re-elected."
Between the 10 and 17-point polls, the Angelides campaign chose to focus on the Field poll. "
Nick Papas, a spokesman for Angelides, said his campaign believes the Field Poll more accurately reflects the 'political climate' of the race and suggested that the stage is set for a turnaround."
"'This poll (Field) is nothing but bad news for Gov. Schwarzenegger,' he said. 'The governor has been on TV every day for 3 1/2 months, spending $30 million -- and he's run up and down the state signing bills --
and this poll shows that all the stagecraft and co-opting Democratic issues are having no impact.'"
And one could say the same about the millions spent by the Democratic Party to tie Bush around Schwarzenegger's neck.
But, the governor
is below 50 percent in both polls...
John Marelius
writes in the Chron: "But [Angelides strategist
Bill] Carrick contended that an incumbent governor polling well below 50 percent is not in a strong position."
"'He's had $30 million worth of ads, huge media coverage and he's at 44 percent. I think that's pretty damned good for us,' Carrick said. 'I don't think Arnold Schwarzenegger is going to get re-elected if he's sitting at 44 percent the whole campaign.'"
Guess we'll find out in a couple of weeks, after those
ads from the Alliance have some time to find their mark.
The Fresno Bee's Jim Boren throws out a new, old name in the Democratic race for governor in 2010, if Angelides loses. "California's most popular elected official — Sen.
Dianne Feinstein — seldom is suggested as a possible Democratic candidate for governor in four years. That's mostly because of her age — she turned 73 in June — and the belief that she wouldn't leave the Senate at a time when she's a significant player on national issues.
But
some of her supporters say Feinstein just might surprise the experts in 2010, and run for governor."
"'I have a long list of legislative pieces that I want to do for California and the United States,' she said in an interview on Monday. 'I want to be able to continue to press for my full legislative agenda. . . But I don't set limits or have any particular (political) goals.
I'm ruling nothing in or out.'"
Meanwhile, while the governor
was getting spiritual yesterday with the Dalai Lama, the
vultures were gathering around Angelides.
Angelides spent the day
stumping against the war. "Before a raucous anti-war crowd at San Francisco State University, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides on Tuesday vowed to fight to bring California's National Guard troops home 'and do my part to end George Bush's failed adventure in Iraq,'" reports Peter Hecht in the Bee.
"Angelides, seizing upon the war to energize his underdog campaign to unseat Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, took to the road to deliver speeches in Northern and Southern California condemning U.S. involvement in Iraq."
"Constitutional scholars argue that a governor lacks authority to order state National Guard units home once they have been federalized by the president. Yet, undaunted, Angelides used the campaign swing to contrast his stand on the war with Schwarzenegger's and to insist that the Iraq debate deserves to be heard in the governor's race."
The LAT's Mark Barabak looks at why so many national political stars are
willing to come stump for Angelides despite the uphill battle. "Although many Democrats quietly despair over Phil Angelides' uphill fight against Arnold Schwarzenegger, there is one group flocking to the underdog's side: the party's 2008 presidential prospects."
"Here comes the parade, from Washington and beyond: former Virginia Gov.
Mark Warner, former Sen.
John Edwards of North Carolina and Sens.
Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and
John F. Kerry of Massachusetts."
"Due in soon are New Mexico Gov.
Bill Richardson, Sen.
Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut and retired Army Gen.
Wesley K. Clark. And former Vice President
Al Gore, who is or isn't thinking about another White House run, depending on the latest rumor."
It's the political economy, stupid.
"
Democratic presidential hopefuls raised $181 million in California in the 2004 campaign, according to state party figures, well ahead of the $135 million raised in runner-up New York. That's a lot of trips to the gilded ghettos of Brentwood and Beverly Hills, the Silicon Valley and San Francisco's Presidio Terrace. An appearance alongside Angelides in Oakland or at Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a good way for a presidential hopeful to establish some man-(or woman)-of-the-people street cred."
"'It shows you're not just doing fundraisers but helping the party as well,' said
Noah Mamet, a Los Angeles-based consultant who has raised money for a number of Democratic candidates over the years."
After his eight-year vacation as lite gov,
Cruz Bustamante wants to work harder, reports Aurelio Rojas in the Bee. "As insurance commissioner, the Democratic nominee -- whose dramatic weight loss has gotten more publicity than his proposed policies -- said Tuesday he would seek to expand the office's authority."
"Bustamante, who is running against Silicon Valley billionaire
Steve Poizner on the Nov. 7 ballot, said he would begin political 'dialogue' to give the commissioner greater oversight over health and workers' compensation insurance."
The Register's Martin Wisckol
looks at Proposition 73. "The message hasn't changed: Proponents want parents notified before minors get abortions."
"The same measure lost in November's special election. Backers of Proposition 85 expect to be outspent again by their opponents, but they say they'll win this time around because of a different type of voter turnout – one more sympathetic to their cause."
"'
If it was on any other ballot besides that special election, it would pass,' said Newport Beach's
Mike Schroeder, a supporter and former chairman of the state Republican Party, referring to last year's defeat."
Is that a wager?
A new study reveals
Californians are both rich and cheap, reports the Chron's Carolyn Said. "Despite ranking first in wealthy people, California ranks 21st among states for actual gifts per wealthy filer as a percentage of assets. Affluent Californians donated an average of $19,000 per household -- 0.74 percent of their investment assets and 3.24 percent of their adjusted gross income. Using the percentage of assets as a measure corrects for cost-of-living differences."
