Pulling away

A new tracking poll indicates the races for governor and U.S. Senate are all but over.

Capitol Weekly reports," Whitman, a billionaire, led Poizner 48.4 percent to 19.9 percent, while Fiorina led Campbell 36.5 percent to 22 percent. When those who are “leaning toward” either candidate are included, Whitman leads Poizner by 54.4 percent to 24 percent, while Fiorina leads Campbell by 40 percent to 24.5 percent. Republican Senate contender Chuck DeVore remained in a distant third with 12 points.

"The Senate side reflects a dramatic shift toward Fiorina over the past six weeks. An April 24 Capitol Weekly/Probolsky Research Poll showed Campbell with 31-17 point lead over Fiorina, and DeVore at 14 percent.

"Whitman has this sewn up. It's done. She's going to really embarrass Steve Poizner," said pollster Adam Probolsky.

With this week's big bill deadline in Sacramento, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) is summoning two ailing lawmakers to cast key votes. 

Capitol Weekly reports, "With the Legislature facing a key deadline to pass legislation this week, Senate leader Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, is relying on votes from two ailing members to help several bills out of his house.

"Senators Pat Wiggins, D-Santa Rosa, and Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach, are expected to return to the Senate after prolonged absences due to illness. Sources in both senators’ offices confirmed they are scheduled to return to vote on bills on the floor Thursday."

"According to a review of Senate records by Capitol Weekly, Wiggins has been absent from floor sessions since mid-March. On March 24, her office announced Wiggins would be taking a partial leave from her legislative duties. The Senator is suffering from an undisclosed illness and has announced she will not seek reelection this year."

Capitol Weekly also lists ten of the bills to watch on the Senate floor today where Wiggins and Oropeza might be needed.

Speaking of Capitol intrigue, Malcolm Maclachlan has the sordid tale of the Capitol tour guides.

"Several guides report that their ranks are so understaffed they regularly cancel scheduled public tours — particularly when legislators have VIPs in town. The State Parks Department, which oversees the guides, denies these claims and says any staffing problems have been caused by “normal attrition.”

"Meanwhile, a petite guide in her 60s was escorted out of the Capitol recently by California Highway Patrol officers, then slapped with a restraining order for allegedly threatening violence. She denied the allegation. The order requires her to stay at least 100 yards from the Capitol and bars her from approaching her former supervisor."

Congress has pulled back an aide package to states, leaving a new $2 billion hole in the state's budget.

"The potential loss of funds is a significant setback for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state lawmakers, who may not see nearly $2 billion in federal assistance that they intended to use to help bring California out of the red.

"The money was to be California's share of $24 billion in proposed assistance, mostly to cover healthcare spending, spread among all states. Budget experts say that is enough to wipe out about one-fourth of the combined state budget shortfalls."

Jack Dolan and Patrick McGreevy look at some of the bills voted on by lawmakers Wednesday, including a ban on plastic shopping bags and a measure to delay the age at which kids may begin kindergarten.

George Skelton provides his own voting guide to the June 8 ballot. Here's a highlight: "Prop. 16 is a Pacific Gas & Electric Co. scam. Pure and simple."

We're guessing that's a No vote from George on that one.

Chase Davis looks at who's giving to political candidates in California.

"According to the study, business groups accounted for more than 47 cents out of ever dollar given to Republicans between January 2007 and March 2010. Labor unions – routinely lampooned as Democratic sugar daddies – gave about 21 cents out of ever dollar to Democrats during the same time period.

"The analysis does not factor in statewide races or ballot initiatives, which are orders of magnitude more expensive than legislative races."

And finally, if you're keeping score at home it's Justice: 1, Voodoo: 0. AP reports, " Authorities say a used car dealer is headed to prison for fraud    , despite attempting to place a voodoo hex on prosecutors handling his case in Los Angeles.

"Thirty-four-year-old Ruben Hernandez was sentenced Wednesday to 12 years after being convicted of using false Social Security information and bank statements to buy properties.

"Authorities searching his home found a shrine with voodoo dolls dunked headfirst in cups of water with pins in their eyes. Officials say the case number and names of the prosecutor and investigators were written on the dolls."

Jobu's rum was also reported missing.