[GraniteStateConservative]

2 months ago that same Field Poll had Simon up slightly over Davis. Was it not accurate then? Simon has made many missteps-- much like when Schundler made his first statewide bid for public office last year. Winning the governorship of California is very difficult-- especially for a Republican. Simon hasn't made issues of many things Davis has done. After his primary win, Simon had a chance to define himself (2 months ago people in California didn't know much about him), but Davis defined him and Simon hasn't done a good job of fighting back.

[ElkGroveDan]

2 months ago that same Field Poll had Simon up slightly over Davis. Was it not accurate then?

Two months ago Simon had just come off of a huge primary upset and his name led the news for about two weeks. At that time the couch potatos who answered the Field poll were more familiar with him.

The point is that the accurate polls have consistently shown Simon leading Davis by 4-7 points among likely voters. Because of their lazy voter ID process, the Field poll fluctuates wildly.

[My2Cents]

As a California Republican who voted for Simon in the primary, I have to say that I still think he's untested in electoral politics. It's one thing to beat Richard Riordan, who essentially self-destructed due to a horribly run campaign, and another to prove yourself against a veteran and vicious incumbent. My lingering doubt about Simon going into the March primary was whether he has the "killer instinct" to do to Gray Davis what is necessary to get elected. Rather than be victimized by bad PR over the tax return flap, Simon should be putting it all into perspective by raising the issue of the $20+ billion deficit that Davis has "led" the state into.