LA Times Poll: Feinstein, Brown Lead as Ballot Measures Falter (McClintock/Garmamendi neck and neck)

Los Angeles Times ^ | September 29, 2006 | Mark Z. Barabak

[calcowgirl]

A $37-billion package of proposed public works bonds that has strong bipartisan support in Sacramento is in some peril among voters, along with ballot measures dealing with alternative energy and a cigarette tax, according to a new Los Angeles Times poll.

The vast majority of likely voters knew too little about the infrastructure bonds — backed by both Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democratic legislators — to express an opinion. After poll respondents were read a ballot summary of each measure, none of the items generated much enthusiasm. Only two eked out a bare majority: those on housing and disaster preparedness.

The measures on smoking and alternative energy were much better known, thanks to extensive advertising campaigns, but neither drew majority support.

Two of California's most durable Democrats, meanwhile, were in strong position as the November election nears. U.S. Sen Dianne Feinstein holds a hefty lead in her run for reelection, and Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown enjoys a sizable edge as he bids to become state attorney general, the poll found.

The positive news for Feinstein and Brown contrasted with a series of much closer contests in the so-called down-ballot races for statewide office. If a Democratic wave is building in the country, as polls suggest, it has yet to materialize in California.

The Nov. 7 ballot features, at the top of the ticket, the race between Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democrat Phil Angelides, the state treasurer. Also included are the Senate and down-ballot races, legislative and congressional contests and 13 initiatives...

In the campaign for U.S. Senate, Feinstein was leading Richard Mountjoy, a former Monrovia state senator, 54% to 36% among likely voters and 54% to 29% among registered voters. That compares to a 59%-to-30% advantage for Feinstein among registered voters surveyed in the last poll.

[calcowgirl]

Derived from the article:

U.S. Senate           Feinstein (D)   v.  Mountjoy (R)       54% to 36%
Attorney General      Brown (D)       v.  Poochigian (R)     51% to 34%
Lieutenant governor   Garamendi (D)   v.  McClintock (R)     41% to 42%
Secretary of State    Bowen (D)       v.  McPherson (R)      35% to 33%
Treasurer             Lockyer (D)     v.  Parrish (R)        50% to 26%
Ins Commissioner      Bustamante (D)  v.  Poizner (R)        43% to 38%
State controller      Chiang (D)      v.  Strickland (R)     36% to 30%

Proposition 1B, Bonds - $19.9-billion for state's highways and port system   -  behind 39% to 41%
Proposition 1D, Bonds - $10.4-billion for school improvements                - leading 43% to 39%
Proposition 1C, Bonds - $2.9 billion for parks, housing, homeless shelters   - leading 51% to 34%
Proposition 1E, Bonds - $4.1 billion for flood control                       - leading 50% to 29%
Proposition 86, Cigarette Tax - Raised by $2.60 a pack                       - leading 47% to 42%
Proposition 87, Oil Tax - tax on crude oil to fund alternative energies      - leading 45% to 38%

[calcowgirl]

PING!

McClintock Ping List.
Please freepmail me if you want on or off this list

[MistrX]

More proof that my state is over run with morons.

[calcowgirl]

In the campaign for U.S. Senate, Feinstein was leading Richard Mountjoy, a former Monrovia state senator, 54% to 36% among likely voters ...

Mountjoy is gaining! Will Arnie and the CA GOP endorse him now?

[Lancey Howard]

More proof that my state is over run with morons.

LOL, as if more proof was needed.

[kingu]

A lot of those morons happen to be leaders in the Republican party in the state. How they could have let a crop of mostly unknowns run just doesn't make sense. There's some quality people, yes, but you really have to be a fanatic to know most of them.

It is like they're trying desperately to give away this state.

[CounterCounterCulture]

How they could have let a crop of mostly unknowns run just doesn't make sense.

Who else did you have in mind? These are the people who stepped up to the plate and won their primaries.

[stephenjohnbanker]

I LOVE cowgirls!

Especially smart ones : )

B U M P

[A CA Guy]

I'm surprised he is not up by ten.

[calcowgirl]

*Blush*

[stephenjohnbanker]

Blush if you want, you are one of the most intelligent posters at FR. Keep pinging me!

[calcowgirl]

Keep pinging me!

You got it. I'll put ya on my shortlist. :-)

[stephenjohnbanker]

I love LIZ too! Get to know her. She is brilliant(plug for liz)

[DB]

Just donated to McClintock's campaign. Hope others will too.

[CounterCounterCulture]

An investment for McClintock in 2006 will also be an investment for McClintock in 2010. A two-fer. :-)

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

"In the campaign for U.S. Senate, Feinstein was leading Richard Mountjoy, a former Monrovia state senator, 54% to 36% among likely voters and 54% to 29% among registered voters. That compares to a 59%-to-30% advantage for Feinstein among registered voters surveyed in the last poll."

Godspeed, Mr. Mountjoy.

[Paul8148]

Brown numbers are heading downward, but no movement foward for pooch.He needs some Bio ads to help him out. and with the Dems so depress because of the Gov race I can see some whacky stuff. I think Tom will drive high right wing turnout and pull him to victory and perhaps a surpise or two along the way.

[stephenjohnbanker]

B U M P

[Mojave]

Just donated to McClintock's campaign.

Ditto.

[newzjunkey]

Mountjoy gaining? You're insane.

Better to push McClintock over the top than squander a second on Mountjoy or Poochigian.

[Mojave]

Better to push McClintock over the top than squander a second on Mountjoy

Better to push McClintock over the top than squander a second on Arnold

[newzjunkey]

The bonds are another disaster altogether. 1B, transportation, where improvement is critically needed is the only one not leading.

Instead we've got the ******* school and homeless bonds ahead along with taxes hikes.

It's almost enough to make me *want* Mexico to finish its invasion of CA.

[newzjunkey]

Uh... Arnold's ahead in the polls by over 10 pts. I don't see your point.

[Mojave]

Uh... Arnold's ahead in the polls by over 10 pts. I don't see your point.

Uh... Arnold's ahead in the polls by over 10 pts. I don't see your point.

[newzjunkey]

You have a good point but there really aren't many "known" Republicans in CA and those that are usually aren't crazy enough to run.

[cartoonistx]

I've done my part!

[calcowgirl]

Mountjoy gaining? You're insane.
Better to push McClintock over the top than squander a second on Mountjoy or Poochigian.

If a party is not going to support and work toward electing like-minded candidates, supporting a candidate in each race, what good is having a party? You would just have individual campaigns.

With virtually zero money, no support or endorsement from the Governor, no support or endorsement from the CA GOP, and running against a popular encumbent, Mountjoy has 36% of the vote and his popular opponent has only a little over half of the vote of those polled. 36% is more support than the encumbent McPherson (R) has, who the GOP has given support to. There is an election going on for multiple officials--the fact that the GOP won't participate in the US Senate race is shameful.

[calcowgirl]

1B, transportation, where improvement is critically needed is the only one not leading.

Good! This initiative is filled with pork and will do virtually nothing for highways. If you want new buses to combat global warming, new port fences, a new-improved border crossing into Mexico, and a lot more inner-city rail, vote for it. If not, give it a big fat NO!

[Mojave]

But Arnold is up by 10 points and doesn't need our support, so we should be giving our support to Arnold.

Doncha get it?

[calcowgirl]

Nope... I don't get it. With all of the money they are spending, there is no good reason that the downticket candidates aren't getting more support. And the CA GOP not even giving the Republican candidate for US Senate an endorsement is inexcusable.

[b9]

LOL ~ Wonderful!

[goldstategop]

"Democratic wave?" LMAO! The Drive By Media IS full of it! Angelides has gone over to the moonbats. He's not being lifted by any tidal wave out there, let alone the borrow and spend propositions on the ballot. California is the strongest Blue State in the country. Angelides and every liberal proposition should be ahead by double digits. They aren't. Can we say there's trouble in paradise?? ;-)

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[calcowgirl]

"Democratic wave?" LMAO!

LOL. I had to chuckle at that one too. Even the LA Times acknowledges there ain't no such thing in California. Angelides keeps digging himself deeper with his Bush comparisons. Dig baby, dig!

[Mojave]

Amazing, isn't it. Dick Mountjoy has been a loyal Republican for years; attending their conventions, helping to grow party organizations and assisting other candidates for office.

Now the CA GOP is too busy with their Austrian boyfriend to give Dick the time of day.

[goldstategop]

Only two of the borrow and spend propositions are at 50%. I don't think any one is enthusiastic about them. Props 86 and 87 targeting two populist villains - cigs and Big Oil are faring poorly.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[calcowgirl]

Amazing ...

That is an overly nice description.

[Southack]

THE LA TIMES LIES!

 

Here's the LA Times quote from above: "Lowell Norling, a lifelong Republican from Oakland, said he was voting for Feinstein because the GOP "is taking the country the wrong way right now."

Here's Lowell 2 years ago starting an on-line meetup group:

http://againstbush.meetup.com/cities/us/il/rockford/1465414/?ic=sn42

"Start a new Against Bush Meetup Group! Lowell Nordling is just 1 of 18 on our list of people near Rockford interested in Against Bush Meetups."

[calcowgirl]

The Times pointed out that most people polled really didn't know much about what was on the ballot. It's still early yet as I think pamphlets were just delivered this week. Hopefully people will be burned out on all the big spending and taxing liberal propositions and just say NO.

[calcowgirl]

Great Job!

LOL. I suspected as much reading some of those quotes but didn't take the time to google them.

You should send that to NewsBusters.

[goldstategop]

I think the general tendency is to vote against everything on the ballot. That may well doom 85 and 90. But we can live with it if it happens. California will have been saved from a bipartisan fiscal nightmare.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[Southack]

"The Nov. 7 ballot features, at the top of the ticket, the race between Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democrat Phil Angelides, the state treasurer."

And yet, the LA Times doesn't print Arnold's lead over Phil. I mean, it's just an article on poll numbers! Must be an oversight...

[calcowgirl]

My guess is they will use it in a larger article over the weekend about the Governor's race.
It was nice to finally see someone report on all the downticket candidates.

[goldstategop]

I've noticed.... their bias is obvious to even casual readers. The Drive By Media today is little more than a transmission belt for the Democratic Party.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[Princip. Conservative]

Great news on McClintock! My question is, though, what did they have Schwarzenegger leading by?

[SierraWasp]

You mean ol "lop-sided landslide Schwartzenbondagespender?" Who the heck cares???

[FairOpinion]

" Feinstein was leading Richard Mountjoy, a former Monrovia state senator, 54% to 36% among likely voters ...
Mountjoy is gaining! Will Arnie and the CA GOP endorse him now?"


===


I didn't know you have a sense of humor.

[FairOpinion]

"It is like they're trying desperately to give away this state."


===

That's what the conservatives ( or more clearly the so-called conservatives) in CA are all about. They were so proud, that "REAL conservatives" won in the downticket primaries, and all or nearly all of them will be defeated and we'll end up with Bustamante, Jerry Brown, and Lockyer.

Instead of voting for Republican candidates in the primary, who have a chance to beat the Dems in this very liberal state.

That's why they hate Arnold, he is not a loser.

[lexington minuteman 1775]

Is Jerry Brown ever going to "retire"?
BTW...he has the strangest "portrait" hanging in the State Capital building. Looks like it was painted by someone going thru a bad Picasso "cubist" day.