Meg Whitman lags behind Jerry Brown in Calif. governor race, Boxer leading too

Christian Science Monitor ^ | 10-24-10 | Brad Knickerbocker

[My Favorite Headache]

Meg Whitman lags behind Jerry Brown in Calif. governor race

Meg Whitman trails Jerry Brown in a new poll of likely California voters. The episode involving her illegal Mexican housekeeper is hurting her, especially among Latino voters.

Meg Whitman, Republican candidate for Calif. Governor, campaigns at a Vietnamese mall in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 23. Whitman, the former CEO of eBay, is lagging behind Democrat Jerry Brown in the most recent poll.

Paul Sakuma/AP

By Brad Knickerbocker, Staff writer / October 24, 2010

Lots can happen in a week, but the GOP candidate for governor of California is trailing Democrat Jerry Brown by a substantial – and apparently growing – margin. And it looks like the flap over her illegal housekeeper is one major reason.

According to a USC College/Los Angeles Times Poll released Sunday, Mr. Brown now leads Ms. Whitman by 13 points among likely voters (52-39 percent). In last month’s poll, Brown was ahead by just five points – not much more than the margin of error.

Why the slippage, especially since the billionaire former eBay CEO has been able to outspend her opponent?

One big reason is found among Latinos in California, who make up 19 percent of all registered voters.

Democrats usually enjoy an advantage here, but that has become increasingly clear in this year’s governor’s race. Between September and October, Brown’s lead among this crucial demographic jumped from 19 percent to 36 percent.

Democrat Barbara Boxer ahead too

In California’s other main statewide race – for US Senator – three-term incumbent Democrat Barbara Boxer holds an eight-point lead (50-42 among likely voters) over GOP challenger Carly Fiorina.

[eater-of-toast]

Whitman's in a tough spot. I do think there's hope, though, as Brown is barely breaking 50%, and as AG and former governor he is a statewide incumbent, so that shows a lack of enthusiasm for him. I wouldn't give up on Whitman.

Boxer looks weak, and that's a good thing. California deserves a smart and sane senator, and Fiorina is that. Doesn't hurt her cause with me, either, that she's good-looking and has a sly charm. (I'm probably a terrible person for saying that.)

[eater-of-toast]

One disappointment in the California gubernatorial race was that Bill Clinton came out strong for Brown despite their bitter enmity in the past, and indeed Brown's insult to him in this campaign season. Whitman's Clinton ads had been effective but Clinton's clutch endorsement of Brown helped defuse them. Bubba used to be famously hot-tempered and vindictive. I guess he's mellowed some as the years have advanced, and that doesn't help Whitman here.

[eater-of-toast]

Good old wacky California. While campaigning in Iowa, Ronald Reagan once made a great joke about being able to relate to farmers who kept cows, because California was also full of creatures who wandered around naked, eating grass.

[L.A.Justice]

Whitman’s in a tough spot. I do think there’s hope, though, as Brown is barely breaking 50%, and as AG and former governor he is a statewide incumbent, so that shows a lack of enthusiasm for him. I wouldn’t give up on Whitman.

Boxer looks weak, and that’s a good thing. California deserves a smart and sane senator, and Fiorina is that. Doesn’t hurt her cause with me, either, that she’s good-looking and has a sly charm. (I’m probably a terrible person for saying that.)

___________________________________________________

I am gonna support Whitman...But, I am not sure if she could win...

I don’t know if Fiorina is “good-looking” or not...But, she is not as “good-looking” as Mary Bono Mack or Kamala Harris...However, I will not vote for Harris as the CA’s attorney general...

I did hear that Steve Cooley is leading Kamala Harris in a poll...Cooley’s one TV ad did point out that Harris refused to hand over illegal alien criminals to feds...Also that she refuses to ask for death penalty...

Do you know anyone who plans to vote for Brown and Cooley? Some “independent voter”?

I am sure that Brown and Harris agree on many issues...Certainly on death penalty...They both are obsessed with “environmental crimes”...

I think many conservative folks moved out of CA years ago...I think Obama-loving folks replaced them instead...
I think Orange County and San Diego County have become more liberal...

[Ritemind]

Sadly, California is ruled by LA and SF. I think bankruptcy is a good option. Defaults and buying opportunities for responsible capitalists.

[Ritemind]

Plus we need some fairy dust. This state is doomed. There must be default on state pensions to right the ship and that won’t happen without bankruptcy. No amount of spending cuts or revenue increase can bridge the gap. California is Fubar! My only anchor here is my senior mother who won’t move. I guess when they get rid of prop 13 and tax her out of her home she may change her mind.

[eater-of-toast]

I think Orange County and San Diego County have become more liberal...

No mistake there. In Orange County, Loretta Sanchez unseated Bob Dornan in 1996 (very probably with the help of some illegal immigrant voter fraud in that year, but she's held the seat since, although this term is hopefully her last), and the movement there has only been more from red to blue ever since. It seems the bigger trend is that Orange County's days as the conservative stronghold of Ronald Reagan, Bill Dannemeyer, and Bob Dornan are coming to an end. :(

[Grampa Dave]

Thank you.

“”According to a USC College/Los Angeles Times Poll released Sunday”

This phoney news paper is progressive and anti Republican.

[imintrouble]

What boggles my mind is why Californians would rather believe the foul lies Brown has ignited about Whitman’s
housekeeper (who was on official payroll in that household for nine years without a problem)....and now becomes an issue for election of a qualified candidate?

California should deserve that muckraker Brown - he lives on lies and cutting corners - next we’ll have to carve out a crown for his ever expanding head.

California deserves Brown - I cannot leave the state soon enough.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Running corporate moderates as candidates puts conservatives on the defense in a class war. It allows the left to paint Republicans as "the party of big business," when in fact the left is the party of huge business, simply because socialism offers government the power to control competitive outcomes.

This bears repeating. Well said.