Posted on 01/24/2006 9:06:06 AM PST by RWR8189
January 24, 2006--California's Republican governor is neck and neck with either of two potential Democratic challengers.
In a match-up with State Treasurer Phil Angelides, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger leads Angelides 41% to 39% (see crosstabs). Matched with State Comptroller Steve Westly, Schwarzenegger trails 39% to 40% (see crosstabs).
In mid-December, our polling showed Angelides leading Schwarzenegger 44% to 40%. Westly led him 46% to 39%.
Much of the incumbent's political muscle, dramatically displayed just a little more than two years ago in a post-recall election victory, seemed to turn to flab last year. A recent "move to the center" may be converting some of it back into muscle.
If so, he still has a bit more political heavy lifting to do. In our mid-December poll, Schwarzenegger was viewed favorably by 43% of the state's likely voters, unfavorably by 55%. He is now viewed favorably by 44% and unfavorably by 49%. Those unsure have increased to 8%.
Angelides is viewed favorably by 34% and unfavorably by 27%, with 39% "not sure." Westly is viewed favorably by 26% and unfavorably by 25%, with 49% "not sure."
Forty-four percent (44%) of voters favor the governor's budget proposal, which includes billions of new spending on education and transportation—just a few percentage points more than prefer him in either match-up (see crosstabs for budget proposal).
Although only 29% of likely voters oppose the proposal, 48% say it will lead to higher taxes. Support for the proposal cuts across traditional party lines. Among Republicans, two thirds of whom view the governor favorably, just 49% approve of the budget proposal and 37% disapprove.
Fifty-one percent (51%) of California voters believe Judge Alito will be confirmed to the Supreme Court.
Rasmussen Reports is an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information.
The Rasmussen Reports ElectionEdgeTM Premium Service for Election 2006 offers the most comprehensive public opinion coverage ever provided for a mid-term election. We are polling every Senate and Governor's race at least once a month. We also update the President's Job Approval on a daily basis.
Rasmussen Reports was the nation's most accurate polling firm during the Presidential election and the only one to project both Bush and Kerry's vote total within half a percentage point of the actual outcome.
During Election 2004, RasmussenReports.com was also the top-ranked public opinion research site on the web. We had twice as many visitors as our nearest competitor and nearly as many as all competitors combined.
Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, has been an independent pollster for more than a decade.
January 15, 2005
|
Election 2006 California Governor |
|
| Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) | 41% |
| Phil Angelides (D) | 39% |
|
Election 2006 California Governor |
|
| Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) | 39% |
| Steve Westly (D) | 40% |
The treasurer and the comptroller - is that the best the Dems can do for governor of the largest state with a somewhat weakened incumbant? Something is wrong here.
Are any conservatives going to run in this race?
Not in this race, but Tim McClintock is running for Lt. Governor.
Lying political rino vs. commieliberalgirlieman. Great.
If they do, it will just guarantee a Dem victory. We can't afford to have the vote split.
If Arnold would decide not to run, then McClintock might be able to beat either of these Dems. And he might not.
"If they do, it will just guarantee a Dem victory. We can't afford to have the vote split. "
Is that really working out for you?
Reminds me of this from the Hitchhiker's series (paraphrased)
Ford: On this planet the people hate the lizards and the lizards rule the people.
Arthur: So it's a dictatorship
Ford: No, it's a democracy
Arthur: You mean people actually vote for the lizards!?! Why?
Ford: Because otherwise the wrong lizard might get in.
He may have lost in his head-on clash with the public employee unions, but that doesn't mean he won't keep trying. He's brought up a a lot of issues that the liberal tax-and-spend crowd wishes he wouldn't. That's more than a Dem would do.
Even his spending proposal is geared to taking the choices away from that crowd -- it largely funds infrastructure projects and leaves no money or borrowing capacity to fund other crap. The other side, of course, is taxes. He will at least make the attempt to stop tax increases, where a Dem wouldn't.
Ping!
Arnold will be re-elected, bank on it!
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