Poll: Calif. Majority Against Bond Plan + (Kerry 54% - W 37% / CA Statewide Poll)

.news.yahoo.com/ ^ | 02/20/04 | By TOM CHORNEAU, Associated Press Writer

[KQQL]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A $15 billion bond measure touted by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (news - web sites) as the way for California to avoid a financial meltdown isn't supported by a majority of voters, a statewide poll shows.

Thirty-eight percent approve of the measure and 41 percent oppose it, according the Public Policy Institute of California poll. Twenty-one percent are undecided.

Schwarzenegger needs voters to pass the measure March 2 so that he can pay off short-term loans that come due in June and help close next year's budget gap. Without the bond money, the governor has said deep cuts will be necessary.

The governor, a Republican, and several Democratic leaders, including Controller Steve Westly and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, have been campaigning in support of the measure. Schwarzenegger also is spending about $1.5 million a week on TV ads airing statewide.

But voters are not impressed so far, said Mark Baldassare, poll director for the institute. When the ads began on Feb. 10, the poll found 37 percent in favor, 45 percent opposed and 18 percent undecided.

"People are wondering if this is the best time to be borrowing money," he said. "I think people are skittish about what we are proposing here."

Sixty-one percent of likely voters approve of the way the governor is doing his job. But of those who approve of Schwarzenegger, only 49 percent support the bond proposal.

Also, the poll found likely California voters favor the Democratic nominee over President Bush (news - web sites) — 54 percent to 37 percent. Nine percent are undecided.

Among the candidates vying for the Democratic presidential nomination, Kerry would capture 55 percent of his party's vote. Far behind are former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean (news - web sites), who dropped out of the race Wednesday, with 11 percent and North Carolina Sen. John Edwards (news - web sites) with 10 percent.

The poll was conducted Feb. 8-16 with 1,013 likely voters. The margin of error was plus or minus 3 percentage points.

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[Moonman62]

Without the bond money, the governor has said deep cuts will be necessary. Woohoo!!!!

It seems to me that people are voting for cuts, more so than voting against the bond. Of course, the commies in the press will never report it that way.

[JohnnyZ]

It seems to me that people are voting for cuts, more so than voting against the bond.

IMO people are voting/will vote against taxes AND against spending cuts.

[CounterCounterCulture]

The pro-57/58 ads with Westly and Ahhnold are slick and effective. How much so will remain to be seen.

NO ON 55/56/57/58!

[Coop]

Poll ping

[FairOpinion]

"Thirty-eight percent approve of the measure and 41 percent oppose it"

==

That's even within the margin of error.

If the bond doesn't pass, get ready for some serious tax increases.

The Dems WANT Arnold to fail and the fine so-called conservatives are helping them AGAIN.

[WOSG]

There must be a huge media bias factor in Cali,
because on the issues the voters make sense,
but then they vote for leftist / marxist crud for their representatives.

I cannot fathom how boxer has double digit support.
she is a moron and a marxist.

[lasereye]

All the Republican numbers are lower and Democrat higher when they narrow to likely voters (in this poll).

That's what the Gallup poll shows too. The Dems are motivated and alot of Pubbies aren't. It shows you what anger does. Apparently Republicans aren't all that angered by the attacks on Bush - or maybe they believe them.

[mpreston]

Why support the Bond Plan when the governor won't support the rule of law? Seems his word is no longer any good, so why believe the financing plans.

[ChiMark]

I never realizes that Pres. Bush was so hated. With those numbers it would be a record defeat for a rather popular fellow. Why don't you just become more absurd and claim 76% Kerry, 2% Bush ? I can't believe these numbers when the state just recalled it's democrat govenor for the first time in history!

[John Lenin]

One NO vote here.

[DiamondDon1]

Hey Kelly!

I voting no on all of the propositions, and I hope there are deep cuts...of course this means no police, no firemen, no teachers, no fixing of roads, less workers at the DMV...good, I can deal with that.

Paying the consequences...and feeling stupid about it. We were warned...

DD

[KQQL]

CA

Boxer 53% - GOP Nominee 36%
Public Policy Institute
MOE+/-3% (Reg Voters) 2/8-16/04

[BamaAndy]

California gets more stupid as time continues...