Public Policy Institute of California poll - Green issues are big for Schwarzenegger

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 7/27/6 | John Wildermuth

[SmithL]

Governor leading Angelides about 4 to 3 in new poll -

Air pollution, global warming and other environmental woes are becoming increasingly important to California voters and they're backing Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as the man to deal with those problems, a new poll shows.

Schwarzenegger has a strong 43 percent to 30 percent lead over Democratic state Treasurer Phil Angelides among likely voters in the Public Policy Institute of California survey released today and 85 percent of those same voters say a candidate's position on the environment will be either very important or somewhat important when they vote for governor in November.

"This is a pretty unusual finding, since Democratic candidates traditionally have the upper hand when it comes to environmental issues,'' said Mark Baldassare, director of the non-partisan poll.

The numbers are especially disheartening for Angelides, who drew most of the major environmental endorsements during his primary battle with state Controller Steve Westly and has pledged to be "the greenest governor in California's history.''

But Schwarzenegger has scrambled to build his own path on environmental questions, breaking publicly with President Bush on issues like global warming, offshore drilling and road building in wilderness areas.

The governor's positions have struck a chord with Californians. Among likely voters, 44 percent like the job Schwarzenegger is doing on the environment, up from a 32 percent approval rating a year ago; 36 percent disapprove.

Even more surprising, Schwarzenegger's backers are even greener than Angelides' supporters. Seventy-eight percent of those planning to vote for the governor's re-election say that his position on the environment is at least somewhat important, compared to 67 percent of Democratic backers who feel the same way.

"Schwarzenegger has absolutely changed voters' perceptions,'' Baldassare said.

[BenLurkin]

Arnold = lesser of two evils.

Not much less though.

[SmithL]

Pretty sad choice.

There is a bright spot, though. If Arnold and Tom McClintock are both elected, Tom will be in an excellent position to be the next Governor.