Posted on 10/03/2006 7:37:23 AM PDT by SmithL
Democrat John Garamendi and Republican Tom McClintock are locked in a tight race for the lieutenant governor's job, while attack ads have cut into Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown's lead in the attorney general's race, according to the latest Field Poll released Monday.
Garamendi, a two-term state insurance commissioner, appears to have lost traction with voters while support for McClintock, a state senator known for his fiscal conservatism, has held steady. The latest survey shows 41 percent of likely voters supporting Garamendi, and 39 percent favoring McClintock.
In July, the same survey showed Garamendi had 48 percent support, compared to 38 percent for McClintock.
The numbers suggest that California's ever-growing camp of voters who decline to state a political party will play a pivotal role in deciding who becomes the next lieutenant governor -- a largely ceremonial job but one candidates often hope to use as a springboard for gubernatorial bids. While Democrats and Republicans largely fell in line with their party candidate, 23 percent of nonpartisan voters remained undecided.
"Those are the swing voters in play," said Field Poll Director Mark DiCamillo.
"They're just playing a much greater role. They're undecided until they find out more about the candidates."
While the Garamendi camp has been trying to portray McClintock as a right-wing obstructionist, the state Republican Party has aired ads featuring a husband and wife who claim they lost their house and blame Garamendi for bungling the collapse of the Executive Life Insurance Co. during his first stint as insurance commissioner.
Negative campaign ads also appear to have cut into Brown's sizable early lead in the state attorney general race.
However, the survey results suggest the attacks haven't yet translated into votes for his challenger, DiCamillo said. Brown's lead is down to 15 points, compared to a 21-point advantage...
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
A little something to brighten your morning.
Tom McClintock ping
I'm glad McClintock is gaining.
I'm not glad California voters are so dumb that these types of one-dimensional, anecdotal attack ads can shift the electorate 10%.
Of course, if voters had any brains, Garamendi woudln't have been allowed anywhere near a major political office in the first place...
For anyone tempted to stay home, think Attorney General Jerry Brown.
Thanks to Schwarzenegger's lunge to the left, a lot of conservatives may decide to "go fishing" on election day.
I got more respect for Green Party voters who go to the polls then I do for so-called "conservatives" who sit on their hands election day. This while 1000's of our boys are in the middle east giving their lives so Iraqis can vote.
Schwarzenegger and McClintock have struck a pragmatic deal as they run as a team for Governor and Lt. Governor. McClintock provides a reason for conservative Republicans to come to the polls and vote. Schwarzenegger forces the unions to throw their money away on Angelides while at the same time depressing the Democratic voter turnout.
The result is that Angelides is going down in flames, and McClintock has an excellent chance of defeating Garamendi. And if Tom is elected Lt. Governor, he'll become the odds-on favorite to be the Republican candidate for Governor in 2010 when Arnold is termed-out.
This news certainly brightens my day!
Too bad more folks don't recognize that all those police spokesmen ads for Brown, are spokesmen for union thugs who want more and more pension loot.
If he wins, expect them to drone the unending "unelectable" drumbeat almost immediately.
And if he loses you and yours will blame everyone else post after post after post...
You betcha. With the kind or record Garamendi has, he would never win with an adequately supported campaign.
I hope McClintock can pull it out.
Even the idea of Jerry Brown being associated with the state's legal arm is shocking. When it comes to law enforcement that guy is in the other camp.
I would hope California voters would be aware enough to block Jerry becoming the Attorney General.
He's a very smooth talker.
BTTT
McClintok is CA's last hope
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