Field Poll: Indian casino plan widens its lead

Sacramento Bee ^ | 2/4/8 | Jim Sanders

[SmithL]

A $100 million campaign has four Indian gambling measures riding a wave of voter support, but a separate proposal to alter legislative term limits desperately needs a life jacket, according to a Field Poll released Sunday.

With election day looming on Tuesday, the poll shows that support for the Indian gambling measures has risen consistently in recent weeks, while the term limits measure has fallen dramatically.

Propositions 94 through 97, which would allow four wealthy Southern California Indian tribes to add up to 17,000 casino slot machines, is leading by 47 percent to 34 percent, with 19 percent of likely voters undecided, the Field Poll found.

The term limits measure, Proposition 93, is favored by only 33 percent of voters, while 46 percent are opposed and 21 percent undecided. The numbers represent a steep drop from mid-December, when half the state's voters turned thumbs up.

Mark DiCamillo, Field Poll director, said the two disparate trends reflect the impact of hard-hitting television advertising that has warmed voters to Indian gambling and painted the term limits measure as a power grab.

The TV blitz for the gambling measures has been fueled by more than $100 million in contributions, roughly three times more than opponents, records show.

DiCamillo said voter sentiment also is influenced by the state's massive budget shortfall and prospects that expanded gambling would produce more revenue – at least $131 million per year, according to the state legislative analyst.

"They're not reading the details of the deals – what the Indians are getting, how much revenue, they're not into the minutiae," DiCamillo said. "They understand the concept."

In all major categories of voters – Democrats, Republicans, independents – the four gambling measures have more support than opposition.

[Red Badger]

Makes sense. Gamble in casinos and gamble in Sacramentos....

[bshomoic]

The people of Kaleefornya naturally want a place to blow the tax “rebate” that will be forthcoming shortly.

[SmithL]

Thanks for the heads-up:

The term limits measure, Proposition 93, is favored by only 33 percent of voters, while 46 percent are opposed and 21 percent undecided. The numbers represent a steep drop from mid-December, when half the state's voters turned thumbs up.