Poll: GOP gains favor in California

The Stockton Record, ^ | Originally Published Thursday, February 7, 2002 | By Will Shuck

[KQQL]

SACRAMENTO -- Californians like Republicans a lot more now than they did two years ago, when Al Gore trounced George Bush here in the presidential race and when Democratic congressional candidates out-polled their GOP rivals by 14 percent, according to a Field Poll released today.

President Bush's party has closed the popularity gap in California on a couple levels.

First, fewer Californians (40 percent) think Congress should be controlled by Democrats than thought so a year ago, (44 percent).

Second, more Californians say they would vote for a Republican congressional candidate (40 percent), than said so in December (34 percent).

"Republicans seem to be doing very well," Field Poll director Mark DiCamillo said. "And this is happening at the same time we're seeing a Republican challenger (Richard Riordan) ahead of the incumbent governor of the is state.

"I would place some significance on that," he said.

The results were based on a statewide survey of 1,022 registered voters contacted by telephone between Jan. 23 and Jan. 27. The results have a 3.2 percentage point margin of error.

While Republicans seem to be benefiting from President Bush's popularity, Congress as a whole seems to be popular for other reasons.

Californians' approval of Congress remains at near-record levels, with 54 percent of voters giving favorable ratings, 33 percent disapproving and 13 percent expressing no opinion.

DiCamillo said the 54 percent approval rating is virtually unchanged from the record high 57 percent given in December, the first poll that followed the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.

He downplayed the role of Sept. 11 on Congress' popularity, however, noting that a majority of Californians have been giving Congress favorable ratings since August 2000. The low point for congressional popularity came in 1999, during impeachment hearings against President Bill Clinton, when Californians disapproved of Congress by a 2-1 margin.

Since then, approval has been on the increase.

"It was the end of the previous Congress," Di-Camillo said. "The contentiousness was behind them."

Californians were about evenly divided on the question of their state lawmakers, with 40 percent approving of the job the state Legislature is doing, 36 percent disapproving, and 24 percent offering no opinion. But it's a marked improvement from last summer, during the height of the energy crisis, when 35 percent approved, and 48 percent disapproved.

California's U.S. senators receive pretty good marks. Dianne Feinstein gets the approval of 50 percent of voters, and Barbara Boxer gets approval of 45 percent. Those who disapprove of the senators are about equal to those who have no opinion.

[Diver Dave]

California's U.S. senators receive pretty good marks. Dianne Feinstein gets the approval of 50 percent of voters, and Barbara Boxer gets approval of 45 percent. Those who disapprove of the senators are about equal to those who have no opinion.

Wait a minute. Nobody asked my opinion.

[Rubber Duckie]

They also didn't poll the cemetaries and illegal aliens. Feinstein can actually come across as gracious at times-- I believe she was the only Democrat from a solid Gore state who voted for the tax cut.

Boxer, on the other hand, can only be grateful to the voters of Washington who've graciously allowed her the honor of second dumbest member of the U.S. Senate. In many ways, a La Raza type agitator would be a better replacement so as to galvanize the voters who want to keep California part of the United States.

I know a few Jews in California who are actually embarassed to admit Boxer is one of their number because she is a pretty dim bulb among one of the best educated demographics.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Barbara Boxer gets approval of 45 percent.

A "Beat Boxer in 2004" Bump!

[writmeister]

Wouldn't it be third dumbest -- you forgot about the Widow Carnahan. She is so dumb that they won't let her speak in public without a script written by Tommy Daschole.

[Austin Willard Wright]

Nah....Condi should be made veep. California is a hopeless case. Only a liberal Republican can win statewide and Condi is not a liberal.

[Dog Gone]

Good news! This is especially true since the Field Poll has a definite liberal bias.

Any word on how Gary Condit's poll numbers are doing?

[eureka!]

"Any word on how Gary Condit's poll numbers are doing?"

The professional pollsters can't count that low.

Seriously, this poll is nice to see. May W continue to lead and the sheeple continue to admire him for his qualities...

[Rubber Duckie]

I don't consider Carnahan a senator, but merely a stand-in for a corpse. But you may be right, she could bump Boxer down to third. Fortunately, the IQ of the Missouri delegation is doubled when you consider the sharp cookie they have in Kit Bond-- a claim neither California or Washington can make with their only marginally brighter bulbs.

[Free the USA]

bump

[KQQL]

Gary is a goner, but he will probably run as a INDPT in the fall....

[heleny]

Boxer ... second dumbest member of the U.S. Senate

She is an embarassment to CA every time she whines about any perceived injustice, even when many Californians disagree with what she says, and she sounds like an airhead.
Which Senator is more incompetent than she, besides Mrs. Carnahan?

[Rubber Duckie]

Carnahan gives her stiff competition for second dumbest, but the top honor goes hands down to (drum roll pleast) . . .

Pat Murray of Washington. Talk about a clueless poster child for the soccer moms . . . she's the only name that fits the stereotype like a "T". Carnahan may be as dumb as a corpse, but Murray manages to exceed even that!

[heleny]

Thanks for clarifying.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

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[Graewoulf]

FYI.

[2Trievers]

Thanks Grae ... putting it into the mix.