Arnold Schwarzenegger Would Get 25% of the Vote If Californians Voted Today

Drudge Report ^ | 9 August 2003

[Hal1950]

Arnold Schwarzenegger Would Get 25% of the Vote If Californians Voted Today

California voters would remove Governor Gray Davis from office and replace him with Arnold Schwarzenegger by a 19 percentage-point margin if the election were held today, according to a TIME/CNN Poll.

Schwarzenegger leads Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamanate, his closest competitor, by a 25%-to-15% margin. Trailing were State Sen. Tom McClintock (9%), former candidate for governor Bill Simon (7%) and (tied with 4%) Hustler publisher Larry Flynt, columnist Arianna Huffington, and former Major League Baseball commissioner Peter Ueberroth, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein beat Schwarzenegger to replace Davis, 22 percent to 20 percent, if she had been a candidate, according to to TIME/CNN survey.

But California voters are not convinced that the Austrian-born action hero is capable of governing the state: 45% think he is, but many (55%) think he isn't capable (39%) or are unsure (16%). Schwarzenegger is not perceived as falling into any ideological camp: more see him as "moderate" (40%) than either conservative (23%) or "liberal" (19%).

The TIME/CNN Poll, conducted Aug. 8, surveyed 508 registered California voters by telephone. The margin of error is +/- 4.3%.

Developing...

[Dog Gone]

We really need a new Freeper poll on whom we currently favor to replace Governor Davis. I think it would be very enlightening.

[Admin Moderator]

Thanks. I'll pass your suggestion on to Jim.

[codercpc]

I think it would be most interesting if there were two polls...

One for Californians, and another for everyone else.

[Dan from Michigan]

One lousy poll and you make this conclusion?

Hell, John Engler was trailing Jim Blanchard by 12+ the weekend before the election and he won on election day.

[Dan from Michigan]

John Engler had about 18%(in a 2 way race) in his first poll.

[Dan from Michigan]

He is also against strict gun control

He is? Do you have a source? Last I heard he said that gun control should be stiffer.

[FairOpinion]

"One lousy poll and you make this conclusion? "

===

We already had an important REAL poll in November, where a conservative candidate, Simon had his best chance, when running against a beleavered, universaly despised Gray Davis, and LOST.

The only impact Simon and McClintock can have is to weaken Arnold and hand victory to Bustamante, as Newt just said on FoxNews a few minutes ago.

[Dan from Michigan]

He is for the assault weapons ban.

Which is EXTREMELY stricly gun control. California's AW ban has the AG ban guns at will. Dan Lundgren did it.

That is BEYOND unacceptable.

[Dan from Michigan]

I have a feeling that much of Arnold's support will come from 20-somethings who have never voted and would not make the effort to go vote for someone else

The Ventura effect. That's the one thing that I won't be able to predict at all, since it is such a wildcard.

[Dan from Michigan]

McClintock isn't Simon. He has experience and doesn't have his scandals.

Also, This is a different type of election. It's not a two way race with a runoff. It's not on election day. It's a special election.

The best organized campaign who gets their voters out wins.

I'll go out on a limb. Cruz WILL lose. The winner will be EITHER Ahnold or McClintock.

[FairOpinion]

As I said before, if I though McClintock had a chance of actually winning, I would vote for him myself. I like the guy. Maybe it will be his time next time, but not today.

Given the dynamics and current situation, and the desperate Dem machinery, which will put everything in play to keep CA, Bustamente has a strong advantage, and the one who can beat him is Arnod. If McClintock and Simon weren't running, I would still be nervious, that Bustamante may squeak in by a whisker, but McC & Simon syphoning away R. votes at least doubles Bustamante's chances.

[onyx]

You're going to wear yourself out --- I am taking a much needed break today, I am so sick of repeating the same information!

[rwfromkansas]

I am not sure, some thread from yesterday.

[rwfromkansas]

It would be awesome to see Tom get it.

If Arnold turns out to be more left than anticipated, I will have egg on my face.

[Stallone]

GOP stupidity such as this is exactly why California is a Socialist nightmare.

Brilliant advisors such as yourself ALWAYS fail to acknowledge this.

California is lost to ultraconservatives - get it?

The closest thing to a Republican they will get - or deserve - is Arnold. Vote for him unless you want more Gray Davis clones.

Once again, thank you for playing into the Clinton political machine playbook.

Live, and learn.

[EGPWS]

If Arnold turns out to be more left than anticipated, I will have egg on my face.

Personally I consider it unlikely for him to take a "left approach" for Arnold knows what the concerns are and a liberal approach to a liberal problem isn't going to resolve the issues at hand.

California will be put on track with Arnold!

[Stallone]

Gary Coleman was a stunt by the Socialists to portray the election as a circus. His fee and other expenses were provided by a media organization leaning heavily left.

Don't fall for this game - Arnold is a serious candidate.

He will win California for the Republicsn party, despite the moronic purists who want to only vote for Ronald Reagan or stay home. These GOP idiots haven't figured out this stupidity is exactly what got them Clinton and Davis in the first place.

Freepers - Vote Arnold, or I'll kick you in the teeth myself.

[John Lenin]

Neat song. Make Gray Davis Go Away mp3 link

[EGPWS]

The Ventura effect

Heaven help us if this is the case!

[rolling_stone]

You were right that song just made my day...thanks rs