[Field] Poll Finds Governor's Support Still Eroding [Bustamante-25%.. Schwarzenegger-22%]

New York Times ^ | 8-15-2003 | DEAN E. MURPHY

[deport]

Poll Finds Governor's Support Still Eroding

By DEAN E. MURPHY

AN FRANCISCO, Aug. 15 — A new statewide opinion poll shows that Gov. Gray Davis of California continues to lose support in his effort to keep his job, while Lt. Gov. Cruz M. Bustamante and Arnold Schwarzenegger, the actor, are at the top of the list of possible successors.

Mr. Davis, who faces a recall election on Oct. 7, has become so unpopular among registered voters that the pollsters, Field Research, likened his standing to that of President Richard M. Nixon before he resigned in August 1974.

"We've been doing polling for 56 years, and the current rating of the governor, 70 percent disapproval, is equivalent to the lowest job rating we have ever measured for an elected official," said Mark DiCamillo, director of the Field (California) Poll.

In the first half of the poll of 1,036 Califorinians, which was released today, 58 percent of likely voters said they favored removing Mr. Davis from office, up from 51 percent last month.

Asked whether they thought he would be recalled, 68 percent said yes.

In the second half of the poll, to be released on Saturday, Mr. Bustamante, a Democrat, and Mr. Schwarzenegger, a Republican, placed well ahead of the 133 other candidates on the ballot. The recall ballot will pose two questions. First, should Mr. Davis be recalled, and second, who should succeed him if he loses?
The survey showed that 25 percent of likely voters favored Mr. Bustamante, while 22 percent said Mr. Schwarzenegger was their first choice. Three other Republicans followed the front-runners, with State Senator Tom McClintock picking up 9 percent, Bill Simon Jr. 8 percent and Peter V. Ueberroth 5 percent.

The margin of error in the poll was plus or minus 5 percent.

Mr. DiCamillo said the ranking of the candidates, even with the margin of error, showed that Republicans voters were dividing their votes among the top four Republican candidates and that Democrats had more or less settled on Mr. Bustamante, the lone prominent Democrat on the replacement ballot.

"It is one of the problems that the state Republican Party has had over the years, that they have not been able to come up with consensus candidates," Mr. DiCamillo said.

That said, the poll suggested that many voters had yet to settle firmly on one candidate. Forty-four percent of likely voters indicated that they might change their mind before Oct. 7.

Peter Ragone, a spokesman for Californians Against the Costly Recall, a group formed by Mr. Davis, said the recall had been so volatile that it would be unwise to place much credence on any poll.

"It is like trying to grab a fistful of water," Mr. Ragone said. "It is so fluid. The polls that have been out there have been all over the map for the past several weeks."

Mr. Davis, in an appearance in Los Angeles, did not talk about the polls. Instead, he criticized remarks by Warren Buffett, a newly named economics adviser to Mr. Schwarzenegger, about property taxes.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Mr. Buffett suggested that the state's property taxes were too low, something that Mr. Schwarzenegger's opponents portrayed today as an assault on Proposition 13, the ballot measure from 1978 that limits on property taxes.

"The people spoke," Mr. Davis said, "and all of us who have held office since then have honored the will of the electorate. Lord knows, we have some things that cost a lot of money in this state. But property taxes are not one of them, and no one is about to change that."

[Those_Crazy_Liberals]

"Funny, so you voted for a loser in the primary and are castigating those who are supporting people you think wont win. How inconsistent."

That's what primaries are all about. You pick the one you think will win in the fall. My guy didn't. So you swallow your pride and say on the team. People like you are what cause the GOP to continue to lose election after election.

[Those_Crazy_Liberals]

"That mis-characterizes 187. It does nothing of the kind. Whoever replaces Davis should institute 187 as it was duly passed and defend it in court."

For your information, 'discrimination' when used in this context is a legal term of art. It means any distinction. It doesn't have to mean discrimination in the sense you're used to it, at your meetings or wherever. Thanks for trying though.

[Wolfstar]

"It needs an experienced, proven political figure to solve its problems..."

This notion that we must be governed by professional politicians is completely opposite to the bedrock principles on which this nation was founded. The rise of the professional politician in the 20th century is one of the scourges of our time.

[Lazamataz]

Here, let me wipe the spittal from your chin.

A Democrat Underground disruptor such as yourself isn't fit to lick my spittle, much less wipe anything.

[Lazamataz]

For your information, 'discrimination' when used in this context is a legal term of art. It means any distinction. It doesn't have to mean discrimination in the sense you're used to it, at your meetings or wherever.See, this is what I'm talking about. You absolutely had no reason whatsoever to add that bolded part, but in order to foster division a Good Democrat Underground Disrupter needs to toss in every insult she can.

[JohnnyZ]

Last poll: Arnold 51%.

This poll: Arnold 22%.

I think that's an indication we should pay too much attention to polls in this race . . .

[Lazamataz]

Here, let me wipe the spittal from your chin.

By the way, Brainiac: It's "spittle".

("Oh", she says, feigning that Yet Another Misspelling was intentional, "I did that to make fun of the lesser minds I find here"... and Yadda Yadda Yadda)

[JohnnyZ]

You really are delusional....Arnold has 5....FIVE TIMES the percentage that McClintock has!!!!

As a math major I feel compelled to chime in here. Five (5) times (x) nine (9) is forty-five (45). Twenty-two (22) divided (/) by five (5) is four point four (4.4).

[patriciaruth]

What's really funny is that my liberal sister-in-law looked at Bustamante and thought the same thing--looked like a crook. The guy really needs a makeover.

[Those_Crazy_Liberals]

"By the way, Brainiac: It's "spittle"."

You seem to be the expert on expelling body fluids. They have products to help people like you avoid embarassing situations - at least those caused by lack of control of orafices other than your mouth.

[Those_Crazy_Liberals]

"See, this is what I'm talking about."

I hear marbles in your head bouncing around.

[Once-Ler]

What's fascinating is that everyone who follows things seems to agree on one fact...we really, really don't want Dean to be President.

I believe most neo-cons and paleo-cons agree that none of the 9 democrats deserve to be President. We probably only disagree on whether Dubya deserves re-election.

To me the difference between Dean and Gebhardt is only that Dean admits to hating Dubya, and our troops. Gephardt is to me the ultimate scary candidate. I believe he is the only one who could beat Dubya...if the economy tanks, and another 9-11 happens, and Dubya gets caught in some kind of scandal...then maybe Gephardt could win. Because Gephardt could appeal to moderate voter who might fall for his protectionist/populist claptrap. That is why I would consider voting for Dean in the primary. Dean is a big pussycat. I don't think he can appeal to moderate voters. I pray Dean is the rat candidate.

[montag813]

And Yeah, I like Tom, If more folks knew what he would do reform-wise etc, it would help drive him to the front,imo. PS - LOL... I had one bomb left in the rack.. and I dropped it on you... QQps! It's been such a target-rich environment recently ;-)< Whose side are ya on this goaround 8-?

LOL, don't sweat it. And I agree and McClintock...he's a good man, and I hope he stays in for a while since I have a sinking feeling Arnold may self-destruct at any time, and I don't want the GOP (and Bush's CA 2004 effort) to go down with him.

[LaraCroft]

I'd rather have an real democrat in, rather than a fake republican.

Maria to Teddy... "But Uncle, he believes in everything we do and he will fund the programs... it doesn't matter what party he SAYS he is from, it is obvious that he is more liberal than you are"

I don't care if you all think only he can win... I honestly don't care. MY principals are more important than petty politics and my adherance to them is more important to me than a sham mockery of a "republican" elected.

You can mock that if you want, but I don't care about that either.... my word and my principals are the most important things, your opinion means nothing, and may even be wrong. You never stop to think about that, do you?

[jethropalerobber]

Schwarzenegger = 22% + McClintock 9% Simon 8% + Ueberroth 5% = 44% = LANDSLIDE!

44% is a landslide?

didn't simon do better than that last fall?

why can't california GOP just accept defeat and move on?

there will be negative blowback from this for GOP around the country.

[Those_Crazy_Liberals]

"I don't care if you all think only he can win... I honestly don't care. MY principals are more important than petty politics and my adherance to them is more important to me than a sham mockery of a "republican" elected."

You clearly have NO Principals if you're willing to give aid and comfort to the enemy. The enemy in this case is the democratic party. You should be ashamed of yourself for not caring. Its people like you, in your apathy and indifference that help lose a republic. Does that make you proud, leaving that type of do nothing, don't care, no prinicpled legacy for your children and grandchildren?

[grania]

Dean is a big pussycat.

He's the "pussycat" who gave up his governorship to behind the scenes plot that big early splash with moveon.org. He got himself declared a frontrunner before people even knew his stands.

I don't think he can appeal to moderate voters.

He can appeal to anti-war voters and non-voters. The fact he is a doctor might well help with women.

I pray Dean is the rat candidate.

Here is where I part ways with many of you. The only way a Dem wins is if something really big and really bad and really detrimental to the US happens. If that happens, I want someone who really loves his/her country, and can govern, and has clear, proven views. I don't fear a Gephart, Kucinich, or Mosely-Braun as much as you do. They would energize the Republicans in the HOR and Senate to block some of the very stuff they're voting for with GWB. What I fear is someone who will do or say anything to win...I fear that would be Dean.

[Lazamataz]

You seem to be the expert on expelling body fluids.

Yeah. Stand still, I got a hawker to plant on you.

But I still wouldn't piss on you to put you out, if you were on fire.

[LaraCroft]

Oh please.. YOU are the one with no principles and you are exactly like the stupid feminists who support Clinton simply because he is a democrat.

You are the same, blindly supporting a liberal who apparently you are too stupid to see that he is a not a republican. You do whatever you want, you have to look at yourself in the mirror, but..

Don't you dare talk to me in that way. the enemy is NOT the democratic party and until you learn some history and logical reasoning, I won't be reading or writing you to anymore.

You should be ashamed of your close minded blindness.

[MrNatural]

...Arnold is bringing people over to the "R" side who otherwise would not vote "R"...

That is the absolute bottom line in this recall situation; this is Arnold's unique value to the near-dead republican party and conservative cause in California.