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Posted on 03/18/2002 11:46:43 AM PST by kattracks
Bill Simon, the California Republican gubernatorial candidate the experts said couldn't beat former LA mayor Dick Riordan in the March 5 primary, and would lose badly if he ever had to face Governor Gray Davis in November, is now a whopping seven points ahead of Davis a new poll shows.
According to Public Opinion Strategies Inc. (POS), a nationally recognized political polling firm retained by the Simon camp, Simon leads with 48 percent to Davis' 41 percent.
Even more bad news for Davis - fully 50 percent of California voters have an unfavorable opinion of him.
Despite expert opinions that Davis would be unbeatable in a race against the conservative Simon, the poll revealed that Gray Davis is extremely vulnerable in his re-election campaign, and that California voters are looking for new leadership according to the Simon campaign.
Breakdowns of the poll show:
- That among women, a group allegedly hostile to Simon, he actually leads Davis by a 46 percent to 43 percent margin. Among men Simon leads Davis 51 percent to 39 percent.
- Davis' heavily criticized record as California's Governor has even diminished his support among his fellow Democrats. While 81% of Republicans support Simon, Davis gets the support of merely 63% of Democrats.
- Pro-Simon supporters are more solid in their backing of the conservative businessman than pro-Davis supporters are of their man. 71% of Republicans strongly support Simon while only 48% of Democrats are solid in their support of Davis.
- Simon's strong showing is statewide. He leads in every media market of the state except San Francisco.
Among the major media markets Simon's lead is dramatic:
SAN DIEGO SIMON 57% DAVIS 33%
SACRAMENTO SIMON 52% DAVIS 34%
LOS ANGELES SIMON 49% DAVIS 40%
SAN FRANCISCO SIMON 38% DAVIS 54%
According to Simon campaign spokesmen, Davis image problems and poor job performance have only 36% of voters saying they want to re-elect him," the Simon campaign says "A startling 55% of voters said 'a new person should be elected Governor of California.' Historically when such a number is higher than 50%, it has foreshadowed a resounding defeat for the incumbent on Election Day."
"The primary election campaign which focused on Bill Simon as the candidate of ideas has resonated well with California voters," said Simon' campaign chief strategist, Sal Russo. "While Gray Davis is focused on blaming everybody else for his failed leadership, voters are responding to Bill Simon's message of ideas for solving California's problems."
The pressure of a failing campaign on a beleaguered Davis' may be getting to him. In an interview with the San Diego Union Tribune last Thursday in response to questions about his handling of the state's energy crisis he snapped: "I kept the lights on. And this sounds a little presumptuous, but I think I should at least get a round of applause. I don't get squat."
When told that the main criticism against him is that he panicked and signed long-term contracts at a very high cost Davis erupted.
"If I didn't panic, you wouldn't be able to put out your paper. I saved this friggin' paper. I kept the lights on in this state. Do you understand that? I kept the lights on."
For Davis, a full seven months before the November election, the lights may already be going out for his re-election hopes.
I used to live in San Francisco - they'd never vote for a dead white male like Stalin. Give 'em Free Mumia, though, and you got a winner.
As to the gubernatorial campaign, dirty won't be the word for it. By the time Davis' hatchet men get done with poor Bill Simon, his own mother won't recognize him.
His main hope may be for Simon to make some major screw-ups, and then react quickly to capitalize.
Exactly. I hope that the Simon campaign realizes how they can turn this into a populist-style election. Davis will claim he did it, but Simon will be able to use this in a principled way -- by showing how you don't need government to solve every problem, that when faced with a crisis, the people can solve the problems by working together. The only thing Davis did was sqander $20 billion to fix something that the people fixed without spending a dime. (and in the process, Davis used all kinds of cronyism, corruption, thuggery and threats).
No, but I can imagine a number of Voter Fraud Task Force teams consisting of officials from the Secretary of State's office and several California State Police officers each going into some of the worst areas as "observers" on election day.
The usual suspects would scream bloody murder the next day, but the knowledge that such an action was happening might just head off the worst of the fraud. Time for Bill Jones to earn his salary...
But, Of Course! Who else would I vote for?
I'm a Californian at heart and by birth...I hope to return someday! But in the meantime...O'Malley has my vote!
P.S.: Any Freeper connected with the Illinois Republican party...please contact me. I tried to volunteer to help out about two months ago...but the "Belleville" contact didn't bother to return my phone calls!
That's a definite possibility. :-)
Very accurate and important observation, I agree. If the socialist left media has overlooked an awakening and change in the "middle of the road Californians", and they are interested in issues, ethics and ability, the media will go down in flames along with Grayout.
I believe many will LISTEN to Simon and dismiss Grayouts media blitz as exactly what it sounds like, the ravings of a lunatic.
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