Free Republic

Almost two-thirds of California residents believe President George W. Bush is untruthful and only 23 percent approve of his job performance, according to a new poll released today from San Jose State University. In contrast to the president, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's approval rating is at a near-record high of 62 percent, according to the poll, conducted by the Survey and Policy Research Institute at SJSU. Schwarzenegger is winning approval from liberal and moderate Californians while still maintaining a 64 percent approval rating among conservatives, according to the survey results. While California's presidential primary is 10 months away, the poll results...

Not only is the Democratic gubernatorial candidate trailing Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger by double digits, but one of his key campaign strategies -- trying to link Schwarzenegger to President George W. Bush -- isn't working. Schwarzenegger leads Angelides, 46 percent to 33 percent, according to a poll released Monday by the Survey and Policy Research Institute at San Jose State University. Perhaps more worrisome to Angelides, most Californians say their low regard for President Bush will have no bearing on their vote for governor.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, winning back voters with a series of moves including helping gain agreement on a $131 billion budget with increased money for education, is in strong position to win re-election in November, a poll released today shows. Schwarzenegger is favored over his Democratic challenger, state Treasurer Phil Angelides, by 44 percent to 37 percent among state voters in the poll by the Survey and Policy Research Institute at San Jose State University. Fourteen percent of those surveyed are undecided. The governor's job approval rating has jumped to 49 percent among voters surveyed compared with 41 percent who disapprove...

With Republicans rallying to his cause, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has reclaimed a little more of his once-astronomical popularity, but winning re-election could still prove to be a tough slog. A poll released Tuesday by the Survey and Policy Research Institute at San Jose State University saw Schwarzenegger's approval rating climb to 45 percent among voters, up from 39 percent in January. Most of that momentum is fueled by higher rankings among the GOP faithful, some of whom had been alienated by the Republican governor's more centrist actions, and Democratic hires, since last year's failed special election. But Republicans seem to...

Nearly six out of 10 Californians support allowing illegal immigrants to become legal residents and continue living and working in the state, according to a new poll released Sunday by a San Jose State University research center.

A recent poll shows the born-again "moderate" Republican governor has gained back some popularity, especially in the Bay Area, and is now in a dead heat with Democratic competitors. "Our survey demonstrates that Schwarzenegger's retreat from the more conservative rhetoric and agenda he brandished during the latter part of 2005 has paid off among middle-of-the road voters," said Melinda Jackson, director of the Survey and Policy Research Institute at San Jose State University. The governor's job performance rating among voters in a Democrat-leaning state has climbed from 36 percent positive and 53 percent negative in September, to 40 percent positive...

The poll, released Thursday from the Survey and Policy Research Institute at San Jose State University, is the first sign that Schwarzenegger's recent moves to reposition himself in the political center are paying off. It found that Schwarzenegger's standing has improved most among Democrats and independent voters. Those groups comprise two-thirds of California's registered voters but generally opposed the governor's agenda for the November special election. 40% of voters statewide said they approve of the job Schwarzenegger is doing, with 51 percent saying they disapprove. That's slightly better than the 36 percent approval rating he received in the university's September...