A $37-billion package of public works bonds that has strong bipartisan support in Sacramento is in some peril among voters, along with ballot measures dealing with alternative energy and a cigarette tax, according to a new Los Angeles Times poll.
The vast majority of likely voters knew too little about the infrastructure bonds -- backed by both Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democratic legislators -- to express an opinion.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Monday October 02, 2006 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 0 inches; 28 words Type of Material: Correction
Tony Strickland: An information box accompanying an article in the California section Saturday about the state controller's race misstated candidate Tony Strickland's age as 37. He is 36.
After poll respondents were read a ballot summary of each measure, none of the items generated much enthusiasm. Only two eked out a bare majority: those on housing and disaster preparedness.
The measures on smoking and alternative energy were much better known, thanks to extensive advertising campaigns, but neither drew majority support.
Two of California's most durable Democrats, meanwhile, were in strong positions as the November election nears.
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein holds a hefty lead in her run for reelection.
And Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown enjoys a sizable edge as he bids to become state attorney general, the poll found.
The positive news for Feinstein and Brown contrasted with a series of much closer contests in the so-called down-ballot races for statewide office. If a Democratic wave is building in the country, as polls suggest, it has yet to materialize in California.
Although Democratic Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer enjoys a commanding lead in his effort to become state treasurer, the rest of the contests for constitutional offices are far more competitive. A substantial chunk of the vote remains up for grabs, with just a little more than five weeks left before election day.
The Nov. 7 ballot features, at the top of the ticket, the race between Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democrat Phil Angelides, the state treasurer. Also included are the Senate and down-ballot races, legislative and congressional contests and 13 initiatives, as well as local issues.
In the campaign for U.S. Senate, Feinstein was leading Richard Mountjoy, a former Monrovia state senator, 54% to 36% among likely voters and 54% to 29% among registered voters. That compares to a 59%-to-30% advantage for Feinstein among registered voters surveyed in the last poll.
"I find that many times she votes more conservative than I would want and is a little too conciliatory toward the Republicans," said San Francisco Democrat Marilyn Levy, a retired technical writer in her 50s, explaining her support for Feinstein in a follow-up interview. "But I think she has a very good environmental record, and I think we could do a lot worse."
