Poll Shows Recall Support Narrow as GOP Moves to Push Some Out of Race

[kskiska]

The effort to unseat Gov. Gray Davis has slim support among voters in a poll released Friday as some Republican activists pushed for consolidation among the major candidates in the race.

In contrast to earlier surveys that suggested the recall enjoyed strong support, the Los Angeles Times poll shows half of likely voters support throwing Davis out of office, while 45 percent are opposed. Just 4 percent are undecided. The poll of 801 likely voters had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

"In 1998, I was called 'roadkill,' 'given up for dead' with about two months to go and we won by 20 points," Davis reminded reporters in San Diego. "So do not be surprised if you see some polls in the near future that are more favorable than the ones you have seen in the past. It's the nature of this business. It's a very volatile time."

The poll came amid word some Democrats and Republicans were moving to throw support behind the respective front-runners in the Oct. 7 special election, turning the chaos of the 135-candidate ballot into a race shaped by traditional party politics.

more…
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/08/22/state2236EDT0239.DTL

[onehandle]

1. I honestly think he has a chance...

The Bustamante campaign will help him.

http://www.noonrecallyesonbustamante.com

[jfxgillis]

3. I agree

I said so a couple of weeks ago, too.

It's by no means a cinch, but I thin Davis is better than 50/50 to hang on ....

[ronnykmarshall]

17. I thin so, too!

Nice to meet you Mr. Ricardo, how your lovely wife Lucy? :silly:

[PartyPooper]

4. Yes, he does! But, I haven't seen any ads yet.

All I saw was his speech a few days ago...which was abruptly cut short by CNN. And, it was heavily criticized!

And, Arnold's campaign has already started. His first ad was shown a couple of days ago. "Hooray for Hollywood!..." The media just loves the star quality of this guy. And, no questions asked!

I hope Davis prevails. But, time will tell.

:dem:

[AP]

9. He's narrowing the gap without ads, and with Arnold's ads on TV

so, he'll probably wait, and have an onslaught at the last minute.

I'm still very nervous, but there are lots of news reports that interest is very high, and that turnout will be good. Although those media stories then proceed to interview republicans and confused democrats, the fact is that there are so many democrats in CA that high turnout is going to work against Republicans.

But then there's the touch screen ballot problem.

I'm nervous.

[alfredo]

2. Maybe the voters see the possible repercussions

of the recall, and are losing enthusiasm for change.

[onehandle]

5. And I add....

UNIFY! Do it NOW! Swallow your pride and political bullshit and CAMPAIGN TOGETHER!
________________________

Davis and Bustamante have a frosty relationship and rarely speak, but the governor has suggested the two could campaign together.

Bustamante would not rule out a joint campaign between the two. Speaking Friday at a Hispanic awards banquet in Coronado, he said it could happen down the road.

"I can honestly say that my relationship with the governor is as good as anybody else's in Sacramento," Bustamante said before his speech. "And I respect him as a person."

[rocktivity]

6. Absolutely fabulous, sweetie darling!

Democrats continued to oppose the effort to unseat Davis, but began to rally behind Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante as a hedge against losing the governor's office to a Republican. Bustamante is the lone high-profile Democrat on the ballot.

As far as I'm concerned, Bustamante is the lone bona fide candidate on the ballot!

But it sounds like the voters have taken this situation into their own hands--the heck with what the media or even the party leaders have to say. Don't play the sap for the GOP, and DON'T cut off your heads to spite your faces!


rocknation

[cpa]

14. Hail To Bustamante!

You are correct. That is the ad that should be run throughout California. And after the recall has been defeated, I think all of its supporters, both within and outside of California, should be fined in order to pay for the $65 million of this fiasco.

[Lexingtonian]

7. Yeah, he's going to prevail

When things are relatively miserable, politically semi-insane ideas get embraced and tried out to lesser degrees. But the polity tends usually to stop short of actually jumping into the abyss and then admits the whole thing was just a distraction everyone needed for a time.

My guess is that in a month the whole recall thing pretty much collapses to the point where none of the major players wants it to go on. The best move is to get it suspended on a technicality when the polling says Davis is safe; that's when judges are going to be willing to step in and allow what is going to be a perfunctory exercise to wither on the vine.

[aquart]

18. It comes down to who goes to the polls.

And what kind of machines they find when they get there.

[Democat]

8. Davis is a smart fighter

Some people don't like him, but no can ever accuse him of being afraid of right wingers. He seems to rise to any fight against the right wingers, much like Bill Clinton did.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

16. Yes He Does and I...

have GREAT RESPECT for him for fighting the RETHUGS!!!!
Some Dem's here at DU have signaled their hate of Gov Davis. I would remind them that Davis is a real Democrat who took on the REICH WING on the important issues including ENERGY DEREGULATION!!!
What do you want? Gray Davis a REAL DEM or Bush Lite Evan Bayh. DUers should be angry at asses such as Bayh and Lieberman for kissing Bush's lilly white ASS!!! Gray has my respect for fighting these BASTARDS!

[liberalnurse]

10. To vote anything but just No is an abomination

to the voting process. People need to embrace the vote of the people. This recall fad can become an wedge between the vote of the people and political sour grape losers giving power to a looser.

The recall was never really about Davis but about a looser wanting a second crack at it. An appeal.....The qualification standards to evoke a recall should be equal to that of impeachment standards.

From Ohio.....Californians, please just vote No. Respect the voting process. Next time a recall comes down the line, it may be infringing upon your platform.....

[twilight]

11. check out Davis' site

His no-recall site it THE BEST! He hath no fear! Read some of the quotes from people that have submitted them.

http://www.no-recall.com

I support Gray Davis 100% all the way and NO ONE else!

:kick:

[Noordam]

12. Now that all the others are talking TAX increases

it is hard to say it was only DAVIS that wanted to increase taxes.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

15. Yes But........

I too support Gray 100% but you should still vote for Bustamante because we do not want the RETHUGS to win!

[radfringe]

13. GOPer pattern

can't win - then steal it

****Election 2000 - can't win out right? drag it to the supreme court and be selected
****Texas - want more GOPer seats in congress? manipulate the district lines
****California - need more GOPers? recall a Governor and put in your own person

If GOPers succeed in Texas, will they force more redistricting in other states? If GOPers succeed in California - which Democratic Governor will be next on their hit list? If Election-2004 bodes bad for AWOL - will they steal this one too?

[VolcanoJen]

19. Kick!!

:dem: