CA-Gov: Democrats Favored To Pick Up Open-Seat Governorship

[t0dd]

Rasmussen, having shown Barbara Boxer leading outside of the margin of error in the Senate race, also has polled the gubernatorial race to replace outgoing GOP Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Here we see an interesting dichotomy developing on the Democratic side. In general election tests against the trio of GOP hopefuls, state Attorney General Jerry Brown has comfortable leads over all three of them (the leads ranging from 9-13 points), while San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom actually narrowly trails all three of them (the deficits ranging from 4-6 points). Rather ironically, Steve Poizner, the lone statewide elected official waving the Republican banner, is both the least well-known and the least-liked among the GOP field.

http://wwww.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/9/28/787362/-Polling-and-Political-Wrap-Up,-9-28-09

2010 Governor (trends)
Brown (D) 44%, Whitman (R) 35%
Brown (D) 45%, Poizner (R) 32%
Brown (D) 44%, Campbell (R) 34%
Whitman (R) 41%, Newsom (D) 36%
Poizner (R) 40%, Newsom (D) 36%
Campbell (R) 42%, Newsom (D) 36%

Favorable / Unfavorable
Meg Whitman: 45 / 28
Jerry Brown: 53 / 37
Gavin Newsom: 41 / 44
Steve Poizner: 36 / 32
Tom Campbell: 42 / 32

[BolivarianHero]

1. Hate for Newsom...

A lot of morans brainwashed by Mormon lies.

[LynneSin]

2. I think after 6 years of the Terminator, I could run roadkill on the dem ticket and it could win.

It goes to show that you get what you vote for especially when electing celebrities to political positions. Sure, the right could say "But what about Al Franken?" But there is a big difference between a Poly-Sci degree from Harvard vs. a Biz degree from some state school that does distance learning. I'm not saying that the 'undereducated' can't hold political office but sometimes it helps if you start a bit lower and learn the ropes instead of jumping into the deep end without a life preserver or the knowledge of how to swim.

[Ramulux]

3. Yes!

I would shit my pants if Gavin Newsom actually won. That dude is so rad and so intelligent. Imagine all of California operating under the same laws and regulations as San Francisco. Talk about a progressive utopia.

[BlooInBloo]

4. CA voters' recent record: Vote Davis out, Vote for prop 8, vote for Ahnuld twice...

Yah, I'll believe they get one right when I see it.

[Tempest]

6. It's more complicated than that

Davis deserved to get the boot. He was corrupt and was absent during the energy crisis. Energy companies were big campaign contributions to Davis and his response was feeble and corporate friendly.

Arnold vs. Bustamante was a no brainer in 2003. Bustamante had very little name recognition, and most of it was bad. He was a real dick during the special election. And Angelides vs. Arnold in 2006? Who the hell is that? And in 2006 Arnold wasn't doing half bad.

CA has a large immigrant population who vote their religious beliefs on social issues. Thus the support for Prop 8. Not to mention how much more money the pro side had to spend on fear driven ads.


There is an anti-Republican wave sweeping the country (despite what the talking heads want you to believe from the teabaggers and town hall meetings) and California is no exception. I don't believe the pollsters who say Democrats are in trouble next year. Just look at how the Repugs are faring in the same polls. Like Bill Clinton said, this isn't like 1994 when Republicans took back Congress. Back then Republicans were popular. They're not now.

[BattyDem]

7. I wish the "anti-Republican wave" would make its way to NJ

I'm afraid we're going to end up with "Governor Christie" :(

[Tempest]

12. I'm not surprised

But then the biggest laughs I get from watching SNL is from Fred Armisen when he plays Paterson and he makes NJ jokes.

[Patchuli]

5. I like Gavin but

yay Moonbeam! heheee

[Merlot]

11. I really like what Brown is doing as Atty General

I'd almost prefer he stay in that position. But if he can keep he's lead over the repub candidates, well then so be it. He's great what ever he does.

[Nikki Stone1]

8. Newsom has negatives based on San Diego as a sanctuary city and gay marriage

A clip of Newsom saying "Whether you like it or not" from a speech in reference to gay marriage was used in a prop 8 commercial and helped that horrible piece of garbage pass. It better be Jerry Brown.

[Nikki Stone1]

9. Newsom has negatives based on San Diego as a sanctuary city and gay marriage

A clip of Newsom saying "Whether you like it or not" from a speech in reference to gay marriage was used in a prop 8 commercial and helped that horrible piece of garbage pass. It better be Jerry Brown.

[LaPera]

10. 8 years of republicans Reagan, 8 more of both Dukmejian & Wilson & more years from

Republican Governor Schwarzenegger.

Only 8 years of The great Democrat Jerry Brown and a few years from the republican impeached, Democrat Gray Davis have interrupted republican rule in CA over the decades.....And each year the republicans have gotten closer to their true ideology - corporate fascism! The republicans typically have steadily gotten even more ruthless, ugly, hateful & diabolical, openly.

Though Dems in CA have controlled the Assembly & Senate....it's still been republican minority rule in the state, since it takes 66% to pass anything of significance and substance in CA and the Governor has veto power to insure status quo....while the state is in dire need of some tax dollars, how about from the rich and the corporations, to help fund education & health care and other needed & gutted programs that the republican have allowed to happen by doing nothing with their minority and refusing any tax increase of any kind....A way for the greedy selfish republican ideology can bleed and get rid of all social programs.

If & when a Dem does take over in CA they'll face the same smears, lies, distortion & attacks Clinton faced and Obama is now going through with the republicans and their corporate media....and they will look for a bullshit reason (or a manufacturer one) to impeach any Democratic Governor again...

The republicans in CA have gotten very used to having control of the governorship....As the state declines & falls more into corporatism and unions & social destruction.