Brown leads Whitman; Boxer over Carly

21 October 2010 |permalink | email article

Poll results released by the Public Policy Institute of California late last night show that Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown has opened up an eight–point lead over Republican Meg Whitman. The large statewide survey if 1,067 likely voters showed Brown leading Whitman 44% to 36%, with 16% of respondents undecided.

Brown and Whitman were in a dead heat in PPIC’s September survey, with the billionaire Republican ahead 38% to 37%. But in the must recent poll, conducted Oct. 10 to Oct. 17, showed support for Brown rising among key voting blocs, notably independents and Latinos. Whitman, lacking any political experience, has spent more than 140 million but must make late inroads to offset Democrat’s 13-point registration advantage in the state. Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer has a five-point in the U.S. Senate race, leading Republican Carly Fiorina 43% to 38%, with 13% undecided. Trend portends Democratic sweep.
Proposition 19, the initiative to legalize and allow taxation of marijuana for recreational use, is in trouble. Support for the measure has fallen 8 points since September, when 52% favored it. Now, just 44% support the initiative, while 49% plan to vote no.

Opposition to Proposition 23, the major oil companies-sponsored initiative to suspend California’s greenhouse gas emission reduction law, has grown. The measure was opposed by 48% of respondents and supported by 39%, with 15% undecided.  The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

Question of the Day

It’s of more than passing interest that peace talks are taking place between Taliban commanders and the inner circle of Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and members of the Quetta shura, the insurgent leadership group that oversees the Taliban war effort in Afghanistan. It’s astonishing NATO aircraft are flying Taliban leaders from Pakistan into Kabul, and securing roads to facilitate the talks. My question: Are American officials involved in the crucial discussions?   

Quotable

“My relationship with Rupert goes back 20 years.” – Prince Walid bin Taial of Saudi Arabia, a controversial figure in relationships between Islam and the West, is the second-largest shareholder of Fox News’s parent, the News Corporation, with a stake worth more than $2 billion, which was not always disclosed on Fox News. This year, the relationship was cemented when Murdoch invested about $70 million in Prince Walid’s media company, Rotana.   

“(Sarah Palin) says she believes in American exceptionalism. But when it comes to people running the country, exceptionalism is suspect; leaders should be – as Palin, O’Donnell and Angle keep saying – just like you.” – Maureen Dowd, slamming the notion of making ignorance chic. 

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