** Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger holds a commanding 13-point lead over his Democratic challenger, Treasurer Phil Angelides. Schwarzenegger’s job approval rating is up to 50%.
Despite very active campaigning and millions in TV advertising on his behalf by the California Democratic Party, Angelides has gained no ground on Schwarzenegger over the past month in the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) poll. Schwarzenegger leads Angelides, 45% to 32%. PPIC does not include “leaners” at this point, accounting for the 5-point gap between Schwarzenegger’s improved job approval rating and his number in the preference race over Angelides. The poll indicates serious dissatisfaction among Democrats with their gubernatorial nominee, with just over 40% of Angelides’ fellow partisans expressing satisfaction.
Schwarzenegger thus heads into Labor Day weekend in the position he had hoped for following the June primary. With a double-digit lead, a string of legislative pluses, and the need to campaign with friendly Democrats on behalf of the massive bipartisan infrastructure bonds initiative package. The news for the bonds is not so good. While most are over 50%, none is in a commanding position. It will take a concerted effort to get most of them passed.
Concern was evident on the faces of Angelides and close allies like California Labor Federation chief Art Pulaski, as you will see in tomorrow morning’s NWN video of Angelides’ lightly attended anti-Walmart rally today. Angelides media consultant Bill Carrick — who produced the “Leader not an actor” TV ad that ran constantly around the state — reportedly tried to put the best face on things with some reporters today, noting that the fact that Schwarzenegger led Angelides by 13 points a month ago and leads Angelides by 13 point now indicates that the former action superstar is stalled.
That’s one way of looking at things. Look for a full report on the landmark anti-global warming legislative agreement between Schwarzenegger, Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, as well as more on the poll, the campaign’s events of the day, and more tomorrow morning in New West Notes.
** Look for a new public poll on the California governor’s race here later tonight.
Look for a video here tomorrow of Phil Angelides’ anti-Walmart rally.
** I’ll have a full report on the global warming deal later, the parties in the negotiations all have reason to be happy. The governor no longer has to get any support from another quarter to trigger the “safety valve” mechanism in the legislation, allowing a one-year suspension of the measure to account for catastrophe or potentially extreme economic dislocation. The Greenhouse Gas Council — a nine-member body with the power to suspend, with four of the members coming from legislative appointments — will not exist. Under that scenario, the governor would have needed all five of his appointees, plus at least one legislative appointee. Now the governor has the sole power to invoke a safety valve.
The Air Resources Board, which is entirely appointed by the governor, will ramp up for the challenge and design and oversee the greenhouse gas emission reduction program. It will be assisted in designing and implementing the program by the governor’s Climate Action Team. The cap-and-trade market mechanism to meet the program’s targets is allowed for in the legislation but not mandated. Nevertheless, a market-based approach is likely.
** There is now FURIOUS SPINNING under way for credit on the global warming bill. State Senate vs. Assembly, and vice versa, and of course, Democrats vs. Schwarzenegger. It’s quite amusing.
** As I reported first early this morning, Governor Schwarzenegger, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, Assemblywoman Fran Pavley, and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata have a deal on global warming. The legislative leaders have been briefing it this afternoon.
Meanwhile, I’ve been off shooting and producing video footage of rallies and dealing with some NWN infrastructure issues.
Incidentally, there is a major public poll coming out.
** With a big lead over Democratic challenger Phil Angelides going into Labor Day weekend, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is said to have a deal in hand with Democratic legislative leaders on a landmark California law to combat global warming.
** Track global and national energy prices in near real time via Bloomberg. Crude oil prices have dropped under $70 a barrel.
** Continuous coverage of the new global insecurity on Pajamas Media (PJM).
Read 
| Comments (0) |
I forgot to mention the 50% approval rating number however….that’s a good sign….even better than the 2% gain
The California Plurality Report … All Spin, All The Time.
They get paid to lie.
Its very hard to win a campaign on anger. You have to offer a real alternative to the current administration. And anger alone won’t get you passed a double digit gap in the polls — particularly with a candidate whose own standing inside the party is less than highly regarded.
Team Angelides are clearly failing to take there medication — you may call it Zoloft but I like to call it “the Little Blue Reality Pill.” (Okay, Bill, Cathy, et al, … please carefully step away from the computer before you guys start saying something completely non-sensical in a weak effort to spin for Phil….like “Phil is really a likable guy outside the “know it all” elitist wanna-be persona.” Oh wait, they did that already…sorry, carry on all)
BTW, a couple of months ago, I called Arnold, the “Lazarus” candidate. For a guy who couldn’t BUY a vote about 10 months ago…he is now polling over 50%.
To quote my favorite MLB ad: “I LOVE THIS GAME!!!
Bond Yes No
1B (Highway Bond) 50% 38%
1C (Housing Bond) 57% 32%
1D (Education) 51% 39%
1E (Disaster Bond) 56% 35%
LOOK AT THE HOUSING BOND! SEE!! Prayer works ! I don’t think I can sleep tonight!
Thank you for keeping it real.
My take on McClintock: Hot air from an asshole usually stinks.
I’m heading to my local tattoo parlor right now.
The Angelides campaign is now at the sad juncture I have been warning about for months — no traction, no hold on its base, no interest on the part of the voters, no credibility with the press, no money, no loyalty from Demo legislators, no effective attacks against Arnold, no consistent messaging (plus a downright bad messenger), and still, to this day, no real definition of Angelides either as a man, as a public official for eight years or as a potential future governor. This is what happens when a know-it-all down-ballot officeholder runs his own campaign for governor. (Refer back to Dan Lungren.) Pathetic — but totally predictable. And no one can say I didn’t tell ‘em so.
“Thank you for keeping it real. ”
Well, not sure what you mean by that…and I do not understand how to interpret polls at all really …but why aren’t these numbers good? especially , considering there has been no campaign for them? …and now the Fab Four Arnold and I am sure Antonio will help to will start a real campaign effort …I would think they can only go up…
Garry if they had listened to you the race would have been interesting:) Based on the press release the PPIC issued with the poll results the bonds have a big hill to climb to get passed by the voters….only time will tell and of course the money
Where will the money come from in opposition to the bonds?
And I thought the housing bond was supposedly the runt of the litter – why’s it out front?
Mr. Carrick is embarrassing himself.