Recall a Tossup as Successor Race Tightens (Cali 50% Yes-47% No on recall)

[underpants]

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/recall/la-me-poll12sep12,1,1676540.story?coll=la-home-headlines

The governor's approval rating rises slightly. In replacement contest, Bustamante gets 30%, Schwarzenegger has 25%, McClintock 18%.

California voters are almost evenly split on whether to recall Gov. Gray Davis, and Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante retains a narrow lead over Arnold Schwarzenegger in the tightening race for a successor, according to a new Los Angeles Times poll.

Likely voters in the Oct. 7 election support the ouster of Davis by 50% to 47%, with just 3% undecided, the poll found. The result, a statistical tossup, is virtually unchanged from an August Times poll.

The Democratic governor remains highly unpopular, but by at least one measure, his standing has improved: 63% of likely voters disapprove of his job performance, down from 72% in last month's poll.

[Hawkeye-X]

1. By October -- the voters will wonder...

Why bother with the governor candidates when they can retain Davis for the next 3 years - after all, he was legitmately elected in 2002.

He can stick around for another 3 years to finish the job, and perhaps end up being the most popular Governor after 3 years of cleaning up *'s garbage.

Hawkeye-X

[Tikki]

2. I AM NOT DUMB, I AM NOT A JOKE, I AM NOT A CARTOON CHARACTER.....

I AM A CALIFORNIAN......NO ON RECALL.

[DK666]

3. Does that mean

If the republicans loose the recall they can get Issa to pony up another 3 million to buy enough signatures for another recall ?

[FredScuttle]

4. Not for another 6 months...

in which time, hopefully, every voter will have come to their senses

NO on the Recall/YES on Bustamante

[DK666]

5. Whew

At least I get a break....

[David__77]

6. Year, I think.

I think it's one year actually. But I don't think this would happen, though we simply cannot rule anything out!

[David__77]

7. The issue of voter mobilization can't be stressed enough.

I really think this is a "turnout election" in which group-based mobilization is the key. Of course we will pound away on TV and through Clinton celebrity etc., but we need to induce, cajol, entice, pester everyone to the polls on October 7. Even better, we get many to send in sample ballots early! We have to stress the early vote.