Poll: Voters not inclined to back GOP alternatives to California governor

[Nicholas_J]

By ERICA WERNER
The Associated Press
7/16/03 10:31 PM

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A narrow majority of California voters would oust Democratic Gov. Gray Davis in a recall election, but most are not inclined to support the Republican alternatives, a poll released Wednesday found.

The nonpartisan Field Research Corp. in San Francisco found that 51 percent of likely voters said they would oust Davis and 43 percent would vote to keep him. Six percent were undecided.

Former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan finished the strongest when poll respondents were asked to choose from six possible Davis opponents. Riordan had 21 percent, followed by actor Arnold Schwarzenegger with 15 percent.

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., who has largely bankrolled the recall effort and is the only declared Republican candidate, was last at 4 percent.

http://www.nj.com/newsflash/national/index.ssf?/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?a0879_BC_DavisRecall-Poll

Yeah, I know it came from Newsflash, but it is an A.P. release...

Good old California. Looks like Davis may possibly keep his seat, and that no republican alternative is liked by them.

[dsc]

1. This will be tough

The problem is that the Republicans won't need to beat Davis if Davis can't get 50%. It looks like Davis should be able to pull this out. But he could lose the recall 50.1% to 49.9% and some Republican could get in with 25%. Davis can't be on the second ballot.

[jiacinto]

2. So who will the Davis supporters vote for on Question Two

Peter Camejo?

[ProfessorPlum]

3. This is good news

I can't believe those fools out there have the nerve to try this. Surely everyone in CA knows that they were burned by Enron and Snarl just looked the other way and let it happen. Why would any self-respecting Californian vote for a Republican?

[burr]

4. How likely is Riordan to run?

Obviously the GOP collapsing in California. Their only hope of winning, Schwarzeneggar. But the stainless targets can always be brought down first.

His acting and his lavish Hollywood lifestyle may be his political weaknesses.