By Warren Armstrong
Who is the most popular politician in the Golden State? Like most things... it depends on who you ask.
Consider the evidence from these exclusive Action News polls conducted recently by SurveyUSA.
The State Legislature gets a huge "Disapproval" rating of 78% with only 14% approving of the job our elected Assembly members and State Senators are doing, supposedly on our behalf.
The answer to the popularity question is not found at the State Capitol. Action News Political Analyst, Tony Capozzi, believes the general public is upset with the Legislature as a whole regarding issues like the state budget, but they're happy with their own local legislator... such are the spoils of safe districts.
Governor Schwarzenegger recently found a friendly audience at the Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce meeting in Fresno, as he discussed the budget stalemate, political compromise in Sacramento, high speed rail and other topics, but his star power in politics has greatly faded. His "Disapproval" rating in the Action News poll is 78% ... but 18% believe he's doing just fine. Capozzi says despite his movie star appeal... Schwarzenegger tried to do "too much, too fast" and the needed reforms he championed met foes tougher than the "Predator"... the special interest groups that really control California.
This brings us to California's two Democratic Senators, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer. Both have negative numbers in the Action News/Survey USA poll that asks if you approve or disapprove of the job they're doing as a United States Senator.
Feinstein: 43% Approve 48% Disapprove
Boxer: 38% Approve 52% Disapprove
The margin of sampling error for this question to 600 adults is 4.1%... which basically puts Senator Feinstein "even" with those who responded. Capozzi says that's unusual for Feinstein who is well-liked and well-respected by both Democrats and Republicans. He believes it’s more a reflection of voters' dissatisfaction with all of Congress. Capozzi says the same dissatisfaction reflects on Senator Boxer, but he adds, her numbers in this poll are "dangerous" for an incumbent. Boxer now faces the toughest re-election campaign of her U-S Senate career against Republican Carly Fiorina. A new Action News Poll conducted by SurveyUSA shows Fiorina ahead of Boxer 47% to 42%. The pollsters report Boxer has lost ground among men, younger voters, and independents and Fiorina has tripled her lead here in the Central Valley to 21 points. You can expect to see more campaign stops in the Valley from the former chief exec of HP.
Finally, the exclusive Action News poll asks about President Obama's job performance. 50% Approve and 46% Disapprove.
However, 4% responded "Not Sure" and the sampling error is 4.1%. So, it's a "break even" for the President in California. As you might expect, Republicans in California strongly "Disapprove" of Mister Obama's job performance... 82%... but 54% of Independents are also not happy with the President. 15% of Democrats give President Obama low marks on job performance.
Taken together... all of these numbers add up to a "fed-up" electorate that will either skip the November General Election or kick a number of long-time incumbents out of office, but will it bring the change those voters want? Tony Capozzi says it doesn't matter what party they belong to ... most politicians are only interested in one thing: getting re-elected.
UPDATE!!
The race between Fiorina and Boxer is still a "dead heat". According to a new (9/2/10) exclusive Action News Poll conducted by SurveyUSA... Fiorina leads Boxer 48% to 46%. 5% are undecided. Fiorina has a commanding lead here in the Central Valley... 63% to 28% ... a 35 point margin. Fiorina also beats Boxer in the Inland Empire. Boxer leads Fiorina in Greater L.A. and the Bay Area/Northern Coast.
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