Former eBay CEO's Lead Takes a Big Hit in Race for Governor

In January, Republican candidate for Governor Meg Whitman had a 30 point lead over challenger Steve Poizner. Then the former eBay CEO had a 50 point lead. Now? Just 9 points, according to a new poll released by the Public Policy Institute of California.

“Meg Whitman has wasted $80 million on negative attack ads but conservatives are fighting back and they will not allow a liberal like Whitman to buy the Republican nomination," said Poizner, the state's current Insurance Commissioner, in a statement. "Despite Meg Whitman’s unprecedented spending, voters are rejecting her at a rapid pace because she supports amnesty, opposes the Arizona immigration law, and endorsed Barbara Boxer. Steve Poizner's plans to cut taxes across-the-board, protect Prop 13, and stop benefits to illegal immigrants, are causing his surge in the polls.”

Whitman lost support from many groups, but mainly with those who are not college graduates and those with annual household incomes are at least $80,000

In anticipation of the June 8th primary, both Republican candidates have been airing ads framing each other as liberals. If one didn't know any better, they'd probably think this was an odd race between Democrats.

And speaking of the one major liberal in the gubernatorial race, Attorney General Jerry Brown holds a lead over both Whitman (42% to 37%) and Poizner (45% to 32%). But at this point, it's anyone's guess. "Whitman led Brown by a similar margin in March (44% Whitman, 39% Brown), while Brown was ahead in January (41% Brown, 36% Whitman)," noted the PPIC>