Poll Shows Davis May Keep Job (Statistical dead heat on recall vote)

<snip>FRANKEN: First of all, this is a plus or minus 3 percent variance poll by "The Los Angeles Time," last poll, three months ago. And what it shows is that there's a ly insignificant difference between those who favor the recall and those who are opposed.

According to the poll, 50 percent favor the recall of Governor Gray Davis, 47 percent oppose with 3 percent undecided. Now what is most interesting about this is that Gray Davis, A -- has not deteriorated, but, B -- is improving what is a crummy position.

They asked about unfavorable impressions of Davis. In the last poll, it was at 72 percent. He has now approved to a 63 percent unfavorable. And his campaign people saying that this represents an upward trend, just as they're getting ready for a very good week with former president Bill Clinton, among others, coming in to campaign against the recall.

Now as far as the recall alternatives are concerned, there is bad news for the other Democrat, Lieutenant Government Cruz Bustamante. His unfavorables have jumped significantly. But also, his margin over the other candidates has deteriorated, just a little bit. He now has a 30 percent rate of people who say they're going to vote for him, that's down 5 percent. And as I said, the unfavorable is way up, 50 percent now, up from 29 percent.

more