The Field Corp has released two major polls in the last two days.  The first (PDF) was a poll on Gov. Schwarzenegger involving his approval ratings, his budget, and the bond proposals.  His approval numbers are up to 40% with 49% disapproval.  His bond package is heavily supported: 56% for to 27% against. However, one must take this for what it is.  It doesn’t compare other plans to the governor.  So what they are really polling on is whether we need to do infrastructure improvement through a bond program.  It would be interesting to see a poll with a comparison plan allowing for choices between the various bond proposals.  However, that’s not likely to come as the deadline for the June ballot is rapidly approaching.

The more recent poll (PDF) concerned the gubenatorial campaign.  Currently Steve Westley has a four point lead on the Governator, which is within the MOE (+/- 6%).  Angelides is tied with Schwarzenegger at 39%.  However, Ahnold’s “unlikely to vote for” group decreased from 55% to 47%.

Last year at about this time, a 56% majority of voters said they were inclined to re-elect Schwarzenegger as this state’s Governor. However, since then voter opinions of the Governor have soured considerably. In four subsequent Field Poll surveys conducted since then, the proportions of voters inclined to re-elect the Governor have dropped to the 34% to 39% range. The current survey finds just 37% favoring his re-election at this time, 47% not inclined to support him and 16% undecided. This represents a decline in the percentage of voters disinclined to reelect the governor compared to October and an increase in the proportion undecided.
One factor working against the Governor is that only 65% of Republicans are inclined to back him for re-election, 14% are disinclined and an  unusually large 21% are undecided. (Field Poll 3/2/06)

The effects of the union barrage following the Special Election are fading somewhat.  While Arnold is attempting to pull off a new modeate appearance, the electorate is not totally sure how to treat him.  His cozy relationship with McClintock scares some voters (it does me anyway) and the unions haven’t really forgiven him.  On Tuesday’s California Report (KQED), Art Polaski, E.D. of California Labor Federation, claims that he’s still waiting for the Governor’s phone call.  And until he makes peace the unions, it will be hard for Schwarzenegger to win any elections, special or otherwise.