Poll: Whitman running away with GOP gov race in Calif.; tied with Democrat Jerry Brown

Poll: Whitman, Brown tied in matchup for Calif gov

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A new poll finds former eBay chief executive Meg Whitman, a billionaire Republican, is now in a dead heat with presumed Democratic nominee Jerry Brown in the race for California governor.

The Field Poll out Wednesday also shows she has opened an even wider lead against her challenger in the GOP primary, state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner. Whitman now leads Poizner by 48 percentage points.

In a hypothetical matchup with Brown, Whitman is up 46 percent to 43 percent, which is within the poll’s margin of error.

Pollster Mark DiCamillo says Whitman’s decision to spend millions on advertising early in the campaign is paying off.

He says many voters didn’t know her when contacted by the Field Poll in January. About two-thirds have an opinion of her now, and it’s mostly favorable.