Herschensohn, Zschau in Dead Heat, Poll Finds

The Republican U.S. Senate contest has turned into a dead heat between moderate Rep. Ed Zschau and conservative political commentator Bruce Herschensohn, according to California Poll results reported Sunday.

With only a day of campaigning left before Tuesday’s primary election, Zschau and Herschensohn reportedly were tied with 26% each. Valencia state Sen. Ed Davis was next with 11%, followed by Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich with 9% and Northridge Rep. Bobbi Fiedler with 6%.

The Zschau-Herschensohn rivalry has taken on a distinctly regional complexion with most of the Los Altos congressman’s support reportedly concentrated in the north and most of Herschensohn’s coming from the south where he is well-known as a Los Angeles radio and television figure.

Prop. 51 Leading

Other California Poll results reported Sunday night showed the hotly contested Proposition 51 leading with 36% in favor, 28% opposed and a hefty 26% undecided.

The ballot measure, known as the Deep-Pockets Initiative, would limit pain and suffering awards in lawsuits on the basis of a defendant’s share of the blame. Currently, co-defendants can be made to pay all such damages if the other defendants, no matter how much they are to blame, cannot pay.

In other contests, the California Poll, taken last week, reportedly found a close match in the Democratic controller’s race with Walnut Grove state Sen. John Garamendi receiving 28%, Los Angeles Assemblyman Gray Davis 26%, and Milpitas Assemblyman Alister McAlister, 6%, with 40% still undecided.

Controller’s Race

On the Republican side of the controller race, Whittier state Sen. William Campbell had 32%, Sonoma Assemblyman Don Sebastiani 22% and former state Fair Political Practices Commission Chairman Don Stanford 15% with 31% undecided.

In the Republican lieutenant governor’s race, record producer Mike Curb, a former lieutenant governor, led with 54% compared to Glendora state Sen. H.L. (Bill) Richardson’s 34% while 12% were undecided. Incumbent Lt. Gov. Leo T. McCarthy, a Democrat, has no primary opposition.