Deukmejian Lead Widens in One Poll

A California Poll released Tuesday shows Gov. George Deukmejian again widening his lead over his Democratic challenger, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley. A day earlier, another pollster had reported that the gap between them has remained constant.

Not surprisingly, both sides cheered the poll most favorable to their candidate.

Mervin Field’s California Poll, as reported on KCBS-TV Tuesday, said Deukmejian has a 15-point lead over Bradley, compared to an 11-point lead reported last month. The percentage of undecided voters more than doubled since last month, from 7% to 15%.

The Field poll figures: Deukmejian, 49%; Bradley, 34%; undecided, 15%, and 2% for minor party candidates.

But survey results released Monday by Steven Teichner, director of the KABC poll, showed that Deukmejian holds the same six-point lead over Bradley that Teichner measured a month ago. Teichner showed Deukmejian with 46% and Bradley with 40%, while showing the share of undecided voters had risen to 12% from 10% last month.

Bradley campaign chairman Tom Quinn said the Field poll “seems out of sync” with Teichner and other private polls that Quinn said show Bradley to be behind by about six points.

Deukmejian campaign director Larry Thomas said the Field poll “is much closer to what we’ve been seeing in our private polling, which has had the governor 13 to 15 points ahead in the last month.”

Among those most likely to vote, Thomas said, “the governor has shown great stability throughout.”

The California Poll results broadcast Tuesday showed Bradley’s support has declined by 7% among Democratic voters while Deukmejian’s Republican support has remained solid.