California Poll Looks at ’88 Senate Race : Wilson Tops 3 Possible Democratic Challengers

Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Wilson is comfortably ahead of three possible Democratic challengers in his 1988 reelection bid, according to the California Poll of Mervin Field published Thursday.

Matched up against Democratic Lt. Gov. Leo McCarthy, Wilson led 53% to 31%. The margins were similar against other potential rivals, with Wilson ahead 53% to 32% over San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein and 50% to 32% over Secretary of State March Fong Eu.

Mark J. DiCamillo, research director of the poll, said the margins favoring Wilson “are typical” of what an incumbent officeholder receives nearly two years before an election.

Nevertheless, Wilson spokesman Otto Bos declared, “We are very happy.”

Among the Democrats, only Eu has said she is determined to run. Feinstein has said she would not challenge Wilson and McCarthy indicated that he is considering either the Senate race or a 1990 campaign for governor.

Among just Democratic voters, McCarthy is slightly favored over the other two possible contenders in the Field Poll.

McCarthy was the first choice of 32% of the Democrats surveyed, followed by Feinstein at 26% and Eu at 20%. The poll has a margin of error of 5% either way.

Not only was McCarthy a favorite by a small margin in the new poll, his “negative” ratings were the lowest of the three Democrats. Only 32% of the voters said they were not inclined to vote for McCarthy, while 37% said they were not inclined to vote for Eu and 40% said they were not inclined to support Feinstein.