Van de Kamp Gubernatorial Bid Boosted

In a double lift to his candidacy for governor, Democrat John K. Van de Kamp was reported on Monday to be ahead of rival contender Dianne Feinstein in two important indicators--a new account of fund raising and a fresh survey of voter preferences.

Atty. Gen. Van de Kamp filed his first finance statement of the 1990 campaign and reported raising $2.9 million so far in his run for governor with $2.5 million left on hand. Feinstein, former mayor of San Francisco, reported raising $861,821 in her campaign--one-third in loans from her personal wealth--with $709,457 on hand.

The 3-1 early fund-raising advantage for Van de Kamp was not wholly surprising. He has been at the race much longer than Feinstein and just over $1 million of his money was carried over from 1988.

Of equal interest was a new independent public opinion poll that made its way into California political circles Monday. It showed Van de Kamp inching ahead of Feinstein for the first time in the early soundings for 1990.

The California Poll circulated Monday for publication today found Van de Kamp moving 7% ahead of Feinstein--44% to 37% among registered Democrats, according to political sources who discussed the findings. Conducted by Mervin Field of San Francisco, the California Poll twice previously this year--in February and then again in April--had shown Feinstein preferred by narrow margins of 5% to 8% of the Democratic electorate.

In the Republican race, Sen. Pete Wilson is running without significant opposition and with an eye-popping financial base. He reported raising nearly $4.5 million in the campaign with $3.2 left on hand.

Under state law, campaign spending reports were due in the mail by midnight Monday. They cover all funds raised through June 30. The reported amounts are merely the first installments of what is expected to be a $12-million to $15-million race for each of the general election candidates.

Beyond money, Wilson continued to dominate both Democrats in voter samplings of the California Poll, as he has previously. Matched up against Van de Kamp, Wilson was preferred by 47% to 39%, sources said. Against Feinstein, the senator was ahead 53% to 38%.

The California Poll asked Republicans separately their preference between Wilson and former Baseball Commissioner Peter V. Ueberroth, who has shown teasing interest in the race. Wilson clobbered Ueberroth nearly 4 to 1, with 65% favoring the senator and 16% favoring Ueberroth, sources said.

With the primary election still 10 months away, horse-race polls of voter preference among candidates mean little and lots at the same time.

They mean almost nothing in forecasting the eventual winner. But they are crucial in keeping a candidacy viable until the next poll, and the next and the next after that. Without continued credible showings, it would be impossible to raise adequate money and command the press attention needed to be taken seriously.

Speaking for Van de Kamp, campaign Manager Richie Ross said this latest survey was especially significant in the regional politics shaping up between the attorney general, a Southern Californian, and San Franciscan Feinstein. “When the numbers are analyzed they will show that John is making a tremendous gain in Northern California,” Ross said.

State Controller Gray Davis, who continues to insist that he is exploring a race for governor, was not listed among the candidates in the Field Poll. But on Monday he reported having raised $1.64 million for 1990--either for a governor’s race or a reelection campaign. Of that, he reported $1.39 million in cash on hand.