Reiner Foe Closes Gap in Atty. Gen. Race, Poll Says

Los Angeles Dist. Atty. Ira Reiner has rarely looked over his shoulder in his 20-year political career, but some new poll numbers may change that.

According to those who have seen it, a statewide survey by the independent California Poll shows that San Francisco Dist. Atty. Arlo Smith has caught Reiner in the Democratic race for attorney general.

The new poll, which will be published today, finds that 31% of Democrats prefer Smith, while 30% are for Reiner. There are 39% undecided, meaning the race is still up for grabs in the June 5 primary.

“Arlo Smith’s persistent and aggressive campaign for attorney general is paying off,” said an ecstatic Marc Dann, Smith’s campaign manager.

“I also think it shows that the McMartin verdict in Los Angeles brought to the surface a lot of distrust of Reiner,” said Dann, referring to the acquittal earlier this month of defendants Peggy McMartin Buckey and Raymond Buckey in the McMartin Preschool child molestation case.

But Reiner’s campaign manager, Sam Singer, noted Tuesday that Reiner did not file the original McMartin charges--he inherited the case from former Los Angeles Dist. Atty. Robert Philibosian. Reiner recently refiled those charges against Buckey on which the McMartin case jury was hung.

Smith has moved up steadily in the California Poll, which is conducted by Mervin Field of San Francisco. Last July, Smith was the choice of 13% of state Democrats for attorney general; in October, Field found that he was the choice of 23%.

But political professionals still consider Reiner formidable because of his name recognition in Southern California, where a majority of California’s voters live.

“All the statewide races are tightening up,” Singer said. “We always knew it would be close, but when we begin to point out Mr. Smith’s poor record as a prosecutor the support will swing to us.”