POLITICAL BRIEFING

POLL WATCH II--The healing effects of time--plus the influx of newcomers--give former California Gov. Edmund G. (Jerry) Brown Jr. reason for optimism about his prospects in the state’s June 2 Democratic presidential primary. A Times Poll found that fully 31% of registered Democrats said they didn’t know enough about the two-term governor to rate him, suggesting he has an opportunity to recreate his image nine years after leaving office. . . . Among party members with an opinion, 45% gave him a favorable rating while 24% were unfavorable.