Poll: Little love for Reiner, Beatty

Director Rob Reiner and actor Warren Beatty are well known to California voters if either decides to run for governor next year, but a poll shows they aren’t particularly well liked.

A Field Poll released Tuesday rates the name recognition and images of announced and possible candidates for seven statewide offices next year.

Reiner and Beatty made the list as potential Democratic nominees to challenge Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s reelection bid. While neither has said he intends to run, their opposition to Schwarzenegger during the just-concluded special election generated buzz among Democratic activists.

About two-thirds of the registered voters surveyed said they already had opinions about Reiner and Beatty, but most viewed the two unfavorably. In Reiner’s case, 41% of voters viewed him in an unfavorable light, compared with 25% who liked him. About 48% of voters viewed Beatty unfavorably, compared with 16% who saw him in a positive light.

Although the numbers aren’t necessarily good news for Beatty and Reiner, both had higher name recognition than the two announced Democratic candidates for governor. Just 35% of voters said they had an opinion about state Treasurer Phil Angelides, while 29% said that about state Controller Steve Westly.