Democrat Jerry Brown has opened a double-digit lead over Republican Meg Whitman in the governor's race, according to a new Los Angeles Times/USC poll.
Brown was leading Whitman 52 percent to 39 percent among likely voters, expanding his lead particularly among women and Latino voters, according to the poll.
Brown, campaigning this morning at several churches in south Los Angeles, said after one stop that he is "cautiously optimistic" about his chances in November. He was campaigning with the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.Brown struck a populist tone, saying California is a wealthy state but that officials must "spread it out," not "suck it all up to the top."
He criticized Whitman for her scant voting record and called on congregants to cast ballots Nov. 2.
Whitman was campaigning yesterday in the Los Angeles area. She had no scheduled public events today.