SAN FRANCISCO - Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman has spent mightily in recent months in pursuit of California’s governorship, and she edged out Democrat Jerry Brown in the latest survey of voters.

According to the latest Field Poll, Ms. Whitman has climbed 17 points since October and gained a slight lead over Mr. Brown, the current attorney general and a former two-term governor.

When the poll paired the two in the November election, 46 percent opted for Whitman, while 43 percent picked Brown.

State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, Whitman’s competition for the GOP nomination, trailed far behind both candidates. When asked to simulate June's Republican primary, 63 percent of the poll's respondents chose Whitman and 14 percent backed Mr. Poizner.

Political analysts say Whitman’s double-digit jump is largely due to her campaign’s recent statewide advertising surge. The Silicon Valley billionaire has spent a reported $39 million on her campaign, vastly more than either Poizner, also a wealthy former tech executive, or Brown.

Whitman is portraying herself as someone with the business smarts to fix the state’s economic woes. Brown, on the other hand, says he has the sort of political resume needed to undo deep partisan divides in Sacramento.

The virtual tie between the two suggests a heated, high-profile contest in the months ahead to replace Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who will leave office amid one of the state's deepest financial crises. And, according to analysts, the Democrats have their work cut out for them if they want to best Whitman in the general election. (Christian Science Monitor)

Story Date: March 22, 2010