I did a double take when I first looked at the new Field Poll showing Republican Pete Peterson leading all candidates in the race for secretary of state with 30 percent of likely voters, followed by Democratic state Sen. Alex Padilla from Los Angeles with 17 percent.
It is very rare to see a GOP candidate at the top of any statewide poll in California. In the race for governor, by contrast, Jerry Brown pulls 57 percent to 17 percent for Republican Assemblyman Tim Donnelly. But then again, it is still early. And the real leader in the secretary of state race is "None of the Above," since 44 percent say they're undecided.
The last Republican to win a statewide election here was Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006, and before him the GOP Winner's Circle is -- well, you don't really have enough people to make a circle. So what gives this time?
Field Poll director Mark DiCamillo simply says "it's mainly because most Republicans are coalescing around Peterson's candidacy."
Republicans make up a shrinking portion of the California electorate -- now less than 30 percent, right where Peterson's number is at. Padilla, on the other hand, is splitting the vote with others, including another Democrat, Derek Cressman.