GOP guv-hopeful Steve Poizner is ramping up his advertising campaign with another spot targeting illegal immigration.
In a 30-second spot set to hit the airwaves this weekend, Poizner slams rival Meg Whitman for a past statement on the issue, comparing her remarks to the policy advocated by President Barack Obama.
The Whitman campaign said Whitman opposes amnesty and accused Poizner of shifting his own position, citing comments he made in 2004 and 2008.
"Not only is Meg 100% against amnesty, but Steve Poizner is attacking the very policies that he praised in 2008. It's dishonest, and it's just the latest reason Californians can't trust Steve Poizner," spokeswoman Sarah Pompei said.
The new ad comes as a new poll from Public Policy Institute of Californiaby the shows Whitman holding a 50-point lead over Poizner.
That poll also indicated that a hard-line stance on illegal immigration, while popular for the conservative base, could ultimately be bad news for Poizner. Seventy percent of respondents, including 49 percent of Republicans and 68 percent of Independent voters, said they support allowing undocumented immigrants who have lived and worked in the United States for two years to keep their jobs and apply for citizenship in the future.
In other GOP gubernatorial race news, Whitman secured today the endorsement of Republican Sen. Mimi Walters, an earlier backer of Poizner's bid.
Walters, who is running for state treasurer, praised Whitman's "experience and toughness" and demonstrated commitment "to help elect more Republicans up and down the ticket."
Latest posts:
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.