Poll Tracker

Whitman trails likely Democratic nominee state Attorney General Jerry Brown, the party's only candidate at the moment, in a general election match-up 37 to 43 percent. Whitman is the only Republican candidate within single digits of Brown. And she narrowly bests him among independents, a key voting block in California, 37 to 36 percent.

Brown leads Campbell 46 to 34 percent and Poizner 47 to 31 percent. Roughly 20 percent of voters were undecided in each match-up.

Given the state's strong Democratic leanings, it is worrisome for Brown that he fails to break 50 percent against any of the Republican candidates, despite being far better known.

Brown has a slightly higher unfavorable than favorable rating in the poll, 36 to 35 percent, including net negative ratings among Republicans and independents. Twenty-six percent don't have an opinion.

Whitman and Campbell both have net favorable ratings, though 49 percent don't have an opinion of Whitman and 59 percent have no opinion of Campbell.

Poizner's favorability, like Brown's, is "upside down" -- 18 percent rate him unfavorably to just 9 percent who rate favorably. But 63 percent have no opinion of Poizner, which gives him plenty of room to flip his standing.

The margin of error for the sample of likely voters was 2 percent and amongst likely Republican voters it was 5 percent.