The survey, by the Public Policy Institute of California, also determined likely voter sentiment on other major issues:
• Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown leads Republican Neel Kashkari by 21 percentage points in the race for governor, with the challenger failing to alter the dynamic after their only scheduled debate. Brown, running for a historic fourth term, leads Kashkari 54 percent to 33 percent among likely voters with fewer than 50 days before the general election.
• The latest results in the governor’s race show no change since July, and only half of those likely to vote on Nov. 4 say they are following news about the candidates. That’s down considerably from the free-spending governor’s race of 2010 between Brown and Republican former Meg Whitman, when 81 percent were following, and the 2006 contest between Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democrat Phil Angelides, when 74 percent were tuning in.
• 58 percent favor Proposition 1, the $7.5 billion water bond, a high priority for Brown and state lawmakers. After hearing the ballot title and label, 29 percent say they would vote no and 14 percent remain undecided.
• Nearly two thirds believe the state budget situation is a “big problem,” but only 43 percent support Proposition 2, the rainy day fund, also a priority for Brown and most lawmakers. It would establish a budget stabilization account and include a separate reserve for public schools. A third oppose the measure and a quarter are undecided.