Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government By Mark Baldassare Feb 20, 2004 This is the 43rd PPIC Statewide Survey and the 16th in a series of large-scale public opinion polls that PPIC is conducting on a periodic basis throughout California's election cycles. The purpose of this series is to develop an objective, in-depth profile of the social, economic, and political forces affecting public policy preferences and ballot choices in California. Some findings of the current survey At this time, all four propositions on the March 2nd primary ballot (55,56,57,58) face uncertain futures because many residents haven’t decided how they will vote. Since our January 2004 survey, California’s likely voters have catapulted John Kerry from fourth (6%) to first (56%) place among Democratic candidates. At this point, a Democrat nominee would get more votes (54%) than George W. Bush (37%) if the presidential election were held today. Majorities of likely voters approve of the way Senators Barbara Boxer (52%) and Dianne Feinstein (57%) are doing their jobs. The partisan gap is growing larger between Republicans and Democrats in California on issues such as abortion, the environment, immigrants, and gay and lesbian rights.