CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS / GOVERNOR : Van de Kamp Catches Feinstein, Poll Finds

John K. Van de Kamp’s expensive and free-swinging campaign against Dianne Feinstein in the Democratic race for governor appears to have taken a toll on her popularity, according to a new, independent public opinion sampling.

The survey by Mervin Field’s California Poll circulated among political insiders Monday showed Feinstein and Van de Kamp running even--36% for Feinstein, the former mayor of San Francisco, and 35% for Van de Kamp, California’s attorney general.

This represents a marginal drop in popularity for both candidates and an increase in the “undecided” portion of the electorate since the Field Poll last sampled Californians in early February. At that time, Feinstein led Van de Kamp 42% to 38%.

The margin of error for such a poll makes these small differences meaningless. But the good news for Van de Kamp is that he apparently succeeded in turning back what many political professionals and other polls found to be a strong spring surge by his opponent.

Van de Kamp’s campaign was so elated at just being even with Feinstein that it issued a statement one day in advance of today’s official publication of the poll. “The voters are choosing substance over style,” the statement said.

Feinstein campaign manager Bill Carrick sought Monday to diminish the impact of the poll. “After spending $1-million-plus, he (Van de Kamp) has managed to bring support levels for both candidates down. . . . But one thing is clear, he can’t win a campaign like that. He still has done nothing to gain one single vote.”

Although it is risky to compare samplings conducted by different pollsters, the latest survey results are consistent with the trend identified by The Los Angeles Times Poll. In late February, The Times measured a 19-point Feinstein lead, 43% to 24%. By the end of March, this dropped to 11 points, 35% to 24%.

The new Field Poll also shows that during the time Feinstein and Van de Kamp had each other in their gun sights, Republican candidate U.S. Sen. Pete Wilson gained support.

In early February, the Field Poll showed Feinstein slightly ahead or maybe even with Wilson, 46% to 43%. Van de Kamp was either even with Wilson or slightly behind, 42% to 45%. Again, the margin of error makes small differences inconsequential. But the trend at that point was clear enough--Feinstein was gaining.

Now, however, Feinstein has dropped behind Wilson eight points, according to those who have been apprised of the Field Poll results in advance of publication. These sources said Van de Kamp trails Wilson by five points.

Pollster Field objected to the leaking of the results of his work: “The California Poll is a nonpartisan, independent public opinion news service, established since 1947 and supported by subscribers, of which the Los Angeles Times is not one.”