The independent California Poll, released Oct. 12, gave Mr. Wilson the edge, 47 to 42 percent, with 11 percent undecided.

According to exit surveys by the California Poll, she ran extremely well among male voters.

The Los Angeles Times employs more female interviewers than the California Poll.

The California Poll, taken about the same time, had it much closer, 39-36, based on 631 interviews, with a margin of sampling error of four points.

Mark DiCamillo of The California Poll called it "a major defining" force in the Democratic primary.

The latest California Poll, in September, showed 58 percent of the voters in favor of the measure.

"It's not that the public is ready to repeal Gann," said Mervin Field, director of the California Poll.

She is also the best known candidate, familiar to 86 percent of the electorate, a recent California Poll found.

It has worked astonishingly well, despite the fact that most voters know little about him; in mid-September, the California Poll showed the race dead even.