SACRAMENTO (AP) -- Voter support for Proposition 5, a ballot intiative on Indian gambling, led 58-32 percentage points in a costly battle on track to reach $120 million, according a Field Poll released Saturday.
Opposition grew to two other well-known intiatives, Proposition 9, which would undo deregulation of utilities and Proposition 10, the so-called Reiner initiative that would slap a 50-cent tax on cigarette packs.
The three propositions were the best known of the 12 initiatives on the Nov. 3 ballot. Proposition 5, which would allow casinos to continue using video slot machines that the state considers illegal, was by far the best known, thanks to a massive TV ad war.
The final Field Poll before the general election surveyed 678 likely voters by telephone in English and Spanish and had a margin of error of 4 percentage points in either direction.
A poll conducted earlier this month found Proposition 5 favored by a 18 percentage point margin, with 24 percent undecided. But the new poll taken Oct. 22-27 found support outpacing opposition by a 26 percentage points, with 10 percent undecided.
Opposition to Proposition 9 held a commanding led, 57 percent to 18 percent, but one-quarter of voters remained undecided. The opposition held a 45-19 lead earlier this month, with more than one-third undecided.
Support for Proposition 10 led 50 percent to 41 percent, with 9 percent undecided. The measure held a 48-33 margin of support earlier this month, with 19 percent undecided.
Proposition 3, which would require that delegates to presidential nominating conventions be chosen by party members only, was unchanged, favored by just 28 percent and opposed by 50 percent, the poll found.
Two years ago, California voters approved an open primary measure, meaning that voters can cross party lines to choose candidates, including presidential nominees.