Nonetheless, speculation about Rice intensified this month when a Republican women's group released a late-April poll that found Rice, while relatively unknown by state voters, led a list of Republicans eyeing challenges to Davis. The April 22-24 gubernatorial poll, conducted shortly before Schwarzenegger bowed out, showed that Rice would take 24 percent. Schwarzenegger followed with 18 percent. Trailing the two was the only declared gubernatorial candidate, California Secretary of State Bill Jones, whose support stood at 13 percent. Wealthy businessman Bill Simon Jr., who's exploring a gubernatorial bid, took 6 percent in the survey.
Rice is pro-choice.
Pollsters noted that Rice's name identification fell far short of Schwarzenegger's. Rice was recognized by only 42 percent of respondents. Schwarzenegger was known to 94 percent, according to the poll. Even if Rice doesn't run, Steele said Republicans will still recruit a strong challenger to Boxer. He mentioned GOPReps.