Both numbers are up since July. One negative for Clinton is his signing of the Republican-backed welfare reform law. But the poll shows Clinton holding his own in Orange County. Clinton holds an edge in the state's suburban areas, which have been a major battleground and leaning more to Republicans in recent years. There does not appear to be much leeway for change, Pinkus said.
Some voters see lack of big issues as weak point.
Dole maintains majorities among Republicans and white fundamentalists. The Times Poll contacted 1,333 California adults, including 1,059 registered voters, by telephone Saturday through Tuesday. It also included a screen of 843 likely voters for the presidential campaign. The margin of sampling error for likely voters is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish.