Another poll shows Garamendi leading CA special

California Lt. Gov. John Garamendi would be the Democratic nominee in the race to replace Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.) if the voting began this week, according to a new poll.

The SurveyUSA poll shows Garamendi leading a field of 14 candidates with 26 percent of the vote. He leads state Sen. Mark DeSaulnier, who has 15 percent, and Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan, who has 14 percent. Iraq veteran Anthony Woods is fourth among Democrats at 5 percent.

The order and margins between the candidates closely resemble a poll released by Garamendi this week, which had him at 31 percent, DeSaulnier at 21 percent and Buchanan at 17 percent.

Among Republicans, attorney David Harmer holds a wide lead with 18 percent of the vote. The race is an uphill battle for the GOP, but the National Republican Congressional Committee recently added Harmer to their Young Guns program for top challengers.

In California special elections, all candidates are part of an open primary in which the top Republican, top Democrat and top third-party candidate all advance to a runoff.

The primary is set for Sept. 1.