'Traction? I'll Show You Traction'

Dueling interpretations over whether the TV ads and photo-ops are having any impact on Angelides' and Schwarzenegger's status in the fertile minds of voters. A new Field Poll shows the governor leading the treasurer 44-34. The S.F. Chronicle has the smackdown:

"Nick Papas, a spokesman for Angelides, said his campaign believes the Field Poll more accurately reflects the 'political climate' of the race and suggested that the stage is set for a turnaround.

"'This poll (Field) is nothing but bad news for Gov. Schwarzenegger,' he said. 'The governor has been on TV every day for 3½ months, spending $30 million — and he's run up and down the state signing bills — and this poll shows that all the stagecraft and co-opting Democratic issues are having no impact.'

"Schwarzenegger strategist Matthew Dowd pointed out that since July, the state Democratic Party and the Angelides campaign have been running ads criticizing the governor, but their candidate's numbers have not improved.

"'They've been competitive since July, but they've lost ground since they began attacking the governor,' he said. 'Angelides is in a precarious position with just six weeks to go.'"