PolitiCal Roundup: Poll says voters like Jerry Brown, nuclear plant operators grilled

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

A new poll finds that California voters who like Gov. Jerry Brown’s efforts outnumber those who don’t by more than 2 to 1. But voters are gloomy about the state, the poll says.

Economic concerns have thrust aside social issues such as gay marriage and abortion on the national GOP’s agenda, The Times’ Mark Barabak reports. An example: When Iowa Rep. Steve King tries to rally party faithful to the culture wars, he gets only polite applause.

With an eye on Japan, a Republican state senator from San Luis Obispo faults the owners of California’s coastal nuclear plants for insufficient earthquake planning. PG&E says there’s no safety problem, but last year’s deadly San Bruno gas-line firestorm has not helped the company’s cause.