Arnold on course for crushing win

LOS ANGELES: California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is poised to inflict a crushing defeat on Democratic challenger Phil Angelides, according to a new poll released on Wednesday, ahead of next week's elections.

The Republican action-hero-turned-politician has opened up a 16-point lead over Angelides ahead of the November 7 ballot and now appears to be coasting to an emphatic victory as Election Day looms.

A Field Poll released Wednesday gave Schwarzenegger a 49 percent to 33 percent margin over Angelides, a remarkable turnaround for the Austrian-born incumbent, who trailed his opponent one year ago.

Analysts say Schwarzenegger has taken control of the race in Democrat-dominated California by shifting to the centre and wooing voters by distancing himself from the unpopular administration of President George W Bush.

The poll is based on a survey of 1,092 registered voters, including 795 who are considered likely voters.

The margin of error is 3.5 percentage points for the registered voter sample and five percentage points for the smaller subsample.