The Southern California News Group polls shows Rick Caruso leading Karen Bass, but within the margin of error.
The two Los Angeles mayoral candidates, U.S. Rep. Karen Bass and developer Rick Caruso, are heading into the final three weeks of their campaign in a statistically dead heat among likely voters, according to new poll results released Tuesday, Oct. 18.
When asked which candidate would do a better job addressing key issues confronting the city, the respondents named Caruso in four of the five categories, although only one – managing the city’s finances – had Caruso with a notable lead . “However, we all know the $80 million and counting Caruso has spent attacking Congresswoman Bass will certainly bring things closer,” she said, referring to the tens of millions of dollars of his own money that Caruso, a billionaire real estate tycoon, has poured into the race in the form of ads and other campaign expenditures.
The businessman has also cast himself as the candidate who can bring an outsider’s view on and solutions for the city’s various issues. In late September, a UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll found that among all registered voters in L.A., Bass’ lead over Caruso had narrowed to just 3 percentage points . The congresswoman had led by 12 points in an earlier IGS poll over the summer.
Joel Fox, an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University School of Public Policy and a political analyst, said he was surprised to see support among Democrats for Bass dip below 50%.