Political Scene

CALIFORNIA

Poll: Whitman, Brown tied in matchup

SACRAMENTO | A new poll found former eBay chief executive Meg Whitman, a billionaire Republican, is now in a dead heat with presumed Democratic nominee Jerry Brown in the race for California governor.

The Field Poll out Wednesday also showed that she has opened an even wider lead against her challenger in the Republican primary, state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner. Mrs. Whitman now leads Mr. Poizner by 48 percentage points.

In a hypothetical matchup with Mr. Brown, Mrs. Whitman is up 46 percent to 43 percent, which is within the poll’s margin of error.

Pollster Mark DiCamillo said Mrs. Whitman’s decision to spend millions on advertising early in the campaign is paying off.

He said many voters didn’t know her when contacted by the Field Poll in January. About two-thirds have an opinion of her now, and it’s mostly favorable.

FOREIGN DEBT

Afghanistan debt deal announced

The Obama administration says that the United States has reached an agreement with other countries to cancel $1.6 billion in foreign debt owed by Afghanistan to creditor nations and international lending organizations.

Deputy U.S. Treasury Secretary Neal Wolin said that the decision to cancel the debt was a recognition of the progress Afghanistan had made in strengthening its economy.

The debt cancellation agreement was negotiated by the Paris Club, an informal group of creditor countries. The agreement covers not only debt owed by Afghanistan to individual countries but also loans extended to the country by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

CAMPAIGN

Ex-NFL lineman runs for U.S. House

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. | Former NFL lineman Jon Runyan says he’s willing to spend his own money to win his campaign for Congress.

Story Continues →