PRESS RELEASE

DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE ACTION FUND POLL SHOWS THAT IF ELECTION WERE HELD TODAY A MAJORITY WOULD VOTE AGAINST POMBO  
Pombo trails both Democratic challengers in head-to-head match-ups -- and a majority thinks he puts corporate interests over public interest  

WASHINGTON, DC -- Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund released a survey today showing a majority of voters in California's 11th Congressional District would vote against Richard Pombo if the election were held today. Pombo also trails either of his prospective Democratic challengers, Steve Filson and Jerry McNerney.

In a question asking voters whether they intend to re-elect Pombo or vote for someone else -- 52% say they intend to vote for someone else, while only 35% say they intend to vote for Pombo. In head-to-head match-ups, Pombo loses to Steve Filson 49% to 41% and to Jerry McNerney 46% to 42%.

"This survey shows what we have felt all along -- that once voters found out the degree to which Richard Pombo is in the pocket of special interests they would look to elect someone else who puts the public interest first," said Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund.

A major factor in Pombo's drop in support is the fact that a majority of voters now believe that he "puts corporate interests over the people's interest." 53% of voters believe that the above description describes him well, while only 30% say it does not describe him well.

Pombo's job approval is also in negative territory. 45% of voters disapprove of the job Pombo is doing in Congress, while 40% approve. His personal favorability is also negative. 43% of voters give him an unfavorable rating, while only 31% view him favorably.

Pombo's numbers show a dramatic deterioration from a survey that Defenders Action Fund took last September. In that survey, 46% of voters said they intended to vote for Pombo, while 37% said they intended to vote against him. The current re-elect numbers reflect a 26-point change in a little over six months.

"Richard Pombo has turned the House Resource Committee into a grand bazaar where special interests -- from mining lobbyists, to oil and gas executives, to major developers -- all get favored treatment in return for campaign cash and luxury trips. The voters have finally noticed they are getting the short end of the stick. In November it may be Richard Pombo who comes up short," said Schlickeisen.

Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research conducted the Defenders Action Fund survey from May 1-3, 2006. 402 likely general election voters in California's 11th Congressional District were surveyed by phone. The survey's margin of error is plus or minus 4.9 percent.

A summary memorandum is attached. Click here to view the summary memorandum.