MARTY BLOCK RELEASES POLL THAT GETS ONE

THING RIGHT: HE STARTS OUT FAR BEHIND

SURVEY REVEALS BLOCKS STRATEGY TO RELY COMPLETELY ON
ATTACKS, INCLUDING SOME THAT ARE TERRIBLY MISLEADING
State Senator Marty Block publicly released a strategy memo from his pollsters over the past two
days, leaving many to conclude that his desperation is affecting his political judgment.
The headline on Blocks release claims Poll shows Block with double-digit lead over Toni
Atkins. But his memo, which he bizarrely included with the press release, shows that Block
actually starts 14% BEHIND in his own poll. The poll question in which his memo indicates he
has a double-digit lead is actually the one asked after a long list of attacks on Atkins is read,
without any negatives on Block.
And the one negative shared in Blocks memo is flawed. He claims the Speaker wants to ease
CEQA challenges on an NFL stadium. Wrong. Speaker Atkins simply said San Diego should be
able to use a bill that both she and Block voted in favor of, AB 900. The bill allows projects that
meet the highest environmental standards to apply to the Governor for a status that allows for a
time certain decision on lawsuits of 270 days. The bill doesn't alter the time period in which a
challenge can be made and does not restrict the number of challenges.
Blocks own poll confirms that he starts off far behind Atkins, 26% to 40%. (The independent
poll by EMC had him down by 19% among likely November voters, and down 42% to 18%
among likely primary voters). An incumbent who has only 18% support after spending two terms
in the Assembly and one in the Senate is in DEEP trouble.
The positive paragraph about Atkins dramatically understates her accomplishments and
background -- and even fails to mention her groundbreaking efforts on behalf of women and
women's health, and the fact that she is the first San Diegan to be elected Speaker. They fail to
mention that she is the ONLY San Diego legislator to earn 100% on the Sierra Club and
California League of Conservation Voters scorecards in 2014. They fail to mention all the early
local endorsements Atkins has earned, including former Senators Kehoe, Alpert, Ducheny and
Killea; and Councilmembers Gloria, Alvarez, Lightner and Cole.
Clearly, this isn't a balanced poll -- and Block is still far behind.
It appears that Block believes that his only pathway is to run a completely negative campaign.
Even so, he will have difficulty getting his own message out, let alone his attacks on Atkins
because his recent decision to change his mind and run for re-election hasnt allowed him time to
raise enough to be competitive.
For more information, contact Laura Fink at 858-504-3465.

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Paid for By Atkins for Senate 2020