If the Nov. 7 election were held today, likely voters would favor the Republican governor over Angelides 50% to 33%.The survey found an abundance of grim signs for Angelides, including a failure to match Schwarzenegger's success in rallying voters of his own party strongly behind his candidacy. Just 61% of Democrats support Angelides, while 88% of Republicans favor Schwarzenegger. And independents, a crucial swing vote, support Schwarzenegger over Angelides 49% to 31%. The poll also showed that Angelides suffers from one of the main problems that plagued California's last Democratic governor, Gray Davis: a lack of public confidence in his leadership skills. Asked who has stronger leadership qualities, 60% of likely voters say Schwarzenegger and 20% say Angelides. Even a plurality of Democrats sees Schwarzenegger as a stronger leader.The poll also found a new rise in the governor's popularity, further progress in his steady recovery from the debacle of his 2005 ballot initiatives, which voters resoundingly rejected. In a nearly complete reversal, 56% of California voters now approve of Schwarzenegger's job performance and 41% disapprove. In October 2005, 37% approved and 59% disapproved.