Incumbent Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has extended his lead over Democrat Phil Angelides in California’s gubernatorial race. The most recent Rasmussen Reports election survey shows Schwarzenegger leading 53% to 40% (see crosstabs). That’s a four-point bump for the governor from earlier in October.

Angelides’ numbers remain unchanged since the last poll, while Schwarzenegger finally passes the 50% mark for the first time since Rasmussen Reports began polling this race in January.

Schwarzenegger’s “very favorable” score continues to climb—he’s added three points to that stat over the past three weeks (27%)—while Angelides’ has dropped a point to 9%.

The governor has also added a point to his “very unfavorable” rating (19%). However, the number with a “very unfavorable” opinion of Angelides has jumped six points to 31%.

Twenty-six percent (26%) say they “strongly approve” of Schwarzenegger’s job performance—a three-point bounce in the governor’s favor. His strong disapproval score remains unchanged at 22%.

Two-thirds of Schwarzenegger voters (66%) are casting their ballots for him because they want him to have a second term. Thirty-one percent (31%) will do so to vote against Angelides. The majority of Angelides supporters (58%) say they’re voting for him simply to vote against the governor. Thirty-five percent (35%) are voting for Angelides because he’s their candidate of choice.

A solid majority (58%) of California voters rate the situation in Iraq as “poor.” That’s similar to the national average of 56%.

Fifty percent (50%) of voters say they trust Democrats more than Republicans (40%) when it comes to handling the situation in that troubled land.

Democrats also trump Republicans when it comes to the economy, though by a slimmer margin. Forty-eight percent (48%) trust Democrats to handle matters relating to the economy more than they trust Republicans (42%.)

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