In the governor's race Whitman is 24 points ahead of Steve Poizner but 6 points behind Jerry Brown. GOP Senate hopeful Carly Fiorina has clear lead but moderate Tom Campbell fared best against Sen. Barbara Boxer. After plummeting in recent polls, Republican Meg Whitman has regained her commanding lead in the race for governor over her primary opponent Steve Poizner, but their contentious assaults have helped reverse the general election edge she once held over Democrat Jerry Brown, a new Los Angeles Times/USC poll has found.