First Take: Meg Whitman takes poll position. Schwarzenegger to veto gas-tax swap. Prison population falls

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Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman has opened up an impressive 49-point lead over her GOP rival, Steve Poizner -- and has even taken a small lead over Democrat Jerry Brown in the latest Field Poll.

Michael Rothfeld reports the Whitman campaign has shifted its focus to Jerry Brown.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has vowed to veto the Democrats’ gas-tax proposal, eliminating what Democrats were calling a $1-billion reduction to the state deficit.

A new survey finds the state’s prison population is down for the third straight year.

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-- Anthony York