Feinstein vs. Whitman in Calif. in 2010?

SACRAMENTO, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- A California poll suggests that the next governor's race could be between two women -- Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein and former eBay chief Meg Whitman.

Mark DiCamillo, the director of the Field Poll, made no claims that the survey can predict the shape of the race in 2010, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. He called it "a little teaser for when we start to look closer at the governor's race next year."

The survey presented respondents with lists of potential Democratic and Republican candidates.

Feinstein held a clear lead over others on the Democratic list. Half of all registered voters and 70 percent of Democrats have favorable views of her.

On the Republican side, a majority of voters had no opinion on any of the listed possibles. But Whitman was slightly ahead of the others, with a 17 percent overall favorable rating, which rose to 23 percent among Republicans.

Whitman became a political player during the presidential race by serving as an adviser first to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and then to the eventual Republican nominee, John McCain. She has hired McCain's campaign manager, Steve Schmidt, suggesting she is planning a run for office.