The California Field Poll (.pdf), the state's most respected pollster, has released new numbers on the state's upcoming gubernatorial contest that confirm what many might suspect: The Democrats have a great shot at retaking the state's governorship in 2010.

Jerry Brown (D) 50, Meg Whitman (R) 29
Jerry Brown (D) 48, Tom Campbell (R) 27
Jerry Brown (D) 50, Steve Poizner (R) 25

Gavin Newsom (D) 40, Meg Whitman (R) 31
Gavin Newsom (D) 38, Tom Campbell (R) 33
Gavin Newsom (D) 39, Steve Poizner (R) 30

In no potential matchup do the Republicans get closer than 5 points, nor do they poll above a paltry 33 percent. Indeed, regardless of the Democrat they face, they average just 29.2 percent support (not far from their median 29.5 percent level of support). If these numbers hold, Republicans might be in for the type of drubbing they faced in November 2008, when Barack Obama pulled in a greater share of the state's presidential vote of any candidate since Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1936.

The Democratic primary shows former Governor Jerry Brown leading by 20 points, 47 percent to 27 percent -- a factor of higher name recognition but also higher net favorability than San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom (who actually earns a higher unfavorable than favorable rating from voters overall, though not among Democrats). The GOP primary is closer at present, with former eBay executive Meg Whitman and former Congressman Tom Campbell bunched together at 22 percent and 20 percent, respectively, and Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner trailing with 9 percent.

But to reiterate the takeaway from this poll, Republicans are in bad shape to hold on to the California governorship in 2010.