If media epitaphs were slabs of granite, Mayor Jim Hahn would already be inhabiting his own mausoleum by now.
Celebrity endorsements for the opponent, THUD. Multiple Investigations, THUD, THUD, THUD.
Now comes an immense capstone on the towering granite pile entombing the mayor's chances at winning the May 17 runoff: A Los Angeles Times poll that gives Antonio Villaraigosa an 18-point lead.
If Hahn ever had a prayer of re-rallying support among the Black and Valley communities who put him into office four years ago, he's blown it now: Both groups apparently favor Villaraigosa by what the Times calls "wide margins" ...
And for what it's worth, the two biggest candidates knocked out of the runoff by Hahn and Villaraigosa didn't exactly send a flood of voters over in Hahn's direction:
Parks voters favor Villaraigosa over Hahn, 50 percent to 34 percent. Hertzberg voters also prefer Villaraigosa over the mayor, 52 percent to 28 percent.
But just to lighten the portents of doom a bit: Hahn's a strong favorite among conservatives and Republicans (both a minority in this town, last I looked). And 12 percent of those polled were still undecided.
And to put all these impressive, imposing, convincing numbers into perspective:
The Times poll of 2,795 Angelenos, conducted in English and Spanish, included 2,061 registered voters - only 781 of whom said they would probably vote next month.
And those are among people who were willing to sit around and even talk about politics on the phone for 15 or 20 minutes.
Just a reminder - barely 27% of eligible voters bothered to drag their asses to the polls for the March 8 mayoral election.
You can read the gory details in an 18-page PDF here and - if you've a mind - become one of the sheep who follow polls.
Or you can go do some homework on the records of both men and make an educated choice between the two May 17.
