Factbox: Democrats ahead in key California races

(Reuters) - California Democrats hold a narrow advantage in key races ahead of the November 2 elections and Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman is struggling, a Reuters-Ipsos poll found on Tuesday.

Here is a summary of the poll's findings.

U.S. SENATE RACE

* Democratic incumbent Barbara Boxer holds a 49 percent to 45 percent lead over Republican Carly Fiorina among likely voters.

* Among all registered voters, Boxer leads 48 percent to 42 percent.

* Among independent voters, Boxer leads 34 percent to 29 percent, with another 29 percent undecided.

GOVERNOR'S RACE

* Democrat Jerry Brown holds a 50 percent to 43 percent lead over Republican Meg Whitman among likely voters.

* Among all registered voters, Brown leads 48 percent to 42 percent.

* Brown leads among independents 38 percent to 32 percent, with another 14 percent undecided.

* 72 percent of registered voters said allegations that Whitman hired an illegal immigrant would not affect their vote.

* Some 64 percent of registered voters disapprove of the job incumbent Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has done, with 31 percent approving.

MARIJUANA AND CLIMATE CHANGE

* 53 percent of registered voters oppose legalizing marijuana possession for personal use; 43 percent back it.

* 49 percent oppose suspending the state's climate-change law; 37 percent support suspending it.

* 58 percent support a proposal that would enable the legislature to approve the state budget by a simple majority, rather than a two-thirds majority; 29 percent oppose it.

BIGGEST PROBLEMS FACING THE STATE (can pick more than one)

* 50 percent said the economy.

* 33 percent said the budget.

* 23 percent said government and politics.

* 17 percent said education.

* 14 percent said immigration.

LIKELIHOOD OF VOTING

* 83 percent of Republican respondents said they were completely certain they would vote in the elections.

* 75 percent of Democrats said they were completely certain they would vote.

* 61 percent of independents said they were completely certain they would vote.

* 74 percent of Republicans said they had a great deal or quite a bit of interest in the elections, compared with 67 percent of Democrats.

METHODOLOGY

Ipsos Public Affairs surveyed 600 Californian adults on behalf of Reuters between October 2 and October 4. The results are considered accurate within 4 percentage points, 4.7 percentage points for questions pertaining to likely voters.

(Reporting by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Will Dunham)