At a crucial time in California, three candidates think they have what it takes to take over the responsibility of Governor of the Golden State.

A lone Democrat and two Republicans are duking it out for the primaries on June 8, before the final election on November 2, and things are just starting to heat up.

In the first debate between Republicans Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner on March 15, the two sparred over who constitutes the most conservative candidate, attempting to one-up each other on fiscal issues like cutting state spending and closing our borders to immigration.

Regardless of partisanship, the one issue prevalent in all three campaigns: getting California back on track.

--Jerry Brown has no shortage of political history.
As current California Attorney General, he was elected Governor of California in 1974, served on the University of California Board of Regents, ran unsuccessfully for president, and became mayor of Oakland in 1998.

In his second run for Governor, the Democrats' focus lies in curbing mortgage fraud and real estate scams, ensuring environmental sustainability through the use of solar and wind power, forcing credit card companies to disclose finance and interest charges, and protect consumers against unfair business practices.

He claims to be a proponent of a woman's right to choose, though previously stated he was anti-abortion in his early political years.

--Margaret 'Meg' Whitman, a billionaire from her time running eBay, is focusing on a "jobs first" program that will hopefully create two million jobs by 2015.

She also hopes to implement $15 billion in budget cuts by reducing state spending, while also reducing the state workforce by 40,000.

Her ideal government would return veto power to the state to reduce and control government and regulations.

As for education, "We must send all California students out into the world with the skills and knowledge they will need to build a bright future in the state," according to the Whitman Web site.

She also believes in instating a "Grade Our Schools" program that gives control of schools back to parents, principals and teachers while demanding accountability in all areas of education.

In terms of abortion, she is pro-choice and advocates state-funded abortions on a federal level.

In Monday's debate, she said "I am 100 percent against amnesty, no exceptions. We haven't done what we need to to secure this border," calling for employers to be held responsible for hiring any undocumented workers.

"We've got to focus. We've got to create jobs, cut spending, and invest in our educational system," Whitman said.

--Steve Poizner, another veteran to the political realm, currently holds the title of State Insurance Commissioner.

He founded the California Charter Schools Association and began working for the National Security Council a week before September 11, 2001.

His campaign videos describe the deplorable state of California, describing it as a "ruthless job killer" with "weak leadership" and "out-of-control state spending," with a budget deficit upwards of $15 billion.

His goal for the budget includes various plans that will freeze spending and implement spending limits, as well as deliberate spending reductions rather than blind cuts.
If elected, he wants to implement an 18-month hiring freeze in 2011 to save $406 million, as well as make the legislature a part-time job so politicians spend more time doing the work other Californians do.

He advocates pro-choice, though believes abortions should not be state-sponsored for economic and ethical reasons. In terms of education, he is an advocate of returning the power to schools and teachers and away from Sacramento.

Poizner also voted yes on Proposition 187, which denies education and healthcare rights to undocumented immigrants.

"The only way to do that is to turn the magnets off, by ending, once and for all, all the taxpayer-funded benefits for people who are here illegally. You can't build a fence high enough," he said in the debate.