GOP group with link to governor wants winning candidates

AP via SFGate ^ | 4/15/8 | MICHAEL R. BLOOD, AP Political Writer

[SmithL]

LOS ANGELES, (AP) -- A splinter group of Republicans with ties to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and financed by six-figure donations will recruit candidates with hopes of reversing the party's disappointing record in recent statewide elections.

Disclosure of the group Tuesday — California Republicans Aligned for Tomorrow — comes at a time when the California Republican Party has been struggling with financial and management problems and factional strife between moderates and conservatives.

A list of supporters comes from across the party's political spectrum, but the organization appears geared to promoting Republicans who can compete statewide in a state that leans Democratic. A statement noted that Republicans have won only four of 24 statewide elections in California since 1994.

"This is a centrist state," said GOP analyst Allan Hoffenblum. "I think they are going to look for electability and diversity. That means the type of Republican who can get Latino votes and independent votes — crossover voters."

Schwarzenegger has been urging the GOP to shift to the political middle ground and embrace issues usually associated with the Democratic agenda, like global warming and health-care reform. "We are dying at the box office," he told party activists last year, lamenting declining GOP voter rolls in the state.

According to government records, the group was established a year ago by a Schwarzenegger ally, former state GOP Chairman Duf Sundheim. It wasn't immediately clear why its formation was being announced Wednesday in a conference call that was to include legislative leaders, party donors and former Gov. Pete Wilson.

[Man50D]

"This is a centrist state," said GOP analyst Allan Hoffenblum. "I think they are going to look for electability and diversity.

Translation: "We need a socialist who can pretend to be a conservative".

[popdonnelly]

They could try some conservative ideas for a change.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Winning Republicans?

Won’t people get mad?

This really isn’t a good idea. Let’s boycott.

[SmithL]

We have one.

[NormsRevenge]

well, well well,, was that a seismic jolt or just me.?

California leads the way,, look at the candidates it fields in both parties..

[Skybird]

California Republicans Aligned for Tomorrow

or C-RAT for short. Change "Tomorrow" with "Progress" and you get C-RAP.

[calcowgirl]

Same old, same old...

Here is the SacBee version from yesterday. It goes on to highlight how Republicans don't win in California unless they are supported by the millions from the moderate bunch. Will it be Governor Whitman or Governor Fiorina?

Influential GOPers 'CRAFT' new group

A who's who group of California Republicans will announce on Wednesday the formation of a new political organization whose mission will be to recruit and elect GOP candidates to statewide office in California.

The group will be chaired by Larry Dodge, the wealthy Republican donor who has been unhappy with the organization of the California Republican Party accusing the party of lacking "professional management."

Former California GOP Chairman Duf Sundheim will serve as executive director of the group, which is calling itself California Republicans Aligned for Tomorrow (CRAFT).

Paul Folino, a Orange County Republican financier with close ties to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and a leader of The New Majority, another GOP group, will serve as vice-chairman.

Among those set to announce the group's formation on a Wednesday conference call include both GOP legislative leaders, Assemblyman Mike Villines and Sen. Dave Cogdill, Party chairman Ron Nehring, former Gov. Pete Wilson, Rep. David Dreier, the chair of the California Republican congressional delegation, freshman Rep. Kevin McCarthy and Assemblywoman Sharon Runner.

(snip)

[NormsRevenge]

CRAFT ? call it FARCT , a more apt description of their little progre$$ive “movement”, imo. We have been inFARCTed for years , with the Rodney Kings long enough.. and now this..

Wasn’t there a Craft movie some years back. it involved witchcraft and living sacrifices and young nubile women. ;-)

[SierraWasp]

Were's my "Barf Alert?" I just came off 48 hrs of a vicious intestinal influenza and truly needed an entire upper and lower GI track warning!!!

These aren't committed conservative Republicans! They're just pathetic pragmatic Publicans!!! (well, you can look it up under Oakland Raider's General Partner, Al Davis)

[calcowgirl]

LOL.

[calcowgirl]

Sorry about that, SW.
I hope you’re feeling better soon!

Don’t let the TWirps get you down.

[Amerigomag]

CRAT. I admire it's brevity and accuracy.

I still prefer, however, to refer to Schwarzenegger as the Austrian. Succinct and descriptive on so many levels.

[Czar]

"Former California GOP Big Tent Chairman Duf[us] Sundheim will serve as executive director...

Paul Folino, a Orange County RepublicanRINO financier with close ties to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenkennedyegger and a leader of The New Majority,..."

In other words, it's full speed ahead to complete the de-nutting of the CRP. It's working just fine, too -- conservatives have jumped ship in droves. We recognize the Titanic when we see her...

[tubebender]

So is this what Arnoid meant when he said we need blow up boxes dolls?

[calcowgirl]

So is this what Arnoid meant when he said we need blow up boxes dolls?

I think all that hot air is causing global warming.

Fight global warming: Terminate a liberal.

[tubebender]

I can't wait for that phone call this summer asking me for money for the Kolleyfawnia Reepublican fund raisers so I can ask for a supervisor and tell it that I wouldn’t give Duff the dingle berries off my ___

[calcowgirl]

I think they’ve taken me off of their phone list.
Beware: they aren’t very good listeners.

[libsmacker75]

Schwarzenegger is a Republican? Who knew!?

Guess I was fooled by his top staffer Susan Kennedy who is a LESBIAN and a LIBERAL RAT.