Posted on 09/20/2006 11:34:27 AM PDT by calcowgirl
SACRAMENTO—The race for secretary of state this fall could be the Republicans’ best hope of retaining a statewide office, and it has left the Democratic challenger struggling to find a weakness she can exploit in her moderate opponent.
Incumbent Secretary of State Bruce McPherson has steered a centrist course since being appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in March 2005 after Democrat Kevin Shelley resigned amid allegations of financial impropriety.
That has helped him win over many Democrats and left-leaning organizations. He has received the endorsement of groups such as the California Teachers Association, an influential player in statewide political campaigns. He is the first Republican the group has supported for statewide office.
A McPherson win would boost the spirits of his fellow Republicans, who haven’t seen significant victories in California statewide races since 1994.
Such an outcome also could have implications for McPherson beyond the next term, said Mark Baldassare, director of research for the Public Policy Institute of California.
“If McPherson wins, he will join a very select group of Republicans that have been elected to statewide office this decade,” he said. “Instantly, this distinct status will make him a leading candidate for statewide races such as governor in 2010.”
But Democratic state Sen. Debra Bowen, D-Marina del Ray, could pull ahead if California’s decidedly left-leaning voters stick to party lines.
McPherson enjoys an advantage with heavily stocked campaign coffers. At the end of July, he had $708,000 in remaining funds, compared to Bowen’s $180,000, according to Cal-Access, the state’s online database of candidates’ financial information.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacunion.com ...
Keep the Rino.. lol
oops , sorry, my partisanship is showing..
never mind that it is easier to sue the sec'y of state (were that position held by a dem) than the AG or Lt Gub..
looks like the 2010 ca gop candidate is being anointed, imo.
"The race for secretary of state this fall could be the Republicans’ best hope of retaining a statewide office..."
I thought the Governor had a pretty hefty lead, too.
I love how they make the rest of the ticket look like so much chopped liver..
Ain't it grand when your own party buys into the same crap as the stuff the media puts out,, and some wonder why people even bother voting anymore.
I noticed that too. I never saw him as Governor material.
>>I thought the Governor had a pretty hefty lead, too.
Only 22 points ahead--it's a close one! LOL
I think they feed it to the media. ;-)
It's a lot easier for the incumbent to hold his/her seat. Even Bill Jones of all people won a second term as sec. of state.
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