SAN FRANCISCO: Newsom camp concerned whether he'll win a mandate

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 11/6/7 | C.W. Nevius

[SmithL]

Gavin Newsom's political strategist Eric Jaye jokes that he already knows what the analysis of today's mayoral election will be.

"However many votes we get," Jaye says, "we know the Bay Guardian will say it wasn't enough."

He's got a point. In most elections, pundits try to pick the winner. That's already been handled in this one. Newsom will certainly win a second term as mayor in a cakewalk over a group of offbeat candidates. That's not in doubt.

But it does lead to a second question, best expressed by local political consultant Mark Mosher, who asks, "What kind of a mandate do you have if you beat a guy named Chicken?"

[SmithL]

"Low turnout tends to emphasize the fringes," he says. "We understand that we have a challenge there."

. . ."The freaks are going to get votes. And there are a lot of them."

San Francisco Values

[Beagle8U]

I’m sure Newsom will get a Man-Date.

[rogue yam]

"What kind of a mandate do you have if you beat a guy named Chicken?"

Hey! The man's name is Chicken John and I voted for him!