Posted on 10/03/2010 12:41:45 PM PDT by John R. Guardiano
Republican Party senate and gubernatorial candidates in California and Delaware are too conservative to win and, therefore, must rethink their electoral strategy.
No, I don’t mean they’re politically or philosophically too conservative; that’s not the problem. Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitman in California, and Christine O’Donnell in Delaware, are all perfectly fine, mainstream conservative candidates with broad electoral appeal.
But they’re running stale, boring and conventional political campaigns in heavily Democratic states. And they’re expecting to be carried into office come November on the strength of the impending GOP wave.
That wave is shaping up to be mighty strong. However, it likely won’t be enough for Fiorina, Whitman and O’Donnell, given the heavily tilted political fields on which they must compete.
At least that’s what the polls all seem to show. Fiorina, for instance, is losing to doctrinaire liberal and lifelong pol Barbara Boxer. Whitman is in a statistical tie with lefty retread Jerry Brown. And O’Donnell is running significantly behind Harry Reid’s “pet,” Chris Coons.
Coons and Boxer are narrow-minded left-wing ideologues masquerading as reasonable moderates. Brown is less ideological, but still indentured to the public employees unions who have bankrupted the state of California.
There is absolutely no good or legitimate reason why these three far-left Democrats, with extreme and rigid views, should win in November.
Stale and Boring. No good reason except that their Republican opponents are running stale, boring and conventional political campaigns which do nothing to alter or disrupt the electoral status quo.
I’m sorry, but that likely won’t cut it, not even this year, not even with an historic Republican wave. California and Delaware are simply too intensely blue for an orthodox GOP candidate and campaign to prevail.
And so, if Fiorina, Whitman and O’Donnell want to win, they’re going to have take some chances. They’re going to have stop running the ball into the line of scrimmage on every play and start opening up their offense.
They’re going to have to start passing the ball downfield, even at the risk of an interception. Otherwise, time will run out; the clock will expire; and they’ll have put too few points on the board to win.
Running the 1960′s Green Bay Packers offense in the year 2010 is woefully inadequate. Heck, even running the Washington Redskins’ 1982 Super Bowl-winning offense is a recipe nowadays for failure.
The political game has changed and opened up, especially in California (and, to a lesser extent, Delaware). And so, candidates and parties, too, must change and open up — or lose.
Let’s not blow it. This may be the Republicans’ best chance in decades to win in California and Delaware. It would be a shame to squander that opportunity because of a lack of political imagination, daring and initiative.
Indeed, this is one area at least where a more liberal approach or strategy can help to effect a more conservative end result or victory.
In other words, place party affiliation above conservative conviction.
It’s California, “conviction” means you’re sent to jail!
Fiorina just started running a new batch of ads, after a couple of where Boxer was running ads unanswered. I’d guess the polls will tighten back up shortly.
the latest one I’ve seen simply shows Boxer chiding that Brigadier General to call her Senator instead of “Ma’am”. No commentary, just showing her for the power-drunk arrogant harridan that she is.
“only if if adopts a more innovative and daring electoral strategy.”
I agree. Not sure what the story means to say but I think he means they need to open up their campaigns and become more agressive against their opponents.
Whitman, conservative? I think someone had too many beers today.
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