Goldsmith’s loss in 1996 was nothing short of awful. He was quite probably the most accomplished, visionary major-city Mayor in the United States at that time. Had he won and continued his success as Governor, I submit he would’ve found himself on the 2000 Presidential ticket, quite possibly as the head of it.
Living in big city I have an admiration for successful urban Republicans like Goldsmith and Brett Schundler that prove conservative governance works and is the only hope for America’s cities. Most cities are total cesspools in terms of local government the bigger ones in particular. Daley. Gloomberg. Villar. I’d like to smack them all.
It’s damn shame neither Goldsmith or Schundler were elected Governor. A person with that kind of experience is exactly what we need in a President and to try and break the urban democrat stranglehold that harms a large % of the country’s population. Including you and me.
You’re very right. His success may ironically have contributed to his defeat, as some of his constituants wanted him to stay on as Mayor. Also, the ‘Rat benefitted from the popularity of outgoing incumbent Evan Bayh.