Poll: Support rising for Bush in California

San Jose Mercury News ^ | Jan. 14, 2004 | Jim Puzzanghera

[Ladysmith]

Just got mine in the mail - VERY nice! :o)

[Miss Marple]

You are quite correct. I have read a lot, and President Bush took his dad's defeat rather hard. He paid attention and noticed the errors. Since he was only the son and had no official position on the campaign, he didn't have the input of the older people who had official positions.

One thing he took from his dad's loss is to make sure you keep promises. You may not like everything he does, but by golly he keeps his campaign promises.

He won't make the same mistakes his dad did, and neither will Karl Rove. Plus this is a guy who really LOVES the people of the country, including California.

[gimmealewinsky]

Totally agree about taking anything for granted. And I do know the loss, esp. to whom it was lost, hit the entire family pretty hard. I do think GWB has surrounded himself with a more capable political team, versus HW snatching Jim Baker back to the political field at the last minute.
I also don't think there's any way the same circumstances will exist. The economy appears to be coming back pretty strong and you are right on about the keeping promises.
HW missed on two, maybe three, main points.
1. the economy and taxes. W. appears to be in good shape there. I can't imagine the economy turning sour again anytime before the next 10 months.
2. We were in the 12th year of Repub. admin's. Cyclical like most things, some people tend to vote for change for change sake.
3. Homestead after the Hurricane and the grocery store check out debacle. He got killed on the networks politically on both of those.

[Coop]

Well, it's still awfully early. And approval ratings and intended votes are often different.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"Well, it's still awfully early. And approval ratings and intended votes are often different."

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True, but this is worth keeping an eye out for. If CA is in play, it guarantees a Bush landslide.