CA voters: Kaloogian or Marin? Who's chances are Better?

February 26, 2004 | Hildy

[Hildy]

I'm voting absentee and I don't know ....please give me your opinion.

[Carry_Okie]

I want to vote for the person who has the best chance of beating Boxer. I don't think that's Kaloogian.

GOP "moderates" like you have made that argument since Reagan ran for governor. So where are Senator Seymour, Senator Fong, Senator Campbell, and Senator Zschau? Every one lost by a landslide.

Did you know that Bruce Herschenson came within less than five points and would have won but for a last minute smear?

[Hildy]

Why not Bill Jones?

[skeeter]

Kaloogian, without a doubt.

Re: electability... as far as I know, he's the only one so far with the bucks to run ads on TV (cable, at least).

[newzjunkey]

I voted early and voted for Howard for the fiscally conservative efforts he had in the state legislature. NOW, I think I should've voted Marin. Note that I never believed Kaloogian could win the nomination much less defeat Boxer.

Most impressive for me, Marin *gets* the true border problem: it's MEXICO, not just a fence, lack of patrols, lack of deportation, etc. She understands Mexico must be forced to improve its economic situation rather than coddled by allowing its people to flood into the States. She's opposed to W's amnesty.

I think Marin could be a formidable challenger to Boxer. I don't see that challenger in Jones and Kaloogian.

[labard1]

"Bill Jones, who is respected as an honest, decent public servant"

Which of those qualities caused him to switch his support from Bush to McCain in 2000?

[truthkeeper]

Marin supports President Bush's "guestworker program," which is veiled amnesty. I won't support this program or her. I'm proudly voting for Kaloogian, a real conservative.

[Bikers4Bush]

"If the "base" needs to be cossetted to the nth degree in order to get them to turn out during the general election, or to not pull dirty tricks intended to throw the general election to the Democrats...then maybe they really aren't the base."

Either that or maybe the base needs to get committed conservative candidates that don't roll over and play dead for the liberals whenever things get tough in order for them to be energized.

There are two sides to every coin.

[kellynla]

"I want to vote for the person who has the best chance of beating Boxer. I don't think that's Kaloogian." Let's not fall into the "safe vote" syndrome again. LOL If the conservatives and the GOP are ever going to take back this state we have to start standing up for our principles and fighting for what's right!!! We've seen what electing RINOlds has gotten us. Boxer can be beaten but she has to have a principled opponent who is strong on values and unwavering on positions. NO MORE IHOP CANDIDATES who waffle or flip on issues at the first sign of confrontation! LOL

[Poohbah]

Which of those qualities caused him to switch his support from Bush to McCain in 2000?

I knew many decent and honorable people who suppported McCain during the 2000 primary season.

Since then, he's been on board with Bush. What's the problem?

[farmfriend]

Who's chances are Better?

You mean who would be better for the job don't you? I can't stand this whole vote for who we think will win crap anymore.

[JohnnyZ]

Whoever the nominee is, they need to have $$$, or they're SUNK.

Matt Fong was a very good challenger in '98 but ran in a good Democrat year and didn't have the $$$ to counter Boxer at the end of the race. With more money, in a Republican year, he would have won.

[Hildy]

No, I meant what I said. If you don't like it, don't answer me.

[ElkGroveDan]

Bill Jones who was an incumbent statewide office holder came within 3000 votes of losing to a 20-year-old girl who had no experiences, few resources and no campaign to speak of in 1998. How do you think he is going to fare against Boxer and her massive political machine?

What is Bill Jones going to do to get lackluster Republicans to the polls who are already upset at Bush? I know Kaloogian will say and do what it takes to get Republicans EXCITED.

For gosh sakes, the Sacramento Bee endorsed Jones because they feel he is the one most likely to agree to tax increases. Need I say more?

[Hildy]

So what I'm getting from this thread, as always, is that there's not chance in heck we're going to win this thing because of what happens all the time. OK...

[RandyRep]

My humble opinion is that Marin has the best chance to beat Boxer - but only IF the Republicans come together to support her.

Howard Kaloogian will appeal only to the 40% of the electorate who are Republican.

Bill Jones is about the same, and known as a politician.

Marin may be able to get 50% if the Republicans support her and enough Hispanics cross over based on the name.

I will vote for Marin on this basis in the primary, believing that a 100% pro-Bush Republican is better than a 100% anti-Bush Democrat.

[newzjunkey]

Bruce lost to her in 1992 when it was Alan Cranstan's open seat. And he lost because he was a fiery conservative commentator who visited strip clubs.

[SierraWasp]

That's right! You should have listened to Rush today to learn what's totally wrong with your whole "take" on such questions and how your "stratergy" is not really helping you or anyone else!!!

[Poohbah]

What is Bill Jones going to do to get lackluster Republicans to the polls who are already upset at Bush?

As I said earlier, if these folks need to be that cosseted in order to get them to vote, then (a) they're not the Republican base, and (b) I'm tired of catering to them and trying to build a coalition of the unwilling.

I know Kaloogian will say and do what it takes to get Republicans EXCITED.

And independents turned off. No independent vote going Republican...no chance of Republican victory. Boxer can win without that vote.

[Poohbah]

I'm probably going to vote for Jones in the primary.

But I will vote for, and work to elect, the Republican candidate in the general election, unlike some folks who perversely refer to me as a "RINO."

[calcowgirl]

Why not Bill Jones?

LA Times, February 26, 2004

In 1991, he angered conservatives — and provided grist for his current foes in the GOP primary — by joining with Democrats and a handful of Republicans to support Wilson's menu of tax increases to close a budget deficit. Wilson later helped Jones vault to Assembly GOP leader, a post he held for a year.

Elected secretary of state in 1994, Jones is credited with modernizing services and fighting vote fraud. But he irked Republicans by supporting campaign finance reform and the crossover primary.

Jones got GOP die-hards grumbling again in 2000. Right before California's presidential primary, Jones pulled his endorsement from the eventual winner, George W. Bush, and threw it to challenger John McCain. He blamed the negative tone of Bush's campaign.

The decision shadowed Jones' run for governor in 2002. Deemed radioactive by many Republicans, Jones finished a distant third in the GOP primary behind a pair of millionaires: Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan and the eventual nominee, Bill Simon.