CA: Poizner concedes Assembly race - Self styled 'Arnold Republican' vows action on redistricting

Mercury News ^ | 11/9/04 | Elise Ackerman and Kellie Schmitt

[NormsRevenge]

Steve Poizner, the self-styled ``Arnold-Republican'' who spent $5.9 million of his own money to wrestle a gerrymandered Assembly seat away from the Democrats, conceded defeat today, acknowledging that despite the slow returns there was no hope of making up the thousands of votes that separated him from Democrat Ira Ruskin.

``It appears that the percentages, the trends are not changing,'' Poizner said at a news conference this afternoon. ``Because of that, we believe the results of the election are quite clear.''

Ruskin led Poizner by more than 9,000 votes as of Friday. As election workers continued to tally returns in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, Ruskin's lead has held steady with 51 percent of the vote to Poizner's 48 percent.

Poizner, 47, a retired tech millionaire, bank-rolled his campaign in heavily Democratic District 21. With a progressive stand on social issues, he inundated voters with mailers and campaign ads, turning himself from an unknown into a political force. Poizner's tack required the state's top Democrats to provide Ruskin with a major influx of cash to keep up.

Experts say the race shows party loyalty can be more influential than money.

[NormsRevenge]

This guy has deep pockets, as he made a billion dollars plus when he sold his stake in a Silicon Valley company.

[NormsRevenge]

How much is a state Assembly seat worth in California?

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Poizner finally concedes Assembly race

Republican Steve Poizner acknowledged the inevitable Monday and conceded his Peninsula Assembly race to Democrat Ira Ruskin. -- John Wildermuth/San Francisco Chronicle

[mcg1969]

I live in San Mateo County and this guy sure put a lot of money into this race. I've never seen so much advertising for an assembly seat. And frankly, Ira Ruskin's ads were stupid. I was sure people would be turned off by them. But apparently, party loyalty is more important than pretty ads. Poizner tried to paint himself as an independent Republican (read: pro-choice), but that's just not enough in counties that voted 64-70% for Kerry.

[pogo101]

Props to this guy for making Ira defend the seat.

Now let's support him and Ted Costa and others in the CRITICAL drive for fair redistricting.

[nickcarraway]

Poizner also tried to portray Republicans as evil. He refused to say who he endorsed for president, but he did send a mailer out with a picture of John Kerry, saying he supported him. The mailers in general portrayed how bad Republicans were. He also had a fundraiser with and was endorsed by Richard Clarke. Oh yeah, and he got together with Joe Simitian to try to work to do away with parts of Prop 13, thereby increasing our taxes.

[nickcarraway]

Poizner also tried to portray Republicans as evil. He refused to say who he endorsed for president, but he did send a mailer out with a picture of John Kerry, saying he supported him. The mailers in general portrayed how bad Republicans were. He also had a fundraiser with and was endorsed by Richard Clarke. Oh yeah, and he got together with Joe Simitian to try to work to do away with parts of Prop 13, thereby increasing our taxes.