CA: 'Undaunted' Angelides set to launch campaign for governor

Bakersfield Californian ^ | 3/14/05 | Beth Fouhy - AP

[NormsRevenge]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Saying he had "no illusions" about the difficulty of unseating a popular celebrity governor, state Treasurer Phil Angelides said Monday he's confident he'll win the Democratic nomination for governor in 2006 and beat Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in a head-to-head showdown.

"This isn't going to be a plain, vanilla election - we're not talking about potholes," Angelides said in an interview Monday before launching a five-day statewide campaign tour Tuesday morning. "Gov. Schwarzenegger and I have a different view of the world, two very different visions of what makes society strong."

A longtime fixture in California politics, the 51-year-old Angelides has made little secret of his intent to run for governor next year and has raised already raised about $12.5 million for the effort. But with the Democratic primary still a year away, Angelides' early campaign kickoff signaled his desire to quickly frame the race as a two-man contest between himself and Schwarzenegger.

"The reason I'm doing this early is that the threat this governor presents to California is enormous," Angelides said. "He's hurting teachers, he's hurting nurses - he's going after the very fabric of California's strengths."

Schwarzenegger has not yet announced whether he is running for re-election, but his campaign committee has raised $1 million so far with more fund-raising events planned. He spent Monday evening at a fund-raising dinner in Sacramento.

Angelides isn't the first Democrat in the race. Already, Attorney General Bill Lockyer has said he's running and has raised about $11 million for the race, although he hasn't made an official announcement. Actor-director Rob Reiner has also been mentioned as a possible candidate.

Since Schwarzenegger took office 16 months ago, Angelides has arguably been his loudest and most persistent Democratic critic. His role as state treasurer has given Angelides a platform from which to attack Schwarzenegger's fiscal policies, particularly his reliance on borrowing to balance the budget and pay off the state's debt.

In recent months, Angelides has been an outspoken critic of Schwarzenegger's proposals to change the state's government and politics, especially his plan to transform the state's public pension system into a system of 401(k) style accounts.

Responding to criticism that his cerebral style and approach to issues could prove a turnoff to voters, Angelides said he planned to use the next year of campaigning to project a more personable image.

"I hope to let Californians know that I am standing up and fighting for them," Angelides said. "My whole life has been standing up for hardworking Californians, and I'm going to expose this governor as someone who protects wealth and privilege."

Republican operatives have anticipated an Angelides announcement for months. Most say they are savoring the prospect of a matchup between the popular Schwarzenegger and a liberal Democratic Sacramento insider who has consistently favored raising taxes on the wealthy to balance the state's budget.

"Phil Angelides is a candidate who never met a tax increase he didn't like," said Karen Hanretty, a spokeswoman for the state Republican party. "Phil Angelides is setting himself up as the anti-Schwarzenegger of California, which means he's anti-reform and represents the status quo that created the problems California faces today."

[NormsRevenge]

Editorial cartoonists await, pencil in hand ..

It's gonna be a long bumpy ride thru '06..

[Carry_Okie]

Lockyer versus Angelides?

Man, if I were a Democrat I'd be reaching for the Kool-Aid.

[NormsRevenge]

Garamendi is a dark horse, so is westly,, could get real interesting

I wonder what the polls show when Parsky runs against 'Chairman Mao' Lockyer or 'Philantrophic' (w/OPM) Angelides ? lol

[Torie]

For Arnold to be vulnerable, the impression will need to be dispelled that a majority of the California legislature is something other than a nest of kooks. That is going to be a tough sell. As it is, I think a majority of Californians appreciate the check.

[NormsRevenge]

lol..

The latest approval rating for the state dems was ~30%.

..and viewing some of their legislation lately, 'a nest of kooks' may be too kind. ;-)

[Carry_Okie]

There will be another borrowing this year, after having "cut up the credit cards." With the extra cash flow required for debt service, I don't see how the State can go on this way indefinitely without the same budget cuts they were avoiding in the first place while paying higher taxes and fees.

[telebob]

Good luck Phil. Here comes a world class ass-stompin'. Put a picture of Angelides next a to a picture of Arnold.

'Nuff said...

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Who?

Who's running? Gary Coleman?

[Wiseghy]

Never underestimate Garamendi. The man's evil ambition knows no bounds.

[calcowgirl]

There will be another borrowing this year, after having "cut up the credit cards."

The first "spending reform" bill that Arnold had introduced in the legislature included about $10 billion in borrowing. It is generally the same language being offered via initiative by Zaremberg/Hauck.

I finally made it through the text of Campbell's spending cap. It also defers a bunch of expenses, although the mechanics are much more obscure. All of the prior borrowings and deferred "maintenance factor" amounts will be paid off only when revenues exceed expenditures (as limited by the formula). Not all of the excess would go to these expenses (only 50%). And loans would not be repaid until the deficit bonds are fully paid off. That will probably take a decade, at least. While it would certainly be an improvement from today, it gives a good amount of relief (deferral) by not requiring the repayment of these dollars as originally promised.

[goldstategop]

Phil Angelides is known to be an advocate of tax increases and bigger government spending. He'll make a fine foil in '06... assuming he gets first through his party's primary.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[goldstategop]

Turns out it was George Deukmeijian and the California GOP that weakened the Gann Limit back in 1990 in order to sell voters a bill of goods - I mean you know spending on more roads. Instead it ushered in a decade and a half of reckless spending. There's a lesson here: IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT. Yet the party of limited government wants to weaken TABOR in Colorado to allow reckless spending. If we put back in a strict spending cap - we must never to allow it to be weakened again, regardless of whether the folks advocating the weakening are Republicans or Democrats.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[zbigreddogz]

This is great!

Assuming Arnold runs, which I think he will, there is NO WAY he will lose.

But this gets out 2 statewide incumbents, which means we have shots at picking up both of their seats!

It's not likely, but with Arnold at the helm, we have a chance of it.

[NormsRevenge]

I'm kind of hoping to see Lockyer myself and his MALDEF lawyer/activist wife and new baby by his side.
;-)

[CounterCounterCulture]

[CounterCounterCulture]

See #16 ;-)

[calcowgirl]

Turns out it was George Deukmeijian and the California GOP that weakened the Gann Limit back in 1990 in order to sell voters a bill of goods...

No. It was Deukmejian and the Special Interest lobby who got the liberals to vote for it. Many in the GOP strongly opposed Deukmejian's endorsement and most Republicans did not vote for it.

See my other post, with article excerpts

[goldstategop]

Point acknowledged. We made that mistake and its an important lesson. Politicians' promises never turn to be worth much - and the tab usually comes due AFTER they leave office.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[ClintonBeGone]

The first "spending reform" bill that Arnold had introduced in the legislature included about $10 billion in borrowing. It is generally the same language being offered via initiative by Zaremberg/Hauck.

Just to remind you girls, this thread is about the democrats vying to take on Arnold. Why don't you both come out of the closet and announce your support for them?