Posted on 02/20/2006 3:21:04 PM PST by calcowgirl
SACRAMENTO - Typically in California, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor don't campaign as running mates -- but you would never guess it by watching Republicans Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom McClintock lately.
The 2006 campaign is still young, but Schwarzenegger, the incumbent governor seeking an uncertain re-election, and McClintock, a state senator from Ventura County running for lieutenant governor, look very much like a tag team.
Personal friendship -- and political necessity -- have forged an alliance between the two that mirrors a presidential-vice presidential slate, with each shoring up the other's weaknesses.
Schwarzenegger helps boost McClintock's visibility and fund-raising ability. McClintock, in turn, has recently rushed in to aid Schwarzenegger by tamping down trouble from his right flank.
"There is a mutual-needs society going on here," said veteran Democratic strategist Kam Kuwata. "One guy has the bottle of milk. The other guy has the glass. You need both to drink the milk."
It wasn't always this way.
Just three years ago, the pair competed to replace Gov. Gray Davis in the recall election.
McClintock was the sometimes bristly, uncompromising conservative who won over many Californians with his principles, even though his social views were out of sync with many voters. Schwarzenegger was the charismatic moderate, who took the state by storm with his unique brand of star power, fiscal conservatism and social liberalism.
Schwarzenegger was elected with more than 48 percent of the vote, while McClintock received almost 14 percent.
A few months later, McClintock wrote the ballot arguments against the Schwarzenegger-sponsored Propositions 57 and 58, a bond-and-balanced-budget package. He thought the measures would allow lawmakers to postpone tough budget choices.
But time and perhaps political expediency appear to have healed all wounds.
The men are said to have developed a warm friendship. And they appear tighter than ever as the California Republican Party convention in San Jose approaches this weekend.
"Together, they are greater than the sum of their individual political parts," said Republican political consultant Dan Schnur. "Schwarzenegger may not have picked a running mate like he would have in a presidential campaign, but McClintock provides him the same balance that a running mate would."
But will a ticket approach fly in a state where voters view the offices as so separate that they frequently elect governors and lieutenant governors from opposing parties in the same election? It's hard to say. Past legislative efforts to have the two statewide officers run as a slate have gone nowhere.
Same-party candidates for governor and lieutenant governor here mainly do their own thing. They may team up at conventions and scattered events, but their campaigns are distinct.
So far, this year is an aberration.
The two men have separate campaign arms, but "they are running as a de facto ticket," said GOP consultant Kevin Spillane.
The coming months will tell whether the alliance is short term or more lasting.
"Gov. Schwarzenegger and Sen. McClintock are good friends," said Steve Schmidt, the campaign manager for the governor's re-election effort. "Sen. McClintock will be the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor. They're going to work together during the campaign. No two running mates ever agree on every issue, but Gov. Schwarzenegger is pleased to have Tom McClintock beside him."
McClintock, whose profile was raised in the 2003 recall, is usually a weak fund-raiser who has come oh-so-close to winning the state controller's office -- only to fail twice. This year could be his last real shot at winning a statewide post.
Schwarzenegger, a prodigious fund-raiser, helped McClintock amass about $500,000 for his 2004 Senate race. This year, McClintock has been invited to meet-and-greets with well-heeled Schwarzenegger donors.
The governor could also help generate publicity for McClintock and earn him crossover appeal with independents and Democrats. If the governor solidly wins re-election, McClintock and other Republican candidates for statewide office could ride his coattails.
"If it's a bad year for Schwarzenegger, it's kind of hard to see how McClintock would win anyway," said Claremont McKenna College political scientist Jack Pitney, a former Republican policy analyst. "If it's a good year for Schwarzenegger, the alliance could work to McClintock's benefit."
After last year's disastrous special election, which alienated many Democrats, independents and dispirited conservatives, Schwarzenegger could use a boost too.
The governor recently faced an uprising from some members of his party's right wing -- an attempt to have the GOP revoke its endorsement of Schwarzenegger unless he dumped his new Democratic chief of staff. The insurgency threatened to overshadow the coming convention.
McClintock, revered as an icon in some California conservative circles, had the governor's back.
The senator sent a missive in support of Schwarzenegger to 1,400 convention delegates and signed on to another, similar letter from GOP candidates for statewide office. He recently arranged a conference call with the influential California Republican Assembly, whose members were agitating to yank the governor's endorsement. McClintock also attended a closed-door meeting last week at the Sacramento Hyatt among Schwarzenegger, his campaign team and the county GOP leaders.
The long-shot push to rescind the endorsement died down, and McClintock was a "linchpin" in restoring the peace, one of the governor's aides said.
McClintock's reputation for being unwavering in his beliefs could also rub off on Schwarzenegger, who has been criticized for zigging and zagging left and right.
The strategy, though, carries some risk. If the public associates them as a team, either man could suffer if the other bungles.
McClintock -- both revered and scorned for his loner nature -- could lose credibility if he's seen as compromising his principles to elevate Schwarzenegger.
Thus far, he's avoided that trap. Earlier this year, McClintock made their differences clear -- the governor's budget proposal, he said, "digs a bigger hole" in the state's finances.
Still, "I will do everything I can to see that this governor is re-elected," McClintock said recently. "And I'll do everything I can to offer alternatives when I disagree with specific proposals."
There's also a chance that opponents could try to use some of McClintock's views -- opposition to abortion, for example -- to tar Schwarzenegger as he tries to win over moderates and independents. But pro-choice Californians could always split the ticket.
Most analysts think the risks are few, and the dividends could be ample.
"We've always said we were the Big Tent party, and that's true," said veteran Republican strategist Ken Khachigian, who was President Reagan's chief speechwriter. Plus, "the closer you get to elections, the more pragmatic people get."
Back Arnold or we find a Fiorina.
Sure you do. Smells like distruption.
If Republicans are wounded because part of their traditional base is working actively to defeat the goals of the CAGOP then I'd suggest the CAGOP stop advancing liberalism and return to their traditional values.It's not rocket science.
Normally I'd settle for Reagan's 75% but with the gang, even 25% would do. Have a talk with them next week in San Jose.
Urge the to appoint 75% Republican judges, or propose a reduction in the 2006/2007 state spending, or stop borrowing money to offset general fund expenditures, or stop raising taxes, or put a moratorium of conservancies, or stop advancing homosexual rights, or stop funding a free education for illegal aliens, or stop funding free medical care for illegal aliens, or .... well the list could go on endlessly but we're all familiar with the gang's MO.
Have that chat and come back to this forum on the 27th and give us a report. We're counting on it. Start with Duf, then talk to Dora, then Gerry, then Pete if he shows and maybe even the Austrian if you can corner him. Thanks.
Senator McClintock says the same thing in private that he does in public: I can't win if the CAGOP fails. Please support the party and my candidacy.
Amen!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.