Willie Brown says Angelides will lose election (Schwarzenegger speaks at Brown event)

Sacramento Bee ^ | October 13, 2006 | Kevin Yamamura

[calcowgirl]

The bad news is enough independents still lean Left to tilt this state Democratic in most statewide and federal election contests.

Maybe, but "tilt" does not mean that independents should be added to the Democrat's column in evaluating the 'leftness' of California or conclude that the demographics are so heavily weighted that only a liberal can win. In some of the most recent polls (Field, LA Times) for this election, you can see that independents are just that--independent.

For example, while there were many still in the 'undecided' column, Arnold had about two-thirds of independents, McClintock had half, and Mountjoy about one-third. If one were to consider that in looking at the demographics, then the differences in party registration are not much different than 1966 when Reagan won (although both parties have been shifting leftward toward socialism over the years).

[calcowgirl]

When both Democrats and Republicans are engaged in a bipartisan circle jerk group-grope love fest, it means the taxpayers are getting doubly bent over.

Bump!

[pogo101]

It's an excellent point on the hard registration numbers. But the center of the Democratic party (as manifested in CA, particularly) is far, far to the left of what it was in decades past, IMO, whereas the GOP either is in about the same spot ideologically or, perhaps, also slightly left. A Ronald Reagan could win today because he was such a Great Communicator. I doubt, however, that Tom McClintock can win the governorship even in a perfect campaign -- although I look forward to voting for him either way.