Posted on 10/19/2006 6:52:23 PM PDT by Amerigomag
When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected in 2003, California Republican political power was at its nadir. But three years later Republicans are beginning to look at whether Schwarzenegger can help carry some Republican down-ticket candidates across the finish line in November.
The question is how two very different trends, one national and one unique to California, will play out on Election Day. Democrats seem poised to make big gains nationally. But in California, Democrats find themselves trailing badly in the governor's race, potentially slipping in legislative races, and losing their grasp on two or three additional statewide offices.
Angelides spokesman Steve Maviglio points out that Schwarzenegger has shunned the rest of the Republican ticket in an effort to appeal to Democrats. "The more he tries to distance himself from the party, the less of an effect he will have on the rest of the ticket."
Conservative blogger Jon Fleischman says Republicans up and down the ticket may get a boost, not from Schwarzenegger, but from McClintock. "With the poll showing McClintock tied with Garamendi, I have seen the surge in enthusiasm. It's created such energy among the conservative community," he says. "A month ago, I would have told you Arnold's shift to the left will lower Republican turnout. The news about McClintock being so close spread through the grass roots like a wildfire. Conservatives have been trying to elect Tom McClintock for a long time. If McClintock wins his election, he becomes the titular leader of the Republican Party because Arnold Schwarzenegger is choosing to be more of the bipartisan leader, as is his prerogative," says Fleischman. "If McClintock doesn't win, it sets up an interesting scenario for Republicans: Would they accept Steve Poizner as their future. That's something Republicans will have to work out."
(Excerpt) Read more at capitolweekly.net ...
Hey, the dimocRATS always say as California goes so goes the nation. Don't here this in the MSM these days.
Also they were saying the Lamont Lieberman race was about the war in Iraq. Don't here that anymore in the MSM. They move the goal post quite often.
I certainly hope that the down ticket will prevail, because it would help California and the country enormously. And some of the races are very doable. God forbid we get Jerry "moonbeam" Brown in as Attorney General. Of course, there is some contention about his eligibility that has just surfaced.
For the last half of the 20th century, Democrats were generally seen as liberal and Republicans as conservative. As the DNC veered left and a high profile Democrat bent right in response, and as a liberal Republican in California gained prominence, those traditions had to be scrapped.
The MSM in California is flirting with its traditions by recommending a Republican but it is still unwilling to say; "His actions are liberal". Still unwilling to admit that the labels they labored to create, to advance their liberal, not partisan, agenda, are now being used against them.
Senator McClintock would certainly make a sensible governor and Senator Poochigian a competent Attorney General.
Admittedly Senator McClintock has a long way to go, both major politcal parties and a high profile governor to overcome, but every time he is elected, conservative hope survives.
If he has any coattails, they will be for Democrats.
"Hey, the dimocRATS always say as California goes so goes the nation. Don't here this in the MSM these days. "
===
Good point!
I'd rather not have to. I see the L.A. Times endorsed him over Cruz BustaMEChA.
I doubt there are any coattails in CA politics.
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.