with thanks to ElkGroveDan for the image.
Posted on 02/28/2002 1:41:53 PM PST by TheAngryClam
Simon catches the former LA mayor thanks to an improved campaign, Riordan’s self- destruction, and Davis’s ads.
George Neumayr is a member of California Political Review’s editorial board.
Dick Riordan and Bill Simon are tied, according to the Los Angeles Times’ poll. Were Bill Jones not in the race, Simon would enjoy a large lead.
This much is clear: Dick Riordan-style liberalism has no significant base in the California GOP, and, at this point, Republicans voting for Bill Jones rather than for Simon will only help George Skelton muddle this plain truth in his post-election L.A. Times “analysis.”
Jones, although certainly not as odious a choice as Dick Riordan, is still a non-starter, both because of his anemic political skills (his fundraising potential against Davis is nil) and his past as a Pete Wilsonite who helped raise your taxes and a John McCain camp follower.
Simon’s campaign has improved considerably. He is finally drawing a compelling contrast between himself and the liberal Riordan, urging primary voters not to let the GOP become a clone of the Democrats. His pledge never to raise taxes is also a potent message to primary voters.
Simon is also, of course, benefiting from Riordan’s gaffe-ridden, self-destructive campaign, as well as Gray Davis’ advertising blitzkrieg against Riordan. Davis did not start this campaign with the intention of winning the primary for Simon, but he is certainly going to continue it for that reason. The Times reports that Davis is pouring money into anti- Riordan ads this week: “Davis plans to stay in the mix with more than $1 million worth of spots running statewide until Tuesday.”
Riordan’s primary campaign is only noteworthy for its incredible stupidity. Riordan seemed to take perverse pleasure in sticking his finger in the eyes of the very Republicans whose votes he must have to win the primary. Every move he’s made seems designed to produce defeat — hiring Democrat strategists like Susan Estrich (Mike Dukakis’s past consultant), mocking traditional Republicans like George Deukmejian, showing contempt for the Party’s platform while demanding “respect” for his own liberal agenda.
But now the Times says, “Riordan Strategists Look Right.” Davis is correct on one point: Riordan is a flip-flopper of the first order. He will say almost anything in pursuit of power. Hence, we now see him attacking Simon personally (blaming Simon for the collapse of a Savings and Loan his late father owned), even though it was Riordan who encouraged Simon to run in the first place.
Riordan is shameless. If the polls are right, Republicans appear to be rejecting his effort to turn the California GOP into a circus tent.
Dan
Any Bill Jones people here still want to argue against this obvious fact?
Knock me over with a stick..I heard her say she was supporting RHINOdan but I had no clue she was was working for him. What a total jerk !
And yesterday, as I heard him explain how Simon would make a great win for conservatives if he won, but Riordan WOULD BEAT Davis, I could only shake my head. Where has this guy been? Riordan would lose, big-time. There are many of us who will vote for those not mirroring our views (I am one), but will not simply vote for anything with an (R) after its name. Riordan is such an example. If he's the candidate, we will either not vote for governor, vote 3d-party, or write in Simon.
How does Hewitt not know that?
Dan
I will have to say that I was disturbed by Hugh's statement that the only thing that he cared about was winning. Sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for. :-/
At any rate, I don't think Riordan could beat Davis in November. He can't even beat him in the GOP primary. Davis is tearing Riordan apart, and he's just getting warmed up.
Dan
Or even vote to keep Davis in.
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