Recall Sucking Oxygen From California Senate Race (Davis recall helps Boxer)

Roll Call ^ | 6/12/03 | Josh Kurtz

[Rensselaer]

A meeting this weekend of 400 California Republican moderates was supposed to be a showcase for the party’s potential 2004 Senate contenders, culminating in a straw poll to bless a favorite.

Instead, the confab in the hills above Santa Barbara is likely to be dominated by talk of the effort to recall California Gov. Gray Davis (D).

Three potential Senate candidates are still scheduled to address the Brooks Firestone Republican Weekend, an annual event organized by Firestone, a former state Assemblyman and wealthy GOP power broker. But the straw poll has been scotched.

And now, two conservative politicians closely associated with the recall drive — Rep. Darrell Issa (R) and businessman Bill Simon, the GOP’s gubernatorial nominee in 2002 — have been granted speaking slots. While hardly the favorites of party moderates, both are considered likely candidates for governor if a recall election winds up on the ballot.

“We don’t exclude anybody who wants to talk to our people,” said Brandon Gesicki, a California GOP consultant who works with Firestone.

But the urgency of the discussion about the recall highlights a dilemma for Golden State and national Republicans as they seek a strong challenger to two-term Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) next year: The recall could wind up drowning the Senate race out completely.

“The recall’s affecting everything in California politics,” said Dan Schnur, a Sacramento-based GOP strategist who is advising one potential Senate candidate, Rep. George Radanovich (R-Calif.). “There’s no reason the Senate race should be an exception.”

...

“The Senate candidate will not receive any attention while the recall is on — that much is a given,” said one Sacramento-based GOP operative. “It could also affect fundraising.”

That’s not insignificant for a race where the Republican nominee will probably need $20 million to be competitive.

...

[JohnnyZ]

And at the moment, there still no real viable candidate coming forward to take her on. Recall or no recall. There have been rumors, but nothing beyond that.

Do you not think Rosario Marin is a viable candidate? Or are you waiting for her official announcement before treating her as more than a rumor?

[NormsRevenge]

All Davis has to do is convince the voters that the alternative to Davis is worse than Davis. Davis did that against Simon. He can do it again.

LOL..

Humpty DUMPty Davis will take this fall, and all the media king's horses and talking heads will not be able to put him over the top again.

The tax payers and not the benefit claimers will show up in numbers that will surprise.

Leaving Davi$ in place would be like putting Chamberlain back in power in England after WW2, imo. Why reward incompetence and bungling. The polls say a lot,, repear a lot of folks are pissed off, not just republicans or conservatives.

He is toast politically, a whipping boy for all and a national laughing stock, like eGore.

Californians who care have more pride then to let this drama'tragedy continue. GrayOut this November, The demRats in 2004.

[NormsRevenge]

repear=repeat

[clamper1797]

Why not an actor for governor ... we've had a clown for the last few years

[Marie Antoinette]

Two or three more years of unbroken Dem. rule, and this state will be unlivable. This really is our last chance.

This is what I worry about. As goes California, goes the rest of the country. California collapses under it's own bloat, the rest of the country is forced to bail out their debts. I think. I'm no economist, but I fear California is such a big problem it'll spill all over when it falls.

The rest of the country can learn lessons watching all this play out however. I hope the rest of the states take action to stop drunk-deficit spending via constitutional changes.

[Mamzelle]

Horowitz made this arguement--that this issue satisfies the emotions but is not politically smart.

[NormsRevenge]

IMO, Tom McClintock is the man to do the job. It is sad it has to come to this but a Constitutional amendment to cap or restrict spending seems to be the only way to rein in the demRats. They try to buy more votes with OPM (Other people;s Money) than leaders of most if not all unions. ;-)

We can't afford the the demRats self-serving agenda and need to toss Davi$ out now and all the of rest 'em in 2004.

[Wphile]

I think the recall effort is asinine. Sheesh...there was an election, Davis won. The GOP or whoever is behind this should be using their energies for the next election and not by trying to overturn a legitimate election. I agree that Davis is horrible but don't support a recall effort. Between this and Gore's antics in 2000, nearly every election will now be subject to bogus claims of legitimacy, etc.

[NormsRevenge]

LOL.. good one.

The GOP or whoever is behind this should be using their energies for the next election and not by trying to overturn a legitimate election.

There hasnt been an honest election in years in this state, some might say, if you look at how the media operate to support a liebral agenda.

PS - The state GOP leadership wants no part of this recall, LOL, just like they wanted no part of Bill Simon, the duly elected primary candidate in last fall's election.

[Simmy]

Well, in a way, I think she is a viable candidate. But like I said, it is still a rumor since she hasn't officially announced anything AND the only that points to her running is currently just speculation. Other candidates I heard that "might" consider a run, Bill Simon, Darrell Issa (supposing he doesn't go for the governorship during this recall), Pete Wilson, and Doug Ose. None have said anything about running beyond "consideration" or simple speculation.

[JohnnyZ]

But like I said, it is still a rumor since she hasn't officially announced anything AND the only that points to her running is currently just speculation.

You know she resigned as US Treasurer to go back to Cali, right?

and Doug Ose

Ose announced he wasn't running for senate (and wouldn't run for reelection to his House seat either) right before Marin resigned as Treasurer.

[Dahoser]

If Davis loses and DiFi is elected, we get little or no improvement in the Gov's mansion, and it's said DiFi will appoint Cruz Bustamente (!) to the Senate - he's more liberal than Boxer, let alone DiFi.

The same Bustamente who got a KKK Byrd pass on using the N-word a few years ago?

[CdMGuy]

I would guess that you and a few others on this board are not from CA. With your name, you may be from NY. Well, here's a deal for you - I won't tell you how to vote on your governor or other in-state office holders. Please don't tell me how to vote on Joe Davis. And FYI, Davis cannot run again in 2006 as he will be termed out.

This one man has screwed this state up so bad, no one could exaggerate it too much. For you and others to sit there and tell us to take his thieving, special interest, money sucking BS for another 3 years while this state goes bankrupt is not acceptable to this Californian.

[boris]

"To an extent, I agree. But even in this "liberal" state, Boxer...has always been vernarable."

Who is Vern? Is she Vernerable only to Vern, or does this just mean she's a good translator to/from Spanish (vernacular)?

--Boris

[boris]

"A Republican takes the Governor's mansion, GW makes a deal to bail out California and carries the state in 2004."

Impossible. California is lost.

I signed the recall but it really does not matter. CA is locked solidly Dem for the rest of my lifetime at least. Not another Republican senator. Not another Republican Assembly. Not another Republican governor.

Well maybe Arnold, but he will be a fluke.

How do I know this? Voter fraud, illegals voting, dead people voting. It's over...but still fun to watch Davis squirm.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

For you and others to sit there and tell us to take his thieving, special interest, money sucking BS for another 3 years while this state goes bankrupt is not acceptable to this Californian

Amen to that! See my #58 on the same subject. IF he is a California Republican, I would have even more problems with his stances though...

[Theodore R.]

It sounds like the CA Republicans are in the same quandary for the Senate in 2004 as the GA Democrats are in trying to hold the Coverdell-Miller seat. CA and Republican have seemingly become incompatible terms.

[Wolfstar]

I'm a Southern Californian who agrees with every one of your points. In general, I think recalls are a great tool of the people. BUT this is the wrong recall movement at the wrong time, for the wrong reasons.

[Wolfstar]

Nice dream, but that's all it is.

[amused]

You are missing the point, message has to be sent by recalling Davis. All we hear is about the power of our vote, well here is our chance. This will be the first successful recall in America's history. The message is to stop wasting OUR money with high taxes and excessive government spending. Your right about leaving Davis in office he will be even more empowered just as Clinton was in his last year. So what if Feinstien is elected, we will have sent a message to her and also giving hope to the rest of the country that their is a chance for recall. How many politicians promise what you want to hear before their election and once they get elected they do what ever the hell they want?

Excellent post that bears repeating.