Bustamante Leads Schwarznegger in Recall Race [McClintock gettng 21% of GOP Votes]

LA Times (Registration Required) ^ | August 24, 2003 | staff writer

[.38sw]

Hey, LisaAnne. See post #17 on this thread. I have no doubt that the Davis camp (or maybe Bustamonte) have a load of dirt to dump on Arnie.

[Conservative til I die]

I thought Republicans were supposed to be smarter than Democrats.

We didn't get our nickname of "The Stupid Party" for nothing.

[RS]

"If McClintock keeps up his ego trip and Ah-Noldt either wins or loses to Bustamante then McClintock's future in politics is dead in the water forever. "

Allmost - If McClintock WINS he will not be able to push through his policies against a Dem legislature, and he will not have any coattails to bring more Reps in come next election ( which he probably would not survive since he cannot fix anything )
With Gov. Arnolds help against Boxer he may yet salvage a career.

Arnold MAY be able to get some things pointed in the right direction and can inspire Reps to actally win in the next election.

[prarie earth]

I really am not getting nervous until we get into Late September/Early Octiber in the same situation-- Arnold within margin for error of Bustamante, and McClintock still thinking that he has a shot

[veronica]

They have already tried to smear Arnold. They tried the pot smoking, the Nazi father, blah blah.

[LisaAnne]

You're right! Great post.
Davis and the CA Dems are down and dirty fighters; truth has nothing to do with getting elected. Davis lied and smeared Simon in the last election; and people believed him.

[Kevin Curry]

We didn't get our nickname of "The Stupid Party" for nothing.

You know, I never bought into this nickname until I saw all the fluff-heads rallying for Arnold.

Sadly, I believe it has become an accurate description.

[MeekOneGOP]

[prarie earth]

I dont think we have seen anything yet on the Arnold smear front, just wait a few weeks..

[.38sw]

I understand that, but there could be more than the pot smoking, nazi father, etc. Who knows? Davis plays dirty. I'm sure he's spent a load of dough on opposition research, and is just waiting to unload at the right time.

[medscribe]

Let's see...McClintock...the allegedly only "true" conservative, can only muster 21% of the GOP vote?!?!

God Almighty! You mean there are more people in the GOP who would support the supposed "RINO" at 39% than there are who would the true conservative?!?

If you can only get 1 in 5 of your OWN party to vote for you, then please get the hell out of the race.

[BunnySlippers]

McClintock is responsible for the very real possibility that Bustamante will be governor. Does he care? No!!!

[Kevin Curry]

The best smear on Arnold is the accurate and true smear: he's a flaming no-excuses liberal.

[medscribe]

Totally agree. The conservatives in California have not learned from their fellow conservatives in states like Texas and Florida. If anything, California has become even more liberal because of the Cal GOP's tactics. It's not just snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, it's snatching catastrophe from the jaws of victory.

[medscribe]

LOL! Sure...McClintock stays...Cruz will be elected governor...and the Cal GOP will take another step toward permanent irrelevancy. Y'all must love the taste of defeat year after year to be this self-punishing on yourselves.

[Mr. Mojo]

McClintock - GET OUT of the race!

His #'s are rising, so don't count on it. But I'd imagine he'd drop out if Arnold holds an indisputable advantage in every poll come election time.

[medscribe]

"Demonstrated ability?"

So demonstrated that he couldn't even get elected Comptroller last fall?! If he's already LOST 1 statewide race, what makes you think he can win another statewide race?!

[novacation]

There is still time. If he stays in and Bustamante wins he'll be finished. He is the best man in my opinion, but that doesn't matter in California. He doesn't stand a chance of winning in a state the has a million more democrats that Republicans.
Who knows? The democrats are more concerned about the party than the state.Davis may not get recalled.

[Kevin Curry]

If Arnold would withdraw and throw his support to McClintock, Californians would be presented with a genuine choice: one that gives them a realistic shot at bringing the state under control (McClintock), and one that will see them increase the velocity of the state toward utter disaster (Bustamante).

Californians deserve this choice. Will Arnold be gracious and smart enough to give it to them? Don't count on it. In Arnold's universe, all planets and galaxies orbit the black hole of Arnold's infinitely dense ego.

[yoda swings]

1. Arnold is the only Republican candidate with enough momentum to be elected.

2. Even if he doesn't win, he will take votes away from Independent and liberal candidates like Arianna Huffington and Cruz Bustamante.

3. This is the best oppertunity for Arnold's political career because it's unlikely that the Republican Party would elect him to run in a normal election. He isn't conservative enough on social issues.

4. Unless the conservative backlash in Californian politics is abnormally strong, no candidate will be successful without a pro-gay rights and pro-abortion platform.

5. Arnold's advantage over McClintock is in his political inexperience. The uninformed public is tired of politicians who squander the people's money, and they will see Arnold as a successful business man who has acquired his wealth through honorable, legal means.

6. Gray Davis is a {obscenity deleted}. Just thought I'd mention that.

7. The most damaging scenario for Arnold would be that his star-appeal wears off and his percentages slip way down.

8. Even if the aforementioned scenario takes place, #2 will come into effect, thus opening the door for McClintock and a Republican victory.

9. McClintock is too conservative to win on his own. The liberals that dislike Gray Davis will rather have Cruz Bustamante as a replacement.

10. Bustamante will have the vote of nearly all Democrats and many independents because he has experience and all the right politics.

My conclusion: Ah-nuld is the most likely Republican candidate, but Cruz Bustamante will win.