Frankly, I like Tom and his ideas and would like to see a better future for him, than this.
Posted on 09/04/2003 1:58:51 PM PDT by FairOpinion
For many California conservatives, the most important thing about the coming recall election is how it will affect the future of a man who isn't likely to win it: State Sen. Tom McClintock.
For McClintock, from the standpoint of many conservatives, is by far the classiest figure in the array of 135 candidates who are running for the governorship in the Oct. 7 election. At 47, he has been active in California's Republican politics ever since he was elected to the Ventura County Republican Central Committee at the age of 19. In 1982, at 26, he was elected to the State Assembly. He lost a bid for Congress in 1992 and a contest for state controller in 1994. But he returned to the Assembly in 1996, moved up to the State Senate in 2000, and last November narrowly lost a second race for state controller, winning more votes than any other Republican on the statewide ticket.
Most important of all, McClintock is a rock-solid conservative on both social and economic issues. There is no question that he is the dream candidate of California conservatives for just about any office he might choose to run for. Right now, of course, that's the governorship.
McClintock is one of three Republican candidates still in the race (in an election process that continues to garner national attention), now that last year's losing nominee, Bill Simon, has dropped out. One of the others, of course, is Arnold Schwarzenegger. And the third is Peter Ueberroth, a self-classified "independent /Republican" businessman from Los Angeles.
Polls show Schwarzenegger leading this pack, with McClintock in the second spot and Ueberroth bringing up the rear. Schwarzenegger's two great strengths are his name recognition and his personal wealth. Ueberroth is also rich, but not nearly so widely known. McClintock is not a wealthy man, but his previous statewide candidacies, and especially his narrow defeat for controller last year, make him a relatively familiar name.
According to the polls, even Schwarzenegger would have trouble beating Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, who will be the sole Democratic candidate if (as expected) Gray Davis is recalled. But that is only because the three Republicans split the anti-Bustamante vote. Together, their votes swamp his. Small wonder, then, that Schwarzenegger's backers, and quite a few state Republican leaders, are suggesting that McClintock and Ueberroth ought to get out of the race and give Schwarzenegger an unobstructed shot at defeating Bustamante.
That is probably good advice as far as Ueberroth is concerned. His money can keep him in the race if he so chooses, but his poll numbers have never risen above the single digits and aren't likely to. But for McClintock, it's a much tougher decision. Polls show his support in the low double digits, with a tendency to rise. If he can engage Schwarzenegger in a few debates on the issues, he may very well impress viewers as far better informed and just about as good-looking. More important still, he may be able to establish himself as an attractive Republican candidate in the future for any statewide office – say, Barbara Boxer's Senate seat.
On the other hand, if Schwarzenegger loses to Bustamante by a margin smaller than the number of votes McClintock manages to attract (which is entirely possible), McClintock will be condemned as a spoiler who kept the Democrats in control of the governorship. And that's no way to build good will for future contests.
So it looks as if there should be some serious conversations between Schwarzenegger and McClintock. What can Schwarzenegger offer McClintock that would make it worthwhile for McClintock to get out of the race and endorse Schwarzenegger? Good conservative that McClintock is, it's a safe bet that any agreement will have a major policy component. But McClintock is also entitled to demand some consideration of his own future.
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William Rusher is a Distinguished Fellow of the Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Political Philosophy. If you wish to write to Mr. Rusher, you can contact him c/o United Media; Editorial Dept., 4th Floor; New York, N.Y. 10016.
Even he can see the obvious:
"On the other hand, if Schwarzenegger loses to Bustamante by a margin smaller than the number of votes McClintock manages to attract (which is entirely possible), McClintock will be condemned as a spoiler who kept the Democrats in control of the governorship. And that's no way to build good will for future contests. "
But I don't agree at all with his "polite blackmail" idea that McClintock "is also entitled to demand some consideration of his own future".
The right thing for McClintock to do is to drop out, the way Issa and Simon did, FOR THE GOOD OF THE PARTY AND GOOD OF CALIFORNIA, which of couse would also be good for McClintock's future, if he does it the right way, and not try to "hold up" the Arnold camp and the Republicans. Most people don't respond too well to blackmail.
But if he would withdraw nobley, I am sure that he could play an important role in bringing back fiscal responsibility to the CA government, then he could run on a platform of his record, and accomplishments in the future.
Frankly, I like Tom and his ideas and would like to see a better future for him, than this.
McClintock has a hugh ego. Very soon when he sees that there is no way he can win and that he will only LOSE he will step aside under his "own terms" so he won't be a LEW-EW-EW-EWzer.
Yeah sure. Source?
Source?
I think voters should vote their convictions.
If Arnold does not have enough support, it is his platform that is the problem, not McClintock supporters. Arnold needs to make a deal with McC if he needs McC's support. Or vice versa.
Maybe if Arnold changes his mind on the tax pledge and gun control, he might take away some McC supporters.
In your opinion, will a Governor Schwarzenegger raise taxes in CA?
A very empty threat.
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