McClintock Can Win

NewsMax ^ | Sept. 7, 2003 | Carl Limbacher / NewsMax staff

[SteveH]

The head of California's leading conservative think tanks says Republican Tom McClintock could win California's special election set for Oct. 7.

Brian Kennedy, president of the Claremont Institute, told Fox News on Sunday that while McClintock remains a "long shot," he is also a "conservative hero for many years" and that he will get a significant portion of the vote.

Kennedy said Schwarzenegger has yet to connect with the Reagan voters who make up the Republican party.

Excerpt

[AgThorn]

You left a bit ....

He added that actor Schwarzenegger "made a mistake" not appearing at the candidate's first debate where State Sen. McClintock demonstrated he is a "credible candidate."

Kennedy says that voters who care about pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, and pro-family issues will vote for McClintock.

Kennedy argues that base vote, plus an electorate angry over Gray Davis' acceptance of a new law giving illegal immigrants drivers licenses, may fuel growing momentum for McClintock.

Recent polls have McClintock third to Bustamante and Schwarzenegger, both of whom are better funded.

[AgThorn]

If only "connecting" with the Republicans alone, would be all that is needed.

[T Lady]

That certainly remains to be seen at this point.

-Regards, T.

[SteveH]

I had intended to check the "excerpt" flag but did the check first, forgot and selected "post" (doh).

[SteveH]

That certainly remains to be seen at this point.

The article notes the possibility, not the certainty.

If Bustamante is the problem, Arnold was severely MIA during the first debate, where he could have stood up like a real candidate and presented a united front with McClintock that Bustamante and Davis needed to go.

Arnold supporters preaching unity: your candidate was MIA. McClintock won the debate, got the credit and the publicity, thanks to Arnold the NoShow (or is it Conan the Con Man?).

[goldstategop]

Without some evidence Tom can grab middle of the road Democrats and independents as well Republicans, its not going to happen. A look at the math shows there are a million more Democrats than Republicans in California. To beat Large Breasts Tom is going to have win "crossover" votes. If that doesn't happen, Large Breasts appears to be our next Governor, which might be the best of all possible worlds for California. More socialism would eventually make the state sick of the Democratic Party and set the stage for a Republican victory either in 2006 or by the end of the decade. We're not going to make Californians respect us by being "Democrat-Lite." Just a thought.

[Kevin Curry]

Bump

[T Lady]

I will confess that I am leaning towards McClintock anyway. And I wasn't speaking in terms of finality in my last post, it's just that four weeks a California election is a VERY long time, too much time for the Los Angeles Times and the Demon-Rat machine to do substantial damage to either Republican candidate.

-Regards, T.

[Kevin Curry]

Of course it can happen. An election is decided by the voters who bother to show up. McClintock's voters are motivated. Apart frm a rabid liberal base of about 25-30 percent, Bustamante's are not.

[Alia]

Yours: McClintock won the debate, got the credit and the publicity, thanks to Arnold the NoShow

Yep. 4 more weeks, Mr. S. 4 more weeks.

[DoctorZIn]

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[Carry_Okie]

Without some evidence Tom can grab middle of the road Democrats and independents as well Republicans, its not going to happen.

The evidence will be found in how seriously people regard the State's budgetary crisis, its recession, the workman's comp problem, and the cost of power and its influence on jobs. Tom doesn't come across as having horns. He sounds calm, intelligent, experienced, competent, and speaks clearly. So far, his campaign has exuded competence.

By contrast to his competition, that puts him miles ahead as long as the voting public regards those distinctions as critical to the central issue. Given the steady drumbeat about Davis' performance, that sale has already been made.

When Tom leads the way on referenda against SB 60 and the Vehicle License Fee, those middle voters will know they have found their guy.

[heleny]

Without some evidence Tom can grab middle of the road Democrats and independents as well Republicans, its not going to happen. A look at the math shows there are a million more Democrats than Republicans in California.

Depending on how the SB 60 referendum is handled, McClintock's appeal has a lot of room to improve. Since he is the only major candidate supporting the referendum,* if he gets the credit for it and if it starts soon enough, some democrats could support him. I haven't yet met anybody who likes SB 60, including liberals and democrats, some of whom were pretty vehemently opposed and asked where to sign the petition.

The car tax repeal initiative petition may help, too.

* Bustamanate and Ueberroth supported SB60; Schwarzenegger said he would work with the legislature to repeal it.

[T Lady]

We can only hope. We can only pray.

-Regards, T.

[SteveH]

I know. I'm laughing myself about this election, all the way to the beach

and maybe a few hundred yards beyond

Sometimes it seems like no matter I vote for, it does not matter... I lose :-(

[A Broken Glass Republican]

Wanna bet? Please??

[SteveH]

I thought it was interesting to read that SacBee editorial to MIA-Arnold about his maturity (or lack of it) when it came to the hard issues. Much of the editorial seemed devoted towards the notion that California is not in as bad shape as everyone seems to think. Hah-- if they succeed in marginalizing McClintock by negative or non coverage, in the end, they'll be touting Bustamante over MIA-Arnold for the very same reason.

[SteveH]

Go away, adults only here ;-).

[montag813]

If only "connecting" with the Republicans alone, would be all that is needed.

I think McClintock is hoping for a job as head of the "Department of Gringo Affairs" in a Bustamante Aztlan Dictatorship.