California: Fast-fading Bustamante has conservatives re-thinking Schwarzenegger support

California Public Policy Foundation Capitol Watch email | October 3, 2003

[John Jorsett]

Some conservative Republicans who say they believe state Sen. Tom McClintock would be a better governor than Arnold Schwarzenegger but who planned to vote for Schwarzenegger as their best hope of electing a Republican are switching to McClintock in light of recent polls indicating both GOP candidates will likely finish ahead of Cruz Bustamante. "If it is down to a two-man race," a GOP activist said, "my vote is for Tom. Schwarzenegger seemed to be the lesser of two evils compared to Bustamante, but that rationale disappears when Bustamante turns out to be the candidate that can't win."

McClintock, who has run ahead of Schwarzenegger among Independent voters, enjoys statewide favorable/unfavorable ratings much better than any other major candidate. GOP political observers say this factor, if it combines with a large-scale movement among Republicans who feel free now to "vote their consciences," could significantly increase McClin- tock's support by Tuesday.

[Tempest]

The liebral plot is wroking split the vote just when it appeared to be unifying. I'm just curious to see if their plan will end up working come the 7th.

[Dog Gone]

McClintock may not be able to win, but the more votes he gets, the more influence he will have on future policies.

I think that's wishful thinking. The winner of an election doesn't adjust his policies based on the number of votes his opponent received.

If he did, the US would have ratified Kyoto by now.

[blackie]

"Some of them are on record as saying that if this were a primary, they would vote for McClintock over Schwarzenegger."

That's easy for them to say. :-/

Surgery can help that cock in Tom's eye ~ surgery won't help the glazed, bugeyed stare he gets from time to time. *sigh*

[Sabertooth]

Not so, Sabertooth. Keyword additions are definitely logged. AM posted such a list on another thread a couple of weeks ago.

"SABERTOOTHWASHERE"

OK, who did that?

[Bob]

OK, who did that?

I have no idea but you can bet that Admin Moderator knows.

[jmstein7]

"These polls are engineered just so as to induce otherwise intelligent Republicans into electing Bustamante, by voting for McClintock rather than Schwarzenegger."

Bingo!

[Tempest]

"The humiliation is our own, having lost the opportunity to have what we want for fear that our own principles won't sell."

Correction, the humiliation will only be our own. If we haven't learned by now how to respond to the lefts tactics of last minute attacks which are designed to demoralize us. We need to reject this line of slime and unite to show them that this tactic of "politics of personal destruction" that the Dems claim so much to be against. Isn't going to sell with us.

[Dog Gone]

I dunno, but it was pretty funny.

[JCEccles]

Why does this possibility upset you? Would it not be a good thing for McClintock to face Bustamante one-one-one?

Bustamante started fading hard and fast beginning the night of the debate. He will not be elected regardless of whether he faces McClintock or Schwarzenegger. He knows this. That's why he and Gray Davis are in panic.

Given the choice between a so-called moderate Republican (Schwarzenegger) and a conservative Republican (McClintock), why would you not prefer a conservative Republican?

[JCEccles]

Is that why you can't support him? His eyes? That's it?

[jmstein7]

Very good! We need to stay the course and we must NOT change our behavior in any significant way from the way it was before these stories started breaking.

That's what they want us to do; that's why they're dumping these stories.

Stay the course. Anyone who changes their behavior is playing right into their hands.

[DoughtyOne]

Cruz Bustamante cannot take his name off the ballot.  The no vote still hovers around 40%, and most of those votes will go to a replacement.  Cruz is that replacement.

The idea that Bustamante is withdrawing is nothing but a Bob Malholland smoke and mirrors routine.  It is being hawked as a green light to anyone who truly desires to vote for Tom, but don't believe Tom can be elected.  It's also being supported by people who desparately desire for Tom to pull this out.

Now we are told Bustamante can't get elected.  Bustamante can still get elected until the polls close on October 7th.  Only then will the race be determined.

McClintock and Schwarzenegger now poll around 55% combined.  Split that an you wind up with 27.5%.

With 40% still being the figure that the no vote comes in at, it's very doubtful that Cruz well receive as little as 27% of the vote.

The idea that Bustmante can't win is just a pipe dream.  He certainly could win if republicans were sucked into this Bustamante withdrawel sham.

[jmstein7]

Well, that's great; you're saying exactly what the libs hoped you'd say.

Good job.

[jmstein7]

Yup. Remember, Bustamante's name will not come off the ballot at this point. Switching to Tom will just keep davis in office.

[JCEccles]

You haven't the slightest idea how Schwarzenegger will perform in political office or what he will do. McClintock has a very clear record of supporting conservative legislation.

[blackie]

Psssssssssst, I live in Oregon ~ moved from CA in '90. :-/

[Sabertooth]

Well, that's great; you're saying exactly what the libs hoped you'd say.

Don't be silly.

You're just saying exactly what Karl Rove wants you to say.

[slimer]

McClintock can win and will implement conservative ideas that will turn California around.

McClintock does not have the numbers to win. He is too conserative for Californicators. "IF" he did win, his conservative ideas would not stand a chance against a largely Democratic Legislature.

A vote for McClintock is a vote for Bustamante and if Cruz drops out it's a vote for Davis. They are counting on the die hard McClintockers.

[jmstein7]

"I have never seen a poll that puts McClintock ahead of Bustamante, except in some fantasy matchup where Arnold withdraws."

Which tells us nothing because it doesn't (and can't) measure every necessary variable needed to make an accurate prediction.

[blackie]

PS I'm just an observer giving an account. :-/