U.S. Senate race shows Schwarzenegger the exception, not the rule

modbee ^ | 10-31-04

[LouAvul]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Republicans said last year's gubernatorial recall proved the GOP could win statewide in California. But the first Republican since Arnold Schwarzenegger to try is falling flat on his face.

Even though he has Schwarzenegger's endorsement, former California Secretary of State Bill Jones appears headed for a big loss in his challenge to Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer. He may end the race without raising enough money to air a single television ad.

Jones' surprisingly weak challenge may undercut GOP claims that the gubernatorial recall remade California politics, analysts said. Schwarzenegger or no, the state GOP remains a struggling minority party with a shallow bench.

"Schwarzenegger is very, very popular, but he's popular in such a nonpartisan kind of way that he's not leading a partisan movement at all," said Ken DeBow, a political scientist at California State University, Sacramento. "I'm just not sensing any real movement toward the Republican Party."

Earlier this year, Virginia Republican Sen. George Allen, head of the national Republican Senate fund-raising committee, said Jones had a chance to beat Boxer because "it's a whole new terrain there, a whole new ball game with Gov. Schwarzenegger."

But a year after the recall brought the moderate Schwarzenegger to Sacramento, Jones has played the same kind of ball as other recent statewide Republican candidates. If anything, he's played it worse.

A conservative Fresno farmer whose stances on social issues put him to the right of most Californians, Jones never broadened his appeal beyond the Republican base. Abysmal fund-raising and a promise of $2 million from his own pocket that never materialized kept him mired 15 points or more behind Boxer in polls.

[LouAvul]

We need someone to take the challenge seriously.

[Honestfreedom]

Bill Jones is a joke. I have seen absolutely no evidence that he is running. California Republicans in general are a joke. I called my local party and offered to volunteer for getting out the vote. I did not get a call back.

[Gibtx]

just isolate and cut off california.....

[Gunder]

California needs to be split in two.

[Batrachian]

No one thought that the Schwarzenegger victory signaled some kind of Republican domino effect in California. At least no one who thinks realistically. California is the most liberal state in the nation, and that means Democrats hold most of the offices, and will continue to do so for a long time to come.

[KellyAdmirer]

A lot of folks don't appreciate just how lucky we were to get someone even as moderate as Arnold in there. California is lost and headed for anarchy eventually imho, it is just too liberal.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

This is not an insignificant matter - Boxer is more than just another annoying idiot in the Senate. The GOP needs to make a more serious effort next time. Six years of listening to Boxer's shrill BS. Sigh. How is it possible that Boxer AND Murray are getting a pass?

[Cicero]

I'm not in California, but from reports I've read here Californians don't even know that Jones is running. Evidently he decided to pocket the campaign money instead of spending it on ads and stuff like that.

[LieFreeGov]

Bill Jones doesn't even have the Republican base....

I'm STILL annoyed that Cali Republicans didn't choose Rosario Marin in the Primary.

I bet she would have knocked out Boxer.

[libertyman]

Exactly.....Arnold is nothing BUT a RINO. On top of this, a so-called "conservative" Sevator Orin Hatch supports amending the Constitution so Arnold can become eligible to be elected President?????

What a disgrace.

[B Knotts]

old-school conservatives

LOL! Bill Jones...an old-school conservative?

He's a McCain moderate. But, it's not ideology that's the main problem; it's charisma. And Schwarzenegger is the only California Republican to have any for an awfully long time. Unfortunately, Schwarzenegger is a liberal.

Look at some of the statewide candidates the Calif. GOP has thrown out there over the past decades: Dan Lungren. Matt Fong. I mean...come on...these guys make Pete Wilson seem downright exciting!

[libertyman]

It's because the GOP Establishment is not all that conservative in its own right....& I guess that it may even be worse in Cali.

I think it would be best for TRUE conservatives nationwide begin to clean house at the top of their party's leadership, because they are not doing all that much to help those of us who really are conservative & closer to the people. Rather than using an elephant as its logo, we should change it to a BROOM.

[Jimbaugh]

As long as the same team in California is running the campaigns "Ed Rollins" etc. you will get the same results. Parsky and the other clowns have to go.