GOP Campaign Leader Faults Candidate (Simon)

NY Times ^ | 10/18/02 | Adam Nagourney

[DoveTurnedHawk]

The Republican House leader in charge of his party's Congressional campaign committee said today that the Republican candidate for California governor, Bill Simon Jr., was running the single-worst campaign in the country this year.

The lawmaker, Representative Thomas M. Davis III, the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, offered his unusually stark assessment of Mr. Simon's campaign against Gov. Gray Davis, the Democrat, with undisguised frustration in a speech at the National Press Club.

He suggested that Mr. Simon's difficulties would erase any hope that Republicans had of picking up Congressional seats in California. He also noted that not long ago his party had high hopes of unseating the unpopular Mr. Davis in this overwhelmingly Democratic state.

"California," Representative Davis said with a sigh, when he was asked how the governor's race there might affect Republican Congressional candidates. "I just will say, I don't think there's a single worst-run race in the country than the governor's race in California on the part of the Republicans."

As his Democratic counterpart, Representative Nita M. Lowey, looked on with evident astonishment, Mr. Davis (not to be confused with the Democratic governor of the same name) recalled just how beatable Mr. Davis (not to be confused with the Republican congressman of the same name) had once seemed.

"I mean, this was a belt-high, medium fastball, and we just seem to have booted it," Representative Davis said. "Turnout will be very low for both parties."

When it was Ms. Lowey's turn to speak, she seemed uncertain of what to way. "California — I'm not — you heard it," she said with a shrug. "I'm not going to comment on that governor's race."

Mr. Simon's senior campaign consultant, Ed Rollins, tonight sharply criticized Representative Davis, saying his candidate remained in a strong position to win the race.

[snip]

[Rockitz]

No surprise to me. I totally agree except the fault does not lie with Bill Simon. He is inexperienced in politics and those who were supposed to lead him through the land mines of the campaign trail have allowed him to take so many hits it's amazing he still has a chance. His handlers should be shot. I fail to see how they could possibly have been run any worse of a campaign.

Simon was always on the defensive. His positions flip-flopped and were not well established before public release. He went after small electoral segments (Log Cabins) at the expense of much larger ones (Conservative Christians). He tried to use a sillver bullet (the infamous Davis campaign contribution picture) and it blew up in his face. He did not stick to the issues and how poorly Davis has performed.

Pathetic is the operative word. It's so bad, it's like the handlers were on Davis' payroll. Hopefully they are blacklisted as traitors and never work in GOP politics again.

[paul51]

Whether the comments are fair or not, they could always be debated after the election. For this dumb putz to be talking like this prior to the election makes him look even worse than Simon. What a fool.

[Russell Scott]

The good news for Simon is people will be getting their electric bills at the beginning of November. Simon still has a great chance to win IF people show up and vote.

[Lancey Howard]

bump for later

[Maelstrom]

It's ok to shoot down a fellow republican if he's actually conservative.

I think Simon was sabotaged by the GOP in the first place...which makes Ed Rollins comment Democrat in nature.
(Intentionally create the problem, then blame someone you don't like for the problem.)

[Maelstrom]

Moderate Republicans in CA are on their side.

They just wanted a different socialist in power. Never wanted a conservative.

[Maelstrom]

Simon does not represent an ever-increasing government supporter.

This makes him a "bad Republican" in moderate terms, especially since CA is so close to achieving a Democratic Fascist Utopia.

I no longer hold a much respect for CA "moderate" Republicans. They expect their own moderate candidates to garner conservative support simply for that letter "R" in their party affiliation while backstabbing and sabotaging conservative candidates.

They deserve all the blackouts and financial distress Davis inflicts upon them.

[drjimmy]

The only way those Libertarians could get anyone to pay the slightest attention to them is by turning blue and spitting at people. Since they had no chance of winning anyway, the top spot on the worst-run campaign chart still goes to Simon.

[Theodore R.]

In defense of the liberal Virginian Davis, sometimes Republicans can run the worst possible race in what could have been a competitive contest. Evidently this is true of Simon. While conservatives will all vote for Simon, hardly anyone really expects him to win. Tom Davis just couldn't hold back his outrage over the Simon campaign.

[wingnuts'nbolts]

Don'tcha suppose sending help would work better, send money they have plenty, send pr people to volunteer, send lawyers, hell the dems do it!

[Theodore R.]

"what a moron"

That could be the title of countless failed Republican candidates. Yes, this Taylor campaign in MT outrages me too. I blame Racicot for letting the MT Republicans down. If he would not run, he should have found a decent candidate to put up. After all, what has he yet accomplished as Republican national chairman? He couldn't even field a candidate in his home state!!!

[Saundra Duffy]

Thanks for the number; I'm up early and calling before work. Thanks! For victory & freedom!!!

[Dave S]

The worse run race is in Illinois with jim Ryan running against his brother George Ryan.

Its not his brother. I dont think they are related at all. Was stupid though to run anyone with that name for the governorship. Duh!

[Dave S]

What on earth was he thinking?!

He is obviously covering his ass. As head of the Republican congressional campaign organization, he had strong hopes of making gains in California this year. Simon through continued screwups has put in danger the entire Republican ballot. Wonder what whacky propositions will pass because of Simon's ineptness as a candidate.

[Dave S]

This reminds me of how the Lazio campaign was treated in its final days. I have to say, Lazio deserved some heavy criticism though

And you dont think Simon deserves some heavy criticism? Hell the governorship was his for the taking. All he had to be was someone other than Grayout Davis. But he found a way to blow it.

[B. A. Conservative]

"They just wanted a different socialist in power. Never wanted a conservative."

BS! The last Republican elected governor in California was a staunch conservative. If Republicans want to win elections, they must run as conservatives. When they run as weak socialists, the plunders vote for the real socialists and the conservatives being plundered stay home.

Here is how to turn out the vote for Republicans: Contract with Congress

[Dave S]

His handlers should be shot. I fail to see how they could possibly have been run any worse of a campaign. Simon was always on the defensive. His positions flip-flopped and were not well established before public release. He went after small electoral segments (Log Cabins) at the expense of much larger ones (Conservative Christians). He tried to use a sillver bullet (the infamous Davis campaign contribution picture) and it blew up in his face. He did not stick to the issues and how poorly Davis has performed.

What makes you think that Simon followed any of his advisors advice? Based on his public performance, Im convinced that he's perfectly capable of making those mistakes on his own.

[Aunt Polgara]

The good news for Simon is people will be getting their electric bills at the beginning of November.

Ummm...Russell, where are you from? Here in CA, most people heat their homes with natural gas, not electricity. Our huge electric bills come in the summertime. In fact the early November utility bills are some of the smallest of the year because October is generally a very mild month...here in LA, the highs are between 70-80 for much of October.

[Dave S]

Never wanted a conservative.

Only way a conservative could win is California these days is if only white males had sufferage. When are Republicans going to wise up and do more to get the Hispanic vote. If you dont, you will end up with less influence than the Libertarians.