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GOP Campaign Leader Faults Candidate (Simon)
NY Times ^
| 10/18/02
| Adam Nagourney
Posted on 10/17/2002 10:58:09 PM PDT by 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]
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: 2002; calgov2002; california; davis; election; simon
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To: DoveTurnedHawk
Sounds like what the republicans did to Schundler here in NJ......they had their own reasons for wanting McSleazy in office so they didn't support their own.
CA will pay much as NJ is paying for such abandonment of principle and honor.
To: B. A. Conservative
The last Republican elected governor in California was a staunch conservative. No, I think Pete Wilson was a heartfelt moderate who ruled to the right for political reasons. An oddity, in that it's usually heartfelt conservatives who rule to the middle for political reasons.
To: Dave S
Reapportionment killed making congressional gains in California. It is going to take a strong voter registration program to weaken the rats hold on many districts.
43
posted on
10/18/2002 8:20:25 AM PDT
by
Munson
To: B. A. Conservative
The last Republican elected governor in California was a staunch conservative.Wilson, a staunch conservative? No offense, but no way, man.
To: Saundra Duffy
Maybe the moderates don't want Simon to win. He's a conservative.I think you've got it.
45
posted on
10/18/2002 10:40:01 AM PDT
by
skeeter
To: Dave S
OOPs did I forget my sarcasm off sign again?
46
posted on
10/18/2002 1:41:51 PM PDT
by
dts32041
To: DoveTurnedHawk
Maybe Thomas Davis III feels some kinship with gray Davis or is tired of all the DUMP DAVIS signs and FIRE DAVIS comments?
I went out for half an hour with a Bill Simon for Governor sign today to cheer over a thousand participants in a 5K run/walk at a university in San Diego.
Everybody saw my sign since I was cheering and there were no other bystanders. I got scores of positive responses, a few confused people reading the sign as if they didn't know about the upcoming election, and only two negative responses from people who seemed to be joking. One man said he already voted for Simon.
Even at a university, things look good for Mr. Simon. Go Simon!
47
posted on
10/18/2002 2:25:28 PM PDT
by
heleny
To: Brad's Gramma
Congressman Davis is just being honest. I realize this is frustrating to Kalifornia FReepers, but it is nice just once to hear a politician give an unvarnished opinion on something instead of the usual spin.
To: DoveTurnedHawk
I got up early to call his Wash DC office and made the secretary take down a message to give to her boss. You can imagine what I said! WE'RE VOLUNTEERS OUT HERE FOR BILL SIMON AND TELL YOUR BOSS TO SHUT UP ALREADY!!! Stuff like that. Grrrrrrrr. For victory & freedom!!!
To: Zack Nguyen
unvarnished opinion But it wasn't at all necessary and it isn't necessarily true and he made the opposition a pile of happy campers. I DON'T APPRECIATE IT ONE BIT. If you were working as hard as I am - VOLUNTEERING - you'd be PO'd too. Grrrrrrrr. DUMP DAVIS! GO, SIMON!! See all concerned CA freepers at the DUMP DAVIS rally tomorrow Sat 10/19 1-3 State Capitol south steps in Sacramento. For victory & freedom!!!
To: DoveTurnedHawk
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)I think it's only natural he be confused with the Democrat of the same name. they seem to have similar goals.
To: Saundra Duffy
If Simon wins, it iwll be the upset of the century and will change the structure of American politics for the 2004 election.
Just like in Texas - if either/both Ron Kirk or Tony Sanchez win, it will change American politics, as a predominantly Republican state will have gone Democrat with neck-snapping speed.
I can imagine Rep. Thomas Davis III is tired of being confused with Gray Davis.
But given the former's disdain of
our candidate, maybe the sign should apply to Davis III, too!
If he wants to interfere by criticizing our choice, he should sign up with the democrats.
![FIRE GRAY DAVIS www.firedavis.com sign](http://www.knfo.net/simon21013/photo12.jpg)
Huge "FIRE GRAY DAVIS" sign near the intersection of I-5, I-10, I-110 freeways in Los Angeles, CA.
53
posted on
10/18/2002 2:51:01 PM PDT
by
heleny
To: DoveTurnedHawk
Good for Tom! Finally some honesty about the tragic and hapless state of the GOP in CA. The only CA candidate the RNC should dump money into is Monteith's. CA will continue to be the laughingstock of the political world until we get some semblance of leadership. No wonder the GOP supported the Dem's CA redistricting plan...that was the best deal they could get! 1st it was Lungren, now Simon (who self-destructed and was smart not to spend his family's fortune)...who will it be next? The Terminator? Give me a break!
To: Macross Jem
It's hard to win if your own party doesn't support you and may support your opponent. The problem is that the California GOP Party looks down on the GOP voters and have very little in common with them.
To: Zack Nguyen
It may be his honest opinion, but he's wrong.
To: DoveTurnedHawk
You are correct. My memory failed me. I was thinking Ronald Reagan was the last Republican governor of Kalifornia.
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