California GOP Insiders: McClintock Will Drop Out

newsmax.com ^ | 09.09.03 | Eric Leonard, NewsMax.com

[VU4G10]

California GOP Insiders: McClintock Will Drop Out Eric Leonard, NewsMax.com Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2003 LOS ANGELES – Leading elected Republicans have made it clear for the first time the party will stand behind only one candidate in the recall election to ensure a victory over Democrat Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante. Neither state Sen. Tom McClintock's nor Arnold Schwarzenegger's campaigns say they are considering dropping out of the race, but results from the most recent Field Poll, coupled with GOP pressure, point towards McClintock being asked to "take one for the team," insiders say.

"I believe we're going to have one candidate," said Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., during an appearance today on CNN.

He said the party's decision would likely be made during the state's Republican Party convention this weekend in Southern California.

"I'm going to the convention to bring the party together. I'm confident we're going to get to one candidate," Issa said.

Hours earlier, California Republican Party chairman Duf Sundheim made similar comments during an interview on Fox News Channel.

While McClintock has been more closely aligned with the Republican Party's traditional philosophies, Schwarzenegger continues to lead with voters, according to the most recent Field Poll.

The poll revealed little change in voter support now that Peter Ueberroth, a Republican who said he was running as an independent, quit the race.

With Ueberroth out, Schwarzenegger went from 25 to 27 percent, McClintock from 13 to 14 percent, and Bustamante from 30 to 32 percent.

However, with McClintock out, Schwarzenegger vaults into the lead over Bustamante.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Dura,

Would you rather have the Democrap Busty, or the liberal republican, A'nold? That is the question... all else, while it would fulfill a dream, isn't going to happen. Though I'm not a Californicator, I believe I'd easily vote for A'nold over Busty... and hope for a better future in the next election!

best, ampu

[sixgunjer]

I would much prefer Tom to Arnold, but would much rather have Cruz as far away from the Gov's office as I could. I suppose if there is any good to come from Arnolds identification as a Republican, it might convince some folks that they will not vaporize if they vote for anybody with an "R" behind their name. I have a Jewish friend who seems to be convinced that she will lose her Jewishness if she votes Republican. She agrees in principal to much of the Republican platform (with the exception of the abortion issue)but cannot bring herself to vote Republican. Drives me nuts.

[Gritty]

Kindly stop confusing people with these damnable quotes about issues like Arnold's stated positions. We all know the most important thing is to "win".!

After all, Arnold is famous and he's not Bustamante! Maybe that will be enough to please everybody, OK? Especially in Kalifornia!

After all, look how well this "Republican" strategy has worked with "Republican" Bloomberg controlling New York City! The city is sooooo much better off than it would be under a Democrat.

[bootless]

Duf Sundheim has said from the beginning of the recall on KSFO (Lee & Mel - Mother of the Recall) that would be the situation. This is not a primary. The day after it was certified, he said that while at that time, it was premature to start cutting candidates out, the (R)s would come to an agreement after time and some polls passed for the good the state.

[A2J]

And you think they don't have any dirt on McClintock? If Arnold drops out they'll start calling him anti-choice, anti-immigrant, etc. and end his campaign right then and there.

And just how is "anti-choice, anti-immigrant, etc." "dirt?"

McClintock is the TRUE conservative in the race and now you're going to call his principles, which I though were those of most on FR, "dirt?"

Unbelievable.

[camas]

GOOD!!!!

[mrsmith]

"the party's decision would likely be made during the state's Republican Party convention this weekend "
"This weekend"?

Wow, patience isn't considered much of a virtue in California.

[NormsRevenge]

Notice how this just conveniently gets posted right before Tom goes on with hannity. hmmmm? coincidence? HHMMMM?

LMAO

[A2J]

And yes, he is farther to the right than Bustamante.

Yeah, "right" next to him.

[GraniteStateConservative]

If he drops out, he'll probably be Arnold's budget (finance) director-- replacing Steve Peace (who, by the way, was co-founder and CFO of the production company for Attack of the Killer Tomatoes-- which he wrote and produced).

[Duramaximus]

"Kindly stop confusing people with these damnable quotes about issues like Arnold's stated positions. We all know the most important thing is to "win".!"

Can you ever forgive me? I forgot the Arnold-bots can not cope with the truth. :-)

[george wythe]

If McClintock runs against pinko Boxer, I will contribute to his senatorial campaign right away.

I'll give anything to see that Boxer out of the US Senate.

[ysoitanly]

Arnold is on with O'Reilly tonight - supposedly for a full half hour.

[section9]

I posted this weeks ago.

The only thing that is going on right now between the two camps is haggling about the price. Arnold has to do four things:

1. Let Tom and his people in the SS and the Assembly have a big say when crafting the budget in December.

2. Take care of Tom's Thousand Oaks Senate district (repaving the 101, making sure Ventura county schools and law enforcement get their cut, etc.). There is more horsetrading going on even now, I'll bet.

3. Leave Tom's people in the party alone and tell Gerald Parsky to back the f8^k off. Arnold needs to make sure this happens if he has any hope of corralling some of Tom's base voters. I'm told they just don't like Parsky.

4. Give Tom an open field to run against Boxer next year. Personally, I think McClintock might be on the cusp of something. He is distinguished from the other candidates by his unswerving honesty and devotion to what he believes in. TMC is a guy who is ready to break out and go national. My belief is that he should serve a couple of House terms and go after Feinstein's seat when she bails.

Tom McClintock holds all the cards here. He wins by being the good party man, but must not bail out before this weekend's convention. This is where Tom gets his "A Time For Choosing" moment to establish himself as the Next Reagan. This convention is where Tom speaks to the base and bonds them to him for future campaigns. This is also where Tom tells the base that California's fate is too important to take second place to Tom's own ambition. Tom pulls out after a Reaganesque speech that will establish him as the next, incorruptible Republican star. Tom convinces the base to go for Arnold rather than condemn California to the "Davis-Bustamante" regime.

Schwarzenegger may become governor, but the big winner will be McClintock; if it can be seen by the Party rank and file that McClintock threw his entire support to Arnold. Any which way, Tom wins, even if Arnold loses. Even if it turns out that there are pictures of Arnold having rough trade sex with the Villiage People, McClintock can say "I was just being the good soldier...".

Tom McClintock can become the new kingmaker in California politics precisely because he owns his base, and can move to the center at his leasure. Arnold has no base, only superstar attraction and a reputation for being able to do things. Bustamante's base is there for him, but it's fractured. If Tom handles his Moment properly, he can propel himself to the Senate.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[ErnBatavia]

McClintock could turn himself into a GOP hero overnight, then run against Boxer with Bush, Cheney, Powell, Guiliani and Arnold standing next to him at campaign events.

That, my friend, is the only upside to all this silliness. McClintock is at least finally getting some name recognition.

But forget Arnold standing next to him - within a month of his taking office, the Rats - assisted by the media of course - would have all this state's problems firmly pinned to HIS chest..hell, he'll probably be fighting off "Recall II" by Christmas.

[A Broken Glass Republican]

McClintock Supporters after hearing this GREAT news...

[BibChr]

Honestly, he's already been eating into his credit. Nothing can make him a hero overnight now. My opinion of him has gone from very high, to very low. I doubt I'm alone.

Best he can do is stop blasting away at his own head.

To say nothing of the state.

Dan

[GraniteStateConservative]

I would much prefer Tom to Arnold,

Why compromise when you can have both!