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.

[ysoitanly]

Exactly right. For those of you not from California, we're almost immune to the disgusting smear tactics of Dufus - even Art Torres, head of the Dim party in this state, said he didn't want another 'puke' campaign. Even though Torres, Mulholland et al are all the dirtiest players around and this statement on its face is hypocritical, about the only thing that might get
Arnold in trouble this late in the game is if they can prove he's been hiding WMD in his living room.

[Tempest]

"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. "

So very true. Let's not forget how the media will re-label him as the "Ultra-conservative" candidate as well. Just to turn off moderates and really scuttle his chances. Why people here don't realize that is beyond me.

[=Intervention=]

"I REFUSE to believe that ANYONE has really thought McClintock could ever win this race."

You can believe what you will, but I'm sure there are quite a few of those voters that comprise his double-digit support that disagree with you. But hey, they're all liars, right? Or they're all deluded, right? We all know that only the moderates win, right? Everything else is fantasy and not "reality" right?

[Maigrey]

Coming in late with the popcorn...

[=Intervention=]

Why you think the media cannot be beaten is beyond me.

[NormsRevenge]

Darn, and my wife always watches Dr. Phil at that time. Oh, jeeez louise, what will I do *-? What WILL I do ? ;-) LOL

[EllaMinnow]

They think McClintock can win because they keep reading stuff like this nonsense -

http://www.cppf.us/OnlineOriginals/News/090403WS.html

"The candidate portion of the same poll contained good news for state Sen. Tom McClintock. While exact numbers were not released, those familiar with the survey described the results as having McClintock “within the margin of error” of being tied for first with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Cruz Bustamanate. Such a split would probably fall in the 25 percent range for each candidate.
These results could prove to be a huge break for McClintock and bad news for Schwarzenegger. But for the senator to benefit tangibly from this closely-held private survey, the numbers will have to be released or confirmed by one or more public surveys. One private poll will not change the current “two-man race” perception of most pundits and many voters. But if new, soon-to-be-released polls also show McClintock closing in on the lead, the “conventional wisdom” of recent weeks would be shattered, opening an entirely new phase of the campaign."

They would rather believe "Private polls" with unreleased numbers than to look reality in the eye.

[Fzob]

I just listened to McClintok in Sean Hannity. He daid he would not drop out.

[Theodore R.]

I am unable to determine how a "Governor Schwarzenegger" would differ in any measurable way from a "Governor Bustamante."

[Rabid Dog]

He ain't going to drop out.

[Consort]

Don't over analyze or overcomplicate it. In California, any "R" is better tha any "D" and in politics, winning is the only thing.

[CheneyChick]

I am unable to determine how a "Governor Schwarzenegger" would differ in any measurable way from a "Governor Bustamante."

That's ok - don't fret about it or spend too much time on that one. You don't live here anyway.

[A Broken Glass Republican]

I know you enjoy not listening to me and putting words in my mouth (Why has that been the case with SO many McClintock supporters???????????????) but no...

They were just showing their support for the man. Kind of like Nader or Perot supporters. Do you REALLY think a single ONE of them ever REALLY thought they could actually WIN???

Of course not.

Now please...Stop making me talk in circles.

[y2k_free_radical]

TOM 4 LT.GOV. ?

[Tempest]

"ain't gonna happen. I promise."

Bookmark

[ysoitanly]

Doesn't work that way. If Busty loses governor, he is still Lt. Governor to whomever does win. (sigh)

[A Broken Glass Republican]

BINGO!!!!

And then Govenor after Arnold.

A WIN/WIN. Something most of the McClintock supporters around here havn't been interested-in. But after they've been forced-fed, maybe they will finially be happy. But I'm not holding my breath.

[william clark]

There's a big difference between smears and accurately stating his position on things like abortion, etc. As for TV ads; true, he doesn't have the bucks to run as many as Arnold, but the air time he's getting for free by way of interviews, where he can speak in complete sentences instead of quick sound bytes, is worth more than an ad if timed properly.