The California Republican primary on June 8 will decide the nominee for Governor and for US Senator.
Sarah Palin just endorsed Carly Fiorina as best chance to unseat Barbara Boxer. Congressman Tom McClintock endorsed Steve Poizner to take on former governor Jerry Brown who is trying to leave his Oakland exile (mayor) for Sacramento again.
Most California Republicans have a weak preference among the primary contenders, according to the polls. Heck, even Hugh Hewitt, of California, who usually has a sharp political opinion on most things has not written at his blog about Republican US Senate contenders DeVore, Campbell or Fiorina.
This lack of excitement is due to having to make hard or distasteful choices.
Except for Chuck DeVore, of weak polls in his try for the US Senate nomination even though a truly knowledgeable conservative and expert on state fiscal matters and on national security issues, none of the Republican prospectives cause much excitement. Similar as to Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner vying for the gubernatorial nomination.
Indeed, there’s much to suspect among California Republicans about whether Carly Fiorina or Tom Campbell, Meg Whitman or Steve Poizner, will best represent their views.
In the Senate race, I personally like Campbell, after DeVore, primarily because I highly respect integrity and civility, both of which he epitomizes. And, the smear of him as anti-Israel raises my hackles. But, at the same time, Campbell has an ongoing occasional tendency toward academic positions that can miss getting to the bottom line on either spending or national security, misfires on which are unacceptable in today’s conditions. Further, a rough and tumble campaign, certain with Barbara Boxer as opponent, will require someone able to match her sharply forked tongue.
Carly Fiorina, on the other hand, sounds like a script of platitudes, and she lacks the experience in government to be truly effective. But, her platitudes are conservative, she has the ability to spit venom, and she has the funds and temper to take on Barbara Boxer. Barbara Boxer has no record to run on, despite several terms, except for being a reliable vote for whatever Democrat programs are on the floor. If Fiorina wins, at least she should be a fairly reliable Republican vote in the US Senate. And, it will take a rich bitch to down a rich bitch. California elections require tens of millions to be a competitive candidate. Fiorina has those personal resources. Unfortunately, citizen state legislator, reserve officer Chuck DeVore does not, and no prospect of raising those sums.
The Democrat establishment recognizes that Boxer has no record, so they handed her sponsorship of the almost unanimously agreed upon Senate amendment to Senator Dodd’s dud bill to reshape financial regulation, the amendment to forbid federal bailouts of giant Wall Street firms. Boxer’s backers are also targeting Fiorina with ads, so they realize she is a threat.
Former California legislator and now congressman Tom McClintock is the most highly respected knowledgeable, personable and consistent conservative among California Republicans. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been enough for him to win a statewide election, which should tell you something about what can win in California.
McClintock is definitely not part of a Republican establishment, instead honestly calling the shots as he sees them. Steve Poizner has earned his spurs in California politics, serving ably as the elected Insurance Commissioner, previously served as Director of Critical Infrastructure Protection in the National Security Council where he applied his successful Silicon Valley experience in hi-tech communications technology that had made him rich. Poizner knows California government and programs, which will be an asset against the candidacy of Jerry Brown who also knows the workings of the state. Poizner, also, has the funds to compete. There have been no scandals on his watch. Poizner is not a consistent conservative, but he is a proven manager of complexities who can hit the road running. His Republican opponent, Meg Whitman, of eBay fame and wealth, is another able platitudiner, though politer than Fiorina, but lacks the knowledge to either take down Brown or turn California from its precipice. Whitman is no more conservative than Poizner, neither of whom are down-the-line conservatives. I trust Tom McClintock.
Ed Morrissey and Jennifer Rubin have comments about the Palin endorsement.
Conservative blog Red Country weighed in on McClintock’s, as well as that by the staunch conservative California Republican Assembly.
It will be a long month until the primary, and much can change. The Campbell vs. Fiorina polls show a close race. Poizner is catching up on Whitman. My endorsement will not mean a fraction of a decimal point in the final outcome.
P.S.: Los Angeles Times goes beyond "sorta" to say a liberal "feh" on all Republican and Democrat primary candidates for Governor and Senator, refusing to endorse any, though Boxer-challenger Mickey Kaus emerges better than others.
