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Desperate Davis Lashes Out at Simon
NewsMax ^ | March 21, 2002 | Carl Limbacher

Posted on 03/21/2002 7:19:09 AM PST by w_over_w

Desperate Davis Lashes Out at Simon

With Bill Simon leading in some polls, California's increasingly desperate Gov. Gray Davis is telling voters that the conservative GOP primary victor is "out of touch and out of sync" with the state.

Focusing his attack on Simon's decision to hire an activist with the Traditional Values Coalition, which he called "a big mistake" and "an attempt to lead us in a direction most Californians don't want to go," Davis zeroed in on Simon's newest campaign aide, Phil Sheldon.

According to last Sunday's San Francisco Chronicle, Sheldon has been hired to distribute e-mails for Simon's campaign, including one that praised Simon as the best candidate to "undo four years of liberalism, homosexuality and anti-family values in California at the hands of Governor Gray Davis."

According to news reports, Davis is determined to hit out at Simon's pro-life, pro-Second Amendment stands as well as his other conservative positions even though Simon has concentrated on the bread-and-butter issues of energy and taxes that are important to California voters.

In a sign that Simon's campaign strategy is working, Davis said he won't allow the Republican candidate's efforts to go unchallenged, suggesting that he will not allow Simon to "change the topic," as he has promised, away from divisive social issues like abortion.

"This campaign does not belong to me, and does not belong to Mr. Simon. It belongs to the people of California," Davis told the San Francisco Chronicle.

Jeff Flint, spokesman for the Simon campaign, told the Chronicle that Davis' comments were "a smoke screen" aimed at obscuring issues the voters want to know about - energy, education and the economy.

"While Gray Davis has been busy fund raising, Bill Simon has been traveling the state," Flint said. "He makes his statements based on the fact that he has talked to thousands of people ... and they want the governor to fix the schools, get the state out of the power business and fix the budget. The governor is not going to overturn Roe v. Wade."

Meanwhile, Simon was basking in the huge show of support he's now getting from the White House and the national Republican Party.

Republican National Committee Chairman Marc Racicot held a news conference and fund raiser for Simon in Sacramento, and met with all GOP statewide candidates and GOP state Chairman Shawn Steel. Next month, President Bush plans to attend a series of state fund raisers and appearances with Simon at his side.

Bush will go to California for a two-day trip in late April, with stops in Northern and Southern California planned. His appearance will showcase for the nation Simon's effort to unseat Davis in November.

"The White House has been phenomenal," Sal Russo, Simon's campaign manager, told the Chronicle. "It's been very seamless. ... They've made phone calls and gotten people on board. They put the word out that this is a priority for the president."

The highly visible GOP events on Simon's behalf are meant to show Republican unity behind the candidate in the wake of his landslide primary victory over White House-backed former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan.

Said Republican National Committee spokeswoman Mindy Tucker, "The chairman thought it was very important to come out and show his support for the entire GOP ticket." She told the Chronicle, "Clearly, the governor's race is one we feel is important - and we feel we have a great candidate."

Simon's backers say that he has a big advantage over Davis in the fact that after his three years as governor, Davis is cordially disliked by almost half of the state's voters.

When the Los Angeles Times asked voters why they didn't like Davis, most said it was because of his inept and costly mishandling of the state's energy crisis.

"Beyond performance-related gripes, many said in follow-up interviews that he seems soulless and ambitious, a tactician who sees all issues through the lens of political advance," the Times reported.

"He's as cold as ice," John Cohen, a Los Angeles Democrat who voted for Davis in 1998, told the Times, adding that he's undecided about whether to vote for him again in November.


TOPICS: Extended News; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: calgov2002; simondavisgovernor
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It's amazing, all Bill Simon ever said was "Gray Davis failed to plan" and the gates of vitriol spew forth from the Gov's office. This is going to be ugly but hopefully the guy with the white hat will prevail. Go Bill Go!
1 posted on 03/21/2002 7:19:09 AM PST by w_over_w
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Comment #2 Removed by Moderator

To: w_over_w

Davis lashes out? He does that quite often, usually while cursing, assaulting State employees, and throwing ashtrays.

3 posted on 03/21/2002 7:32:59 AM PST by Redcloak
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To: w_over_w
""The White House has been phenomenal," Sal Russo, Simon's campaign manager, told the Chronicle. "It's been very seamless. ... They've made phone calls and gotten people on board. They put the word out that this is a priority for the president."

SO this is what Bush was doing when he could have been advancing the Pickering nomination.

4 posted on 03/21/2002 7:35:41 AM PST by Redbob
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To: Canavan
What is your problem with Sheldon?
5 posted on 03/21/2002 7:41:32 AM PST by wjcsux
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To: w_over_w
It appears that Grayout Davis is out of touch with reality.
6 posted on 03/21/2002 7:42:26 AM PST by wjcsux
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To: Canavan
I gave a pretty substantial check to the Simon campaign, as they gained steam. I will be calling them today to register my disgust that this man would be hired by them
Huh??? You didn't know where Simon stands for "traditional family value". You thought you voted for Rear-don, didn't you?
7 posted on 03/21/2002 7:44:02 AM PST by Toidylop
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To: w_over_w
"Gray Davis failed to plan"

Dems always pride themselves in having big social plans. That one must have indeed hit a nerve.

8 posted on 03/21/2002 7:46:04 AM PST by lavaroise
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To: Canavan
I'm not as informed as you . . . what's the issue with Sheldon? I thought one of the State Republican Congressman (forgot his name but he's always on Hugh Hewitt radio show)was running the campaign. Please fill me in! Thanks.
9 posted on 03/21/2002 7:49:40 AM PST by w_over_w
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Comment #10 Removed by Moderator

To: w_over_w
"an attempt to lead us in a direction most Californians don't want to go,"

Yeah Grey..
Californians wanted to live in the the dark and go a gazzilion dollars into FUTURE debt because you're incompetent...

CRISIS MANAGEMENT IS NOT LEADERSHIP!

11 posted on 03/21/2002 8:09:06 AM PST by Publius6961
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To: Canavan
Thanks. I can understand your compassion. Any chance Gray would hire Sharpton? LOL
12 posted on 03/21/2002 8:22:39 AM PST by w_over_w
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To: w_over_w
Vote for Simon....he's not insane!
13 posted on 03/21/2002 8:26:33 AM PST by Lizavetta
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To: w_over_w
Why is Davis worried? So many people here said Simon could never beat Davis.
14 posted on 03/21/2002 8:30:53 AM PST by nickcarraway
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To: Publius6961
Yup! That just about hits the "big nail" on the "big head". Every time I pull into my gas station . . . what is wrong with this picture!!!!
15 posted on 03/21/2002 8:45:53 AM PST by w_over_w
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To: w_over_w;calgov2002
calgov2002:

calgov2002: for old calgov2002 articles. 

calgov2002: for new calgov2002 articles. 

Other Bump Lists at: Free Republic Bump List Register



16 posted on 03/21/2002 8:47:32 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: Canavan
I have a question: I thought the guy from the Traditional Values Coalition was LOU Sheldon... this article talks about PHIL Sheldon. Are they related, or does the media have it wrong again?
17 posted on 03/21/2002 8:55:07 AM PST by CA Conservative
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To: Canavan
Lou Sheldon was not hired by Simon.

Sheldon's SON who is an Internet consultant was paid for a mailing list.

Bill Simon pointed this out in the chronicle yesterday.

18 posted on 03/21/2002 9:05:43 AM PST by ElkGroveDan
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Comment #19 Removed by Moderator

To: Canavan
Strongly agree with you. Simon should focus on bread-and-butter conservatism, the abortion/gay/family/religion stuff will take care of itself.

Reminds me of the Libertarians with their one-track mind regarding the drug war......cut the taxes, cut the gov't, let the people arm themselves and the social issues will solve themselves.

20 posted on 04/05/2002 8:02:04 AM PST by ServesURight
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