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There are many things in campaigns that are nearly always true.If a challenger accuses an incumbant of doing X, and the incumbant can prove that the challenger also did X, the incumbant wins.

The only possible atack that Simon had on Davis was mismanagement. Now we learn that Simon can't make that stick, becuase Simon has a history of mismangement too.

What this means is that Simon, as a savings and loan owner, made very bad decisions based on a business bubble. What Davis did was make some very bad business decisions based on a business bubble.

In all of Davis's political history he has yet to lead with his best punch. This is a pretty good punch. I wonder what else Davis has up his sleeve.

Right wing candidates never seem to think that their opponents will pull the skeletons out of their closets and use them against them. Opponents always do and they nearly always work.

Anyone who has been more than half way around the poltical block, knows that if you have such a thing in your closet you get it out early yourself. It is nearly always possible to turn your liabiltiy into an asset.

Most likely Simon never told his political consultant about this skeleton. People too stupid to tell the pros what they have in their closet always get beat. Believe me the Constultants ask all candidates the questions. Stupid candidates "FORGET to tell the consultant."

Had I been Simon's consultant I would have run a heavy 2 day saturation on radio. The TV newscasts would have picked it up and may even have given Simom positive coverage for his "GASP" honesty. Instead Simon will get negative coverage everywhere as the boob who cost the taxpayers millions. Here is the pre-emtive radio ad Simon should have run weeks ago.


    Hi my name is Bill Simon. I am a candidate for Governor.
    One of the hardest lessons I have learned in my life  
    is when to say no. Years ago a I owned a Savings and 
    Loan. I allowed loans to be made to people that should
    not have gotten loans. I wanted to see people make a 
    success in business. I followed my heart and not my 
    brain. What I did was not a help to the borrowers. 
    Some went broke. And it certainly was bad for our   
    depositors. It was a hard lesson, but I have learned it.
    
    One thing in life. We all make mistakes. The important
    thing to do is admit your mistakes for all to see, and 
    do your  best to never make that mistake again. 

    As your governor I will surely make mistakes. I can only
    assure you that I will freely admit my errors and do my 
    best to fix them as quickly as possible. 

    Have you ever heard Gray Davis admit his mistakes and 
    offer to correct them? Do you  think he ever will?

    I am Bill Simon. Candidate for Governor. I need your
    vote and support.

That is how you handle the mistakes in your background.

Simon is too much of an amatuer to play this game and win. Davis chose Simon to make his re-election as easy as shooting ducks in a barrel. It looks like that is what it is gonna be.

Right wing candidates never seem to think that their opponents will pull the skeletons out of their closets and use them against them.

Oh, gimme a break! That's the one thing they can count on, and almost all know it.

Go join the line of folks saying there's no way Simon can win. I prefer to actually see some proof of this before tossing the poll leader overboard. Sure, he's got his work cut out for him. But Davis' re-elect numbers stink to high Heaven. So we all know Grayout will be using his ton ' money to drive Simon's numbers down, because he has little hope of raising his own subterranean numbers.

First, you don't know about the S&L situation and you can't believe what Davis has said, it's a big lie. Simon responded when Riordan attacked him on it, and he has responded to Davis.

Second, it is a COMPLETE WASTE OF MONEY to be running ads now. NO ONE is focused on the election except us on FR, the media, and political pundits. If Simon spends a bunch of money now, it's throwing it down the drain -- literally. I'm glad Davis is wasting his money. It's not getting him anywhere, and it shows that he is REALLY WORRIED. NO ONE is so stupid to run ads FIVE MONTHS before an election unless they have major damage control.

Davis and Simon are neck and neck in the polls, and that will stay throughout the summer. Davis' negatives are huge -- over 50% of likely voters say they disapprove of his performance. 50% of ALL ADULTS in the Field Poll said they don't like him.

Davis has major problems. But Simon wouldn't be smart to spend a lot of money now when no one is paying attention.

Sorry, I don't mean to get all mad at you about this, but your post is reminescent of the posts in December and early January about Simon against Riordan, where EVERYONE was saying Simon needs to do this, do that, hit Riordan early and often. Fortunately, clearer heads prevailed and Simon took the election by nearly 19 points because the Simon Team was patient.

So, be patient. There is five months until the election.