[7beuties]

ouch!

[wildbill]

I read another article today where a poll showed Simon ahead by 8 points. What's going on here?

[Grim]

The latest evidence to play into this theory are the fortunes of Mr. Davis who, despite a rash of top-shelf – high- profile – bungles, is leading his Republican opponent by a huge margin in a top poll.

Notice the "top poll" is un-named. Anyone on this board heard of such a poll result? No, because it's fiction. This article is the first installment of Governor Davis' multi-million dollar propaganda campaign.

Simon may have a tough row to hoe till the election but i'm glad to see he has enough sense to reject advice from losers in the Riordan camp.

More reliable information can be found here:

Simon Leads Davis by 8 in Labor Poll

San Fran. Chronicle - Matier & Ross Column - June 12, 2002

FIRST STRIKE: After five days of "positive" ads, Gov. Gray Davis unleashed the first in what will likely be a series of attack ads on Republican opponent Bill Simon -- and with good reason.

There's a new poll floating around Sacramento that shows the embattled Davis trailing Simon by a whopping eight points.

The poll -- which was of likely voters and paid for by the Democratic- friendly Service Employees International Union -- found newcomer Simon at 42 percent to Davis' 34 percent.

[Malesherbes]

I long ago abandoned California, the state of my birth, and literally headed for the hills. Voters who would normally vote Republican are leaving the state in droves for Nevada, Arizona, and points east. California's future is dismal and will stay ripe for Democrat demagogues who thrive on misery and despair.

[Jen]

Pay up.
Ammo costs.

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[Wphile]

"What's he going to say without getting into trouble?" asks Berg "From water to transportation, to education, to the environment, to crime, he is on the wrong side of the issues from where most California voters are. This is no longer the state it used to be."

This is BS. So, this guy is implying that Davis is on the correct side of all these issues. Yeah, a lot of good that has done California! I don't buy this article at all. It totally contradicts the other article with the poll showing Simon 8 points ahead and only 34% approving of Gray Davis.

I sure wish I still lived in CA so I could work on Simon's campaign. It seems to me he is trying to raise money so he can compete with Davis's dough when the campaign heats up after Labor Day. It's summer now and people aren't paying attention to the political campaigns. Simon is right to lie low, build up his resources, and then go for it in the Fall. Go SIMON!

[tortoise]

Although the article strongly implies otherwise, Asians are statistically as likely to vote Republican as Caucasians generally speaking. There is a strong streak of cultural conservatism in the Asian population, nevermind a strong dislike for the government taking their money for any reason (social programs aren't a terribly popular in that community).

[tubebender]

This piece sounds like it was written by the Riordan camp of losers.

[Gophack]

This article is a bunch of crap. I would use much more profane language if it were allowed. This is so ridiculous, I don't know where to begin.

First, Democrats have steadily lost registration. They are now below 45%, a first in decades. Republicans are over 35%, another first in many years. Reps are steadily gaining, Dems are steadily losing. Decline-to-states (so-called independents) are increasing ... not Democrats.

It is true that California is no longer the conservative bastion that elected Ronald Reagan to the Governor's office and the Presidency ... but California is not the liberal pit everyone would have you believe.

California is unique. Voters are, generally, turned off by the so-called "social" issues, but try and tax their SUV and they will drive a stake through your heart. However, even as recent as March 2000, voter by 62% voted for Prop. 22 -- a conservative, social ballot measure that said in California, marriage shall ONLY be between a man and a woman.

California is an expensive state to campaign not just because it has over 30 million citizens and 15 million registered voters. It is expensive because it's really six states. You can't talk about the same issues in Placer County as you do in San Mateo County as you do in Fresno County as you do in San Diego County. I could go on and on ...

Davis IS vulnerable, not just because he is a failure (though that DEFINITELY helps), but because he has made some assumptions about California that aren't helping him. He thinks he can win the election simply because he is pro-abortion. The fact is, few people vote on the abortion issue. People are going to be looking at him and saying, so? Who cares? They may be pro-life or pro-abortion, but they will be united in wanting to know about Davis' failed leadership ... on energy, the state budget, education ... the list goes on and on.

California voters are fickle. They go back and forth depending on what issue sticks in any given year. Davis is trying to create the issue -- abortion -- and it's not going to stick. Been there, done that.

Simon has a solid background, is an outsider (California also likes outsiders, i.e. not a career politician) and has developed into a good candidate and speaker. He's not as "polished" as Davis, but I think people look at Davis and see "phony", "untrustworthy" and look at Simon and think, "nice guy," and "honest". Basically ... they may not agree with everything Simon says, but they'll know he won't stab them in the back and steal their pocketbook while fundraising on the taxpayers' dime and selling his signature to the highest bidder.

Davis is corrupt. We have to get rid of him. Simon stands the best chance.

[Grampa Dave]

Typical of what passes as journalism from this cult fishwrap, CS SNOTITOR!

ONLY POSITIVE USE OF CS SNOTITOR!

[A CA Guy]

Despite the budget woes the people in the state are pretty happy in the job market. I expect Davis will be gone, but the anger won't be going downward.

This is one of the most bought out states with union payola, teachers, government jobs and other crapola! They buy the vote big-time out here.

[Charlotte Corday]

One leading Republican strategist calls the race for governor here "a boxing match with [Democratic Gov.] Gray Davis in one corner hitting himself in the face, while in the other corner a pair of gloves languishes unused."

Although I don't necessarily think this is true of Simon, it is such a delicious metaphor for the Democrats and Republicans over the last seven years that I definitely intend to bookmark it for future use.

[heleny]

such a scenario could also ripple across other such high-profile posts as secretary of state, to lieutenant goveronor [sic], controller, treasurer, and insurance commissioner.

State Senator Tom McClintock has excellent chances for his bid for Controller. He brought us the vehicle licence fee reductions (but Davis will raise the fees dramatically beginning next year), is very responsible, and is fiscally conservative.

If people see that the current AG has problems investigating the Oracle scandal because of conflicts of interest, Dick Ackerman may have a good chance at the job, too.

I don't know much about the other races, except Lt.Gov. might be a lost cause. This title is almost unrelated to the other 90% of the article slamming Simon's chances based on an outdated poll taken just before the Oracle and other no-bid contracts scandals dominated the headlines.