Posted on 10/24/2002 12:17:41 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
With less than two weeks to go, California's weird gubernatorial race is heading for the finish line with one candidate apparently 10 points ahead of the other in the polls and some alleged experts declaring it's all but over for his opponent.
The latest poll by the Public Policy Institute of California put Davis in the lead 41 to 31 over Republican challenger Bill Simon, a jump of just two points for Davis over the Institute poll done last month.
That lead provoked UC Berkeley political science professor Bruce Cain to write Simon off.
"I think Davis is still the odds-on favorite," Cain said. "I think it would take a miracle for Simon to win," he told the Berkley Daily Planet.
He's right about the miracle. Simon has run what may be the most inept political campaign in California's history, leading veteran political advisor and former Reagan aide Lyn Nofziger to refer to Simon as "inept, weak and not very bright."
Moreover, Simon may be one of the unluckiest candidates in the state's electoral history. Leading Davis in the polls, Simon's investment firm suddenly got slapped by a Los Angeles jury with a multi-million dollar fraud verdict in a lawsuit filed by a convicted drug lord.
Davis jumped on the issue, running TV commercials portraying Simon, who was emphasizing his business expertise, as an inept businessman. Even after a disgusted judge threw out the verdict and exonerated Simon's firm, Davis continued to lambaste him on the basis of the overturned verdict.
But miracles do happen.
To put it bluntly, voters don't like or respect Davis. Even the media, which is largely pro-Democrat and anti-Simon, has recoiled in horror at the governor's fund raising practices which have been a marathon exercise ever since Davis took office almost for years ago.
They call it the "smell factor," and the state capitol has been reeking with the odor of this kind of corrupt activity, with Davis and his henchmen repeatedly gouging contributors dependent upon the state's largesse for state jobs, contracts, or appointments, for millions of dollars.
In addition to this scandal, Davis is an unlikable, calculating, cold fish with all the warmth of an ice cube and the friendliness of a Tasmanian Devil. Moreover, his hubris is matched by his campaign staff which acts as if the race is over and their boss due to be back in business raising big bucks for another four years.
Insisting "we're going to win," Garry South, the governor's senior campaign adviser sneered. "It doesn't matter what phony polls they put out. The outcome of this election is not in doubt. We're in high double digits -- and have been for several weeks."
"You have to get at least 90 percent, or more, of the Republican vote, 15 percent of the Democratic vote, and the majority of the independent vote," South told the San Francisco Chronicle. "And Bill Simon can't do any of those."
As a result of political neophyte Simon's ineptness and just plain bad luck, and Davis's shady reputation, the latest poll reveals that fully 57 percent of the state's voters are turned off by both candidates and feel they've been deprived of a genuine choice.
And this is where miracles can happen.
"It's going to come down to the wire," Simon spokesman Mark Miner told the Berkley Daily Planet.
Noting the Public Policy Institute poll put Davis in the lead 41 to 31 percent Simon campaign pollster Steven Kinney sees the race much closer than the poll indicated, arguing that whoever wins will take the election by less than a 10-point margin.
"Simon is still in the ball game," Kinney told the Planet, arguing that incumbents like Davis who are unable to hit 50 percent in the polls late in the campaign are often vulnerable. "He's been able to keep Simon down, but he hasn't been able to move himself up," Kinney said of Davis.
Despite the fact that California's voters appear convinced that living on the left coast obliges them to support the political left, Kinney thinks the GOP could pull it off
High approval ratings for President Bush and Davis's low ratings among the voters give Simon and other Republican candidates a chance this year in the traditionally Democratic-leaning California, Kinney told the Planet.
"Bill Simon is just a factor, but not the major factor," Kinney added. In August, the Planet reported, Kinney asked likely voters if they thought Davis deserves re-election. Only registered Democrats and Latinos said the governor deserves another term.
Of the major urban areas in California, only Los Angeles County, by a 49 to 47 margin, said Davis deserves re-election, and San Francisco Bay Area voters disagreed, by a 47 to 45 margin, according to Kinney.
If California's Democrats are sufficiently turned off by Davis to simply stay home on election day in any sizeable numbers, and the Republicans can get their vote out on election day, despite what the polls say, Davis could be history.
Miracles do happen.
Chicago, IL --- Washington, DC --- San Francisco,CA Dump Davi$ Rally in Pasadena, CA October 26th! FReeP the Creep ClinTon in Inglewood, CA October 28th! Help TakeBack America! - FReePWatch 2002 |
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| ...DATE../..TIME... | ...CITY../..SITE... | ...ADDRESS..INFO... | ...MORE INFORMATION... |
| FRiday 10/25/2002 445 pm, rain or shine. |
Chicago, IL | Pre-Patriots Rally II FReep, ChicagoLand For more info, check out the Thread . |
FReePers, Gather at Michigan Ave and Jackson, 4:45pm. We will head toward Columbus Drive at about 5pm to find our targets. Bring your flags, signs and patriotism! Keep those sign ideas coming! |
| Saturday 10/26/2002 530 pm, rain or shine. |
Pasadena, CA | Dump Davi$ Rally JOIN THE CAMPAIGN CHICKEN AND THE CHICKEN TO DEBATE GOVERNOR IN PASADENA Firefighter Rally and BBQ with Gray Davis United Democratic Headquarters 1118 E. Green Street Pasadena, CA |
Bring as big a "For Sale" sign as you can muster! |
| Saturday 10/26/2002 10 am to 3 pm |
Southern Cal - Burro Canyon | Liberty Belles Second Annual Belles, Bullets & Barbeque Halloween Thread Approximately 35 minutes from Los Angeles and San Bernardino Burro Canyon Shooting Park Info Directions - 11 miles north of the junction of the Foothill (210) Fwy and Azusa Ave. (Hwy 39). |
THERE WILL BE A PRIZE FOR THE BEST ANNIE OAKLEY COSTUME! Bring some food to grill, firearms if you have them, and a costume (if you dare)! Proceeds will be donated to the Burro Canyon Shooting Park cleanup operation. SPECIAL NOTE: If the road to Burro Canyon is closed, simply inform the Park Ranger that you are going to Burro Canyon Shooting Park and they will let you through. |
| Saturday 10/26/2002 11 am until 3 pm, rain or shine. |
Washington, DC | THE PATRIOTS RALLY FOR AMERICA II Original thread Update thread The Washington Monument Corner of 17th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW. C-SPAN will be striving to provide fair and balanced coverage for both the anti-war protests and the Patriots Rally. |
Bring your flags, signs and patriotism! As always, the D.C. Chapter's rules for demonstrating will be in effect. Briefly, they are: No violence, no racism, no profanity, no threats, no provocations, obey the law and treat all law enforcement officers with respect. |
| Saturday 10/26/2002 12 pm |
San Francisco, CA | West Coast Patriots Rally "Stop the Warped (Leftists)" Rally City Hall - across from the Civic Center Plaza. Carlton Goodlett Place between McAllister St. and Grove St. |
Bring your flags, signs and patriotism! Please be aware, even though there may be police there, we are each responsible for our own safety. Parking available at the Civic Center Parking Garage. BART stops a few blocks away. Cal-train + bus is also available. |
| Monday 10/28/2002 5:30 pm |
LA/Inglewood | FReeP Davis AND Big Creep Clinton MONDAY, October 28th. 1155 W. Arbor Vitae Street (Near LAX, between Manchester & Aviation off I-405) Inglewood, CA |
California and SoCal FReePers Heads UP!!! FReePers, Gather at 4:30 pm to catch media on their way in. Bring your signs! Some suggested signs are:
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| Tuesday 10/29/2002 12pm |
New York City | Cipriani 42nd Street 110 East 42nd Street New York, NY |
New York FReePers Heads UP!!! MICHAEL EISNER, the big cheese of Disney, and his family will be honored for their contributions to Jewish Home and Hospital. Barbara Walters presides, as her friend, Elton John, that man of many events, entertains. Cipriani 42nd Street is located at 110 East 42nd Street. It is situated on the South side of the Street between Lexington Avenue & Park Avenue. A clutch of famous names - Gov. Gray Davis - native son of NY, Sens. Joseph Lieberman and Barbara Boxer, Barry Diller - will send special video tributes. |
However, large poll groups generally over-sample urban areas which historically have a lower turn-out than suburban and rural areas, which generally vote more Republican.
I heard a rumor also. I heard that the INS was going to have agaents at polling places to catch illegals. (quick, pass it on)
Memories:
California Power Crisis animations featuring Governor Gray Davis
AND......................
...to see what bad, bad things Davis has done... - CLICK HERE
calgov2002:
 calgov2002: for old calgov2002 articles. calgov2002: for new calgov2002 articles. Other Bump Lists at: Free Republic Bump List Register |
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