California primary shift seen hindering McCain

The Washington Times ^ | 2/2/07 | Ralph Z. Hallow

[freespirited]

Arizona Sen. John McCain's presidential aspirations stand to suffer a stunning setback if California Republicans carry out a plan to move part of their nomination process up from June to Feb. 5 next year.

"If the California Republican Party approves this idea, it may benefit candidates other than John McCain," Orange County state Assemblyman Chuck DeVore told The Times.

The proposal backed by DeVore calls for the 1,600 members of the state Republican Central Committee to select at least 53 of their 165 delegates to the Republican National Convention at the party's regularly scheduled February convention.

An alternative plan being negotiated by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the state Assembly would move the presidential primary election up from its traditional June date -- where it has in recent years had no effect on the selection of the party's presidential nominee -- to Feb. 5.

Florida is also expected to move its Republican primary to Feb. 5. Gov. Charlie Crist is expected to put his statewide campaign machinery at the disposal of McCain for the presidential primary in that delegate-rich state.

Several other states are also planning to move up their primaries to early 2008, which political analysts predict would mean that nominees of both parties will be known after the votes are counted on Feb. 5....

"This election has two purposes: To impact the presidential nomination process and to place a term-limit extension initiative on the ballot in time for some lawmakers to run for re-election during the June 2008 primary," DeVore said. ...

McCain is widely viewed as the 2008 Republican presidential nomination front-runner. In California, he is expected to benefit from the tacit support and perhaps formal endorsement of Mr. Schwarzenegger. But many Republican leaders in the state ... oppose Mr. McCain.

[freespirited]

"The activists on the state central committee here have still not forgiven him for the McCain-Feingold assault on the First Amendment nor do they appear comfortable with his incoherent philosophical agenda," Mr. DeVore said. "Senator McCain seems to be more a product of the New York Times than of the party of Ronald Reagan." ...

Best quote about McCrazy that I have seen in ages.

[TYVets]

Senator McCain seems to be more a product of the New York Times than of the party of Ronald Reagan.

A great tag line.