Posted on 04/24/2005 9:41:55 AM PDT by AVNevis
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) - State Sen. Tom McClintock, the rock-ribbed conservative who made headlines two years ago when he ignored his fellow Republicans' pleas to drop out of the race to replace Gov. Gray Davis and leave the field open for Arnold Schwarzenegger, is getting an early start in the 2006 race for lieutenant governor.
Campaigning in Orange County on Saturday, McClintock told members of the group Principles Over Politics that the job appeals to him because the lieutenant governor presides over the state Senate and is California's chief executive whenever the governor is out of state.
"It places the office in the position of being a great generator of reforms," McClintock said. He also defended Schwarzenegger against complaints that in recent weeks he has backed off efforts to overhaul the state's pension system and institute tighter budget controls after his proposals came under sharp criticism.
"We have to bear in mind that political battles aren't tidy affairs," he said.
McClintock and Schwarzenegger were at odds for a time in 2003 when the legislator became the only major Republican to refuse to drop out of the race to replace Davis if he was recalled after Schwarzenegger became the front-runner to replace him. The two put those differences aside last year when Schwarzenegger campaigned for McClintock's re-election to the state Senate.
McClintock is making his fourth campaign for statewide office, having lost the gubernatorial race in 2003 and two previous bids for state controller. First elected to the state Assembly in 1982 at age 26, he served there until 1992 and again from 1996 to 2000. First elected to the state Senate in 2000, term limits will prevent him from seeking another term there in 2008.
He is the first Republican to announce his candidacy lieutenant governor in 2006.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Ack! That was his 2004 speech. Never mind. ;-)
It wasn't vastly different from that. There was, of course, a greater focus on the reform initiatives Arnold is trying to get passed.
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