Posted on 02/09/2007 10:31:44 AM PST by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO — The 2008 presidential campaign will take center stage this weekend at the California Republican Party convention, as one of the leading GOP contenders — former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani — addresses delegates Saturday and seeks to build on an already strong organizational advantage in the Golden State.
Although delegates are also scheduled to hear from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger tonight, the partisans at the convention are already looking ahead.
"This won't be an Arnold convention," said former Assemblyman Tony Strickland of Moorpark. "This will be more of a Giuliani convention."
Giuliani, who this week formed an exploratory committee for a presidential run, is scheduled to remain in California for several days, making stops in Silicon Valley and at an annual agricultural expo in Tulare. He already has formed a strong network of supporters in California, largely with the help of former gubernatorial nominee Bill Simon, a one-time colleague in the U.S. Attorney's Office in New York.
Simon has enlisted many from his 2002 campaign team to help his old boss' efforts in California, including Simi Valley conservative strategist Steve Frank.
Frank, who has been known to stir up controversy at past state conventions, said Thursday he is "heavily involved" with the Giuliani campaign and promised to be on "my best behavior" at this convention.
The attention given to the presidential campaign and a hotly contested race to select the state party's new vice president is probably good news for Schwarzenegger, because those two issues will deflect potential protests from the conservative wing of the party.
Schwarzenegger has drawn the ire of some conservatives since his re-election by declaring an era of "post-partisanship" and by proposing a universal healthcare plan that includes billions in what he describes as "fees" on businesses, doctors and hospitals.
Conservative critics describe those fees as taxes — and contend that, by proposing them, Schwarzenegger has broken his pledge not to seek a tax increase.
Among his sharpest critics has been Ventura County Sen. Tom McClintock, who as the party's nominee for lieutenant governor in the fall, had been described by many as the governor's "running mate." This week, in comments to a news reporter, McClintock offered this pointed criticism of Schwarzenegger's recent performance: "I'd say he was governing as a Democrat, but that would be an insult to Democrats."
Ventura County Republican Central Committee Chairman Mike Osborn of Ventura, who will lead a contingent of perhaps three dozen county delegates at the convention, said he expects Schwarzenegger will receive a polite reception.
"There's been a lot of smoke, but I haven't seen anything happening," he said of GOP dissatisfaction with the governor.
Asked about Schwarzenegger's theme of "post-partisanship," Osborn acknowledged: "I would like to hear him mention the word ‘Republican' a few more times."
When asked earlier this year whether he was considering becoming an independent, Schwarzenegger said he entertained no such thoughts and proclaimed himself "a proud Republican."
Although Giuliani will be the only presidential candidate to attend the convention, advocates for other candidates are expected to work the partisan crowd — including Strickland, who is backing former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Those two, along with Arizona Sen. John McCain, are considered the early front-runners for the party's 2008 nomination.
Yeah, who decided the primary already???
It is interesting that the MSM was trying to force McCain on the polling members of the GOP and they seem to be gravitating towards Rudy instead.
Rudy - YUCK.
The RINO's are going to do everything they can to get together and make their candidates look inevitable.
And yet in the end even if they were to get their man nominated, his defeat at the hands of the Democrats is also inevitable, because conservatives will sit home.
It's puzzling, but it appears as if the fix is in. This article is evidence.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RinF8BiDNaU
"Rudy - YUCK."
lol well said
Yahh, why don't you just open the whitehouse door to Hillary to while your at it.
Because that's what your going to get if we end up with a third party candidate who splits the republican vote.
Clinton, Edwards, O'bama, Dodd, Biden are all Double YUCKS!
Our YUCK is the only one, so far, that has a chance of beating all the YUCK YUCKS.
I'll vote YUCK.....defeat the YUCK YUCKS!
It's along way to Tipperary as the old song goes.. We'll see.
CONSERVATVES will also lose the 08' election.
Too, picly
I guess the MSM is voting for Rudy.
Yeah, let's put the Dems in charge of foreign policy instead of someone who is 100% on board with the continued prosecution of the war on terror. Good plan.
lol
Well then I guess I can sit this one out.
Would you call the CA GOP Rinos?
I wouldn't be surprised if you did, but just asking.
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