Replies

See also a LONGER version of this story from http://www.bayarea.com/mld/bayarea/4146232.htm:

Posted on Wed, Sep. 25, 2002

National GOP likely to donate $1 million to $2 million to Simon
ERICA WERNER
Associated Press Writer

YORBA LINDA, Calif. -
Republican National Committee Chairman Mark Racicot said Wednesday that national Republicans would be funneling some $1 million to $2 million to Bill Simon's campaign for governor.
Meanwhile Simon's one-time political opponent, Secretary of State Bill Jones, announced he was calling on Attorney General John Ashcroft to investigate Democratic Gov. Gray Davis' fund-raising practices.
"Only a federal investigation at the highest national level meets the enormity of the apparently illegal activity going on now at the highest level of our state government," the Republican secretary of state said at a Sacramento press conference.
He released a letter to Ashcroft calling for him to determine whether federal and state bribery and anti-racketeering laws had been violated.
There was no immediate response from spokesmen for the U.S. Justice Department, but Davis aides forcefully rejected Jones' claims.
"The governor has always operated well within the letter and the spirit of the law. He's gone above and beyond to respect the boundaries that exist," said Davis campaign press secretary Roger Salazar.
In one incident Jones cited, Davis last week canceled a fund-raiser organized by Rod Diridon, the governor's appointee to chair the state's High-Speed Rail Authority.
The event at Diridon's home was scheduled to take place the day after the governor signed a bill putting a $10 billion bond measure on the 2004 ballot that would pave the way for high-speed rail in the state.
Jones, who lost to Simon in the primary, now supports him.
Racicot affirmed the national Republican Party's commitment to Simon's campaign in an interview after a speech at the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace. Stumbles by Simon's campaign had raised questions about the strength of White House support.
"You'll find us as aggressively invested in California as any state in the nation," Racicot said.
"Obviously for us to make a significant contribution in concert with the (Republican Gov.s Association) reveals our belief that we can be successful here," he said.
Asked for details on the total commitment that could be expected from the RNC and Gov.s Association, Racicot said, "I'd probably say $1 to $2 million." He said the final decision would be made by Monday.
The amount is lower than figures Simon officials discussed earlier in the campaign and would buy around a week of air time for commercials.
"We don't comment on specific numbers, but we're very pleased with the continued support of Bill Simon by the president and the party," said Simon press secretary Mark Miner.
Simon, a Los Angeles investor and political novice, lags Davis badly in funding and recently loaned his campaign $4 million. As of the last reporting period in July, he had $5 million in the bank compared with $31 million for Davis.

And here is ANOTHER Simon story, from KABC-7 TV:

Poll: Davis Clinging to Lead over Simon
CALIFORNIA — A new statewide poll shows Governor Davis is clinging to an 8-point lead over GOP challenger Bill Simon with less than six weeks until Election Day.
However the Public Policy Institute of California survey says that the majority of voters are unhappy with both candidates.
Davis is leading Simon by a 40 percent to 32 percent margin -- a slight decline over his 11-point lead in August. Nearly a fifth of likely voters say they are undecided and many think the governor's race has failed to focus on important issues.
Voters also said the wave of television ads on airwaves statewide have been generally unhelpful.
Meantime, President Bush continues to enjoy high marks in California, with 64 percent of adults saying they approve of his handling of his job and 32 percent disapproving. More than half--o 55 percent--said they approve of Bush's handling of the situation with Iraq.
Copyright © 2002 KABC-TV and the Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Last Updated: Sep 25, 2002

Meanwhile Simon's one-time political opponent, Secretary of State Bill Jones, announced he was calling on Attorney General John Ashcroft to investigate Democratic Gov. Gray Davis' fund-raising practices...
That would be "Democratic Gov. eGray Davis' fund-raising practices" -

"Dump DAVIS!"

"DumpDAVIS" FReeps are currently scheduled for:

Sunday (9/29) - 6 pm to 8 pm - Kodak Theatre in Hollywood - confirmed
(note NEW times)
Barbra Streisand and Barry Manilow will be raising $4 million for the DNC
theme: "Keep the Hookers in Hollywood, NOT Sacramento"
(Hooker/pimp costumes encouraged, but not required!)
Monday (9/30) - 11 am to noon - Nixon Library in Yorba Linda - confirmed
(note NEW start time)
Bill Simon speech/lunch at noon
theme: "Gray Davis: debate DODGER"
(Bring ANYTHING that says "Dodgers" - hats, posters, uniforms!)
Monday - (10/7) - 10 am to noon - Los Angeles Times building - confirmed
Simon/Davis debate
theme: "Dump DAVIS"
("Dump DAVIS" posters, sanitation worker outfits, dump truck?)
Saturday (10/19) - noon to 4 pm - Capitol building in Sacramento - confirmed
state-wide "DumpDAVIS" FReep in SACRAMENTO!
FReepers from all across Cailfornia will gather on the Capitol Steps
Jim Robinson is scheduled to be there.
Sacramento radio station KTKZ (1380-AM) would like to do a LIVE remote broadcast from the FReeep!
theme: "Dump DAVIS"
(possible GIANT dump truck, dumpsters - use your imagination...)

Please FReep-mail me for details, and to get on my list for a SECRET "Dump DAVIS!" FReep - coming soon!

if davis win this election I am convinced bush needs to put cali 1 step above iraq in the war on terror

This AP story gets BETTER with each new instalment!

See THIS new addition, from the CURRENT Associated Press story:

"...Meanwhile, Simon's one-time political opponent, Secretary of State Bill Jones, announced he was calling on Attorney General John Ashcroft to investigate Democratic Gov. Gray Davis' fund-raising practices.
"I believe that the recent evidence strongly suggests that Gov. Davis has crossed the line from simple poor judgment about fund-raising into criminal activity," the Republican secretary of state told a Sacramento press conference.
He released a letter to Ashcroft calling for him to determine whether federal and state bribery and anti-racketeering laws had been violated..."

Yowsah!
It appears that this new move MUST be blessed by the White House, eh?

Go, Dubya, Go!
Go, SIMON, Go!

DUMP DAVI$

GO SIMON

Well, it's probably a state secret how much they will actually give, but I hope it's closer to 2 million than 1. This is a key race.

I hope they are also leaning on the big California donors. Too many of them have already decided to pay Davis protection money for fear he will win. Better for them if he loses.

Massive Simon bump. We're praying for you, California! I hope you guys get out there and stomp the cr@p out of Gay Doofus.

From the "Oops! (nevermind)" department, this story is TEMPORARILY posted at http://washingtontimes.com/national/20020926-98943156.htm:

September 26, 2002

Simon faces snub from GOP donors
By Ralph Z. Hallow
THE WASHINGTON TIMES

     National Republicans are about to give Bill Simon the financial cold shoulder unless he more than doubles the $9 million he has already loaned his campaign to defeat California Gov. Gray Davis.
     The Republican Governors Association meets today to decide how to divvy up among 27 competitive gubernatorial races about $15 million it has to spend. Mr. Simon had hoped the association would give him $1 million from its kitty and that the Republican National Committee would kick in another $1 million.
     But he'll get only about half of that, at best, officials of both committees said, unless he writes a big check of his own.
     "If he puts in $10 million more of his own money, it tells the rest of the world he's serious and makes it easier for the RNC and the RGA in Washington to open their checkbooks," said a senior Republican associated with one of the committees. "We think he can win this, mainly because Davis is so disliked by voters, but Simon has to step up to the plate."
     Several major donors from California say they want to see him kick in between $15 million and $30 million before they'll feel confident enough to write big checks to his campaign.
     Mr. Simon, in an interview, said that, 41 days before the election, his campaign has barely enough cash for two weeks' worth of saturation television advertising statewide.
     "We've got a couple million bucks [cash on hand]," Mr. Simon said. "I am not going to give you the exact number, but I know what it is."
     Since scoring a Republican primary upset against Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan in March, the Simon campaign has suffered a number of front-page embarrassments — though polls show Mr. Simon has narrowed the gap against Mr. Davis, the unpopular Democratic incumbent.
     "Everyone believes Gray Davis is beatable, but [Mr. Davis] has to be the issue, not Bill Simon or Simon's campaign," a Republican committee official said privately. "Right now, people in Washington who look west to California are spending more time talking about the Simon campaign and what's wrong with it, rather than about Gray Davis and what's wrong with him."
     Said a top Republican from another national campaign committee: "We asked him to reorganize his campaign and get it to focus better, but he is still making mistakes — the campaign says one thing about whether he would sign Davis' budget and then he says the opposite. This came on top of his flip-flop on the gay issue."
     Mr. Simon told The Washington Times that he would not, as governor, legalize same-sex "marriages" or declare a statewide "gay-pride day," despite his earlier answers to a questionnaire that the Republican Log Cabin Club, a pro-homosexual rights group, says he filled out and signed.
     "People in my campaign filled it out without my review or approval," Mr. Simon said. "Obviously, that will not happen again."
     He said he is still running as the "limited-government conservative" he said he was during the Republican primary and would not raise taxes as governor, despite the $24 billion deficit "Davis ran up on his watch."
     But national Republican officials are skeptical that Mr. Simon will bring coherence to his campaign — unless he demonstrates his commitment by risking a significant portion of his personal wealth.
     Aides reportedly once said Mr. Simon was prepared to spend up to $60 million of his own money to win, but now his campaign advisers say he never made such a commitment.
     The Simon campaign concedes it did not get the expected lift — either in the polls or in fund raising — from a judge's reversal of a Los Angeles jury's $78 million fraud verdict against his investment firm. Nor did he get a fund-raising boost from major donors after he lent $4.2 million to his campaign recently. Before that, he had lent his primary campaign $5 million.
     Aided by the advantages of incumbency and what even Republicans say is a first-rate campaign team, Mr. Davis has outraised Mr. Simon by a 5-1 ratio.

Clark Kent has come out of the phonebooth. Go, Simon!!!

"Republicans would be funneling..."

Nice choice of words from the Clymeriated Presstitutes. Go for Simon. Grayout stays at 40% or less and as people get to know Bill, they will like him. Steady as she goes...

George Skelton, columnist, Los Angeles Times

The most biased Democrat reporter in the state. Bad news. There to protect Davis.

Regarding all the other threads ... the GOP hasn't snubbed Simon. The $10 million was thrown out way back when not by Bush or Simon or anyone connected, but probably the media. Bush came out for two major fundraisers and Simon raked in several million dollars. So this coming $1-2 million is ON TOP OF the millions Bush has already raised for Simon.

This is the media trying to hurt Simon, nothing more, nothing less. THey are trying to disenchant the Republican base. They don't want us voting.

Let's not give them what they want. We need to be out EN MASSE.