Wednesday’s political round-up

September 7, 2005

Today’s installment of campaign-related news items that wouldn’t generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers:

* A Field Poll released today shows that barely more than one-in-three California voters would vote re-elect to Arnold Schwarzenegger and that the broad base of independent and Dem support he enjoyed in 2003 has disintegrated to his Republican base. In a hypothetical match-up against State Treasurer Phil Angelides, Schwarzenegger trails 43% to 40%, and against State Controller Steve Westly, Schwarzenegger trails 42% to 39%.

* Speaking of the California gubernatorial race, there remains some discontent about the strength of the Dem field. U.S. News & World Report said this week — believe it or not — that some major Dem donors are reaching out to Bill Clinton to run. “On first blush, it might sound nuts,” says a prominent Democratic strategist. “But he’d be governor of the fourth-largest economy in the world and have the ability to raise hundreds of millions of dollars for Hillary” if she ran for president, he said. (Ed. note — On second blush, it still sounds nuts)

* With just over two months until New Jersey voters elect a new governor, Jon Corzine and Doug Forrester agreed yesterday to two debates before Election Day. The first will be Sept. 20 and the next on Oct. 18. Both will be televised statewide.

* The field of Dems running for governor of Ohio is starting to get a little crowded. Former State Rep. Bryan Flannery (D) said yesterday that, while he isn’t sure exactly when he’ll announce his candidacy, he’s already established a campaign committee and is raising money. Flannery served in one term in Ohio’s House before an unsuccessful run for secretary of state in 2002. Flannery joins Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman (D) and U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland (D), both of whom are off to strong starts, in the race for the Dem nomination.

* With just one week before New York Dems pick their mayoral candidate, polls show the race tightening. A Marist College poll found Fernando Ferrer still leading the pack with 33% support, but Rep. Anthony Weiner, who had been running a distant fourth, is making great strides, moving up to second place and garnering 20% support. A Quinnipiac poll showed similar results, with Ferrer out front with 32%, Weiner up to second with 21%, City Council Speaker Gifford Miller at 17%, and Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields with 13%. If no candidate gets 40%, there will be a runoff.

I was laid off from my job in California the day Arnold won the recall election. I subsequently surveyed the damage and decided that another year of watching the election was not worth it and I was leaving the country. I left, Bush was re-elected, I’m now planning how to remain over here in Europe until at least after the 2008 election.

But hell, if Bill Clinton becomes governor of California, I’m buying a plane ticket.

  • I don’t think Bill Clinton is interested in becoming governor of California. The state is a political (if not quite a social and economic) basket case, and the governor has comparatively little power. Also, he doesn’t appear to be in very good health. Heart bypass surgery is no joke.

  • As a California resident, I’d gladly vote for Bill over Ahnold any day of the week, and twice on Sundays. Matter of fact, I’d vote to provide him with a harem to boot. And if he campaigned on a promise to lead the secession of California, I’d campaign for him like there was no tomorrow.

    Bill Clinton: first president of the Independent Socialist Republic of California.

    • Comments are closed.