Conservative Fire Doused: GOP Representative Tom McClintock NOT to Run for California Governor
Well, it is NOT going to happen.
On The Capitol Hour With Eric Hogue today, the excitement over a potential Tom McClintock bid for governor cascaded over the airwaves like splashing whitewater from a heavy Sierra snow melt.
“This could be the positive, perfect storm for the conservatives,” Hogue said as he opened his noon-1 p.m. program. He fired up listeners on “intelligent conservative talk” KTKZ AM 1380 over internet chatter suggesting that 4th District Rep. McClintock may indeed contemplate a 2010 run against perceived party moderates Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner.
Hogue said three sources told him that polling for the race is underway on McClintock’s behalf.
But then McClintock doused the story.
“I just want to make it very clear that there is absolutely no truth whatsoever to any rumor I am considering running for governor,” he said in a phone call to Capitol Alert. “I have not done any polling and I have not wavered from my position that, if nominated, I will not run and, if elected, I will not serve. I don’t know how I can make it any plainer or clearer than that.”
There are rumors on the LEFT and RIGHT.
There is little doubt that McClintock would do the polling and with three moderate Republicans in the race, Tom would appeal to the California conservative base.
But, two questions:
1. Would McClintock vacate a relatively safe Northern California Congressional seat which has NO term limits and…..
2. How would McClintock raise the money to run against two mega-millionaires, Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner who would run against him in the GOP primary election?
Stay tuned…..
Update:
McClintock’s office is now denying the report and blaming the Dems who continue to covet his Northern California Congressional District for a bit of opposition drill.
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