• Barbara Boxer,  Carly Fiorina,  Meg Whitman,  Steve Poizner

    “Darned Good” Republican Meg Whitman’s Campaign for California Governor Self-Destructs With Revelation She Endorsed Democrat U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer in 2003

    Meg Whitman has already been struggling with her GOP bonafides with her recent re-registration from a DTS (Decline to State) voter to the Republican Party and this revelation will not help her – AT ALL.

    Former eBay executive Meg Whitman, the 2010 gubernatorial candidate who has recently portrayed herself as a “darned good” conservative Republican, endorsed Democratic U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer in 2003, records show.

    “Whitman contributed $4,000 to Boxer in the 2004 reelection campaign — and endorsed Boxer as a part of Technology Leaders for Boxer,” confirmed Boxer aide Rose Kapolczynski today.

    And, she signed an “open letter” appealing for support from the California technology executives, touting Boxer as a “dynamic and courageous leader” on the tech front.

    Whitman’s name was included in a “Friends of Boxer” release when the committee of a dozen technology leaders was formed in 2003 to assist the California Democrat in her 2004 re-election effort, which pitted her against GOP former Secretary of State Bill Jones.

    The move by Whitman to back the Democratic junior Senator came about because “in the spring of 2003, some technology leaders were interested in announcing their support for Boxer, so our campaign went out and talked to a wide range of leaders. And Meg Whitman was among them,” Kapolcyznski said.

    “She agreed to endorse the Senator…there was a fundraising event in Silicon Valley later in the year and Whitman maxed out to the campaign,” she said.

    Looks like the race for California governor in 2010 will be California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner’s to lose.

    And, how will this affect former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina’s bid to unseat Barbara Boxer?

    If Carly Fiorina decides to run, that is.


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  • Bill Clinton,  Gavin Newsom,  Jerry Brown,  Meg Whitman,  Steve Poizner

    Bill Clinton to Endorse San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom for California Governor – Republicans Cheer

    San Francisco Mayor Gavin “Whether You Like it or Not” Newsom

    Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner must be dancing this morning.

    Former President Bill Clinton is backing San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom for California governor over state Attorney Gen. Jerry Brown, potentially upending next year’s Democratic race to succeed Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger.

    Clinton’s decision to appear on Oct. 5 alongside one of his wife’s top backers in her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination comes at a critical time for the San Franciso mayor: Although Newsom has built a substantial Facebook and Twitter following among younger voters, Brown, a former two-term governor, has raised more than twice as much money as he has.

    Clinton’s trip to California next month is expected to include an event in predominantly Latino East Los Angeles as well as a high-dollar fundraiser.

    While the endorsement of a former president is big news in any state, the former chairman of the California Democratic Party thinks it could be especially significant in California, a state where Clinton has had a strong following ever since he beat Brown in the state’s 1992 presidential primary.

    These are delusions of grandeur on the part of Newsom and the California Far Left. Jerry Brown has the support of mainstream labor and will pillage Newsom with television ads next Spring before the June 2010 Democrat Primary election.

    California voters are disgruntled in any event(tired of decades of Democrat control of the Legislature) and the REAL race for California Governor is between the two Republicans, Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner. Californians will not vote for an old man retread pol or a young morally challenged San Francisco Mayor.

    Flap looks forward to the divisive Democrat primary though.


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  • Carly Fiorina,  Chuck DeVore,  Meg Whitman,  Steve Poizner

    California GOP Angst: The Problem With Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitman

    meg whitman and carly fiorina

    Former e-Bay CEO Meg Whitman and California GOP governor candidate and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and undeclared GOP candidate for U.S. Senate

    The Problem?

    They could NOT be bothered TO VOTE.

    • Carly Fiorina –  Voted in 5 of 18 elections, 2000-08

    • Meg Whitman  – Voted in 6 of 13 elections, 2002-07

    This failure to vote is a big deal for Flap and WILL be a vote breaker for Flap in a California GOP Primary election. Luckily, the GOP has other candidates in each race:

    Steve Poizner who is the GOP California Insurance Commissioner and

    Chuck DeVore who is a GOP California Assemblyman

    Now, will Poizner and Devore be able to exploit this vulnerability?

    Stay tuned…..


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  • John McCain,  Meg Whitman,  Steve Poizner

    John McCain to Endorse Meg Whitman for California Governor Tomorrow

    Romney McCain and Whitman

    Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., flanked by former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, left, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, makes a statement on the economy after an economic roundtable in Cleveland, Ohio, Octoober 27, 2008

    In a political tit for tat, Senator John McCain will endorse former eBay CEO Meg Whitman for California Governor tomorrow.

    Although Whitman hasn’t officially announced her candidacy, McCain will endorse the Republican at a town hall meeting in Orange County and then join her in Fresno for a news conference. Whitman’s spokesman Mitch Zak said that McCain’s support “continues the campaign’s momentum.”

    “John McCain is an American hero,” Zak said of the 2008 Republican presidential nominee. “We’re honored and humbled to have his endorsement. We’re looking forward to working with him to improve California.”

    Whitman served as national co-chair of McCain’s presidential campaign. She received another endorsement Thursday when House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, R-Virginia, announced that he was backing her.

    “The state needs a leader with a creative vision, with a formula for success that can address the fiscal challenges that you face and there is no one better than Meg Whitman,” Cantor said in a statement posted on Whitman’s web site. “I’m very honored to be part of her team.”

    Meg Whitman has positioned herself well with national GOP leaders McCain, Mitt Romney and Eric Cantor endorsing her before a contested primary. Although this will be a blow to California Republican Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner candidacy it will not necessarily be a fatal one. The other GOP candidate Tom Campbell can only hope that the ad war between Whitman and Poizner turns off California voters.

    Steve Poizner continues with an overwhelming majority of endorsements from state GOP leaders but unless he makes a positive case soon, the ads from McCain and Mitt Romney supporting Whitman will simply overwhelm his candidacy.

    Update:

    Here is video with Eric Cantor endorsing Whitman:


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  • Meg Whitman,  Steve Poizner,  Tom McClintock

    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.”

    Rep. Tom McClintock was interviewed by Neil Cavuto at the Sacramento Tax Day Tea Party.

    After a closely fought congressional race last November, might Representative Tom McClintock be angling for another run for California Governor?

    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.

    Previous:

    Representative Tom McClintock to Run for California Governor?; Updated: Rumor Denied By McClintock’s Chief of Staff


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  • Meg Whitman,  Steve Poizner,  Tom McClintock

    Representative Tom McClintock to Run for California Governor?; Updated: Rumor Denied By McClintock’s Chief of Staff

    Rep. Tom McClintock was interviewed by Neil Cavuto at the Sacramento Tax Day Tea Party.

    After a closely fought congressional race last November, might Representative Tom McClintock be angling for another run for California Governor?

    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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  • California Governor 2010,  Meg Whitman,  Steve Poizner,  Tom Campbell

    Poll Watch: Meg Whitman Leading in California GOP Governor’s Race

    Meg whitman feb 17 2009

    Meg Whitman, a likely candidate for California governor, speaks in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009. The former eBay chief executive stressed her goals of job creation and limited government

    The latest Field Poll in California has former e-Bay CEO Meg Whitman leading the Republican Field (298 Republican Primary voters sampled).

    • Whitman: 21 percent
    • Campbell: 18 percent
    • Poizner: 7 percent
    • Undecided: 54 percent

    Here are screenshots of the poll details:

    gop-governors-poll
    ca-gop-gov-poll-2

    ca-gop-governors-poll-3

    It is very early in this race and Whitman’s lead is not commanding with a whopping 54 per cent of California Republican voters undecided.

    Let the campaigning begin…….


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  • Arnold Schwarzenegger,  California Budget,  California Governor 2010,  Meg Whitman,  Steve Poizner

    California Budget Pandering and Math 101 – Do Poizner and Whitman Have the Right Stuff?

    Meg Whitman feb 17 b

    Meg Whitman, a likely candidate for California governor, speaks in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009. The former eBay chief executive stressed her goals of job creation and limited government

    Dan Walters has a piece this morning that makes it nauseatingly clear – Both the LEFT and RIGHT are pandering to California’s chronic structural deficit problems and offer little in solutions:

    Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who often utters fact-challenged pronouncements, told the simple truth about the state’s budget deficit just before the Legislature adopted billions of dollars in new taxes, spending cuts and loans to close the gap, to wit:

    “Anyone that runs around, I think, and says that this can be done without raising taxes, I think has not really looked at it carefully to understand this budget or has a math problem and has to get back, as I said, and take Math 101.”

    Given the hyperventilation we’ve seen in the last few days, this state must have lots of innumerate people.

    Governor Schwarzenegger replaced former Democrat Governor Gray Davis via recall because of his California budget failures and increasing tax burden. Arnold has done little over the past six years except bloviate about post-partisan politics, global warming and accept every increase in spending the California Legislature delivers to him. The Governator has failed.

    California needs fiscal leadership and budget reform with a specific plan – not pandering.

    California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner and former e-Bay CEO Meg Whiman, both Republican candidates for Governor should direct their energies towards solving California’s problems and leave the political hyperbolic pandering to John and Ken. Both bloviated at this weekend’s California Republican Party convention in Sacramento.

    Two wealthy Silicon Valley titans courted support for their 2010 gubernatorial campaigns Saturday before riled-up party activists angry over taxes, fed up with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and distrustful of moderate candidates.

    So state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner promised at a news conference that he would never raise taxes as governor.

    And former eBay CEO Meg Whitman carefully explained to more than 900 state party delegates why she registered as a decline-to-state voter from 1998 to 2007 before re-registering as Republican.

    She also apologized for “failing to vote on a number of occasions,” including in the 2003 recall election of Democratic Gov. Gray Davis.

    “They have things to prove to party activists,” said Republican political consultant Dave Gilliard of the top two GOP contenders to replace Schwarzenegger. “They have to give some red meat to demonstrate their commitment to Republican principles. Taxes will be the litmus test.”

    Time for leadership instead of “RED MEAT.” Time for a plan not a website.

    What is their excuse?

    Poizner-Not-Another

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  • California Budget,  Darrell Steinberg,  Steve Poizner

    California State Senate Remains in LOCK DOWN – California Budget Stalemate Continues While Steinberg Vows to Continue

    +++++ 11 AM Update+++++

    New California State Senate Leader Dennis Hollingsworth has called for re-opening Big 5 California State Budget negotiations while taking taxes off of the table.

    In a news conference with Senator Barbara Boxer, Senate Democrat Leader Darrell Steinberg rejects this approach and vows to continue to pursue one or two GOP Senators to vote for the current Big 5 proposal.

    Cogdill ousted with a hug

    State Senator Dave Cogdill, R-Modesto, gets a hug from Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, after he was ousted as Senate Minority Leader at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009. In a late night move, Cogdill was voted out of his leadership position and replaced by Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth, R-Temecula

    California State Senate Democrat Leader Darrell Steinberg continues to hold the Senate hostage and in “LOCK DOWN” (Senators cannot leave the Capitol) in an attempt to pass a California State Budget which includes tax increases.

    The state Senate reconvened Wednesday morning and lifted the call on the tax-hike part of the legislative puzzle.

    The roll was called and the votes remained unchanged around 8:30 a.m. 23 ayes. 12 noes.

    Senate Democrats immediately called for a private caucus off the floor.

    Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, in a brief interview, reiterated that the Democrats’ strategy remains the same, despite the ousting of GOP leader Dave Cogdill late last night.

    “The question is does this mean we go back to square one and start over? Absolutely not,” the bleary-eyed Sacramento Democrat said.

    He is “focused on gaining the one additional vote” needed to pass the budget, he said.

    Negotiations continue with GOP Senator Abel Maldonado on his “WISH LIST” who voted NO on the budget late last night.

    It seems to Flap that a TIME OUT should be called and a continuing resolution ala Steve Poizner should be considered along with a special election in May.

    Stay tuned….


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