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The race for Republican gubernatorial nominee has been a strange
one, involving two Republicans and, oddly enough, the incumbent
Democratic governor as the wild card.
The race reads like “The Jungle Book,” with the
Gray-haired 800-pound gorilla Davis, a RINO (Republican in Name
Only) named Riordan, and Silent Simon.
Aptly named “Dick,” Riordan was the unbeatable man
in the Republican primary a mere three months ago. President
Bush’s California man, Gerald Parsky, backed the aging RINO.
Bad choice. Bill Simon has come roaring out from the back of the
pack, and now leads Riordan. And don’t complain that it was
on the strength of his money. Money can buy a lot of things, but it
is not any guarantee of public office. If you doubt that, go talk
to Michael Huffington or Al Chechi.
The most important factor in the race ““ energizing the
base ““ has been a failure. To understand the race, you must
know Riordan. His youth contingent is very vocal at various
campaign events ““ but it is a small one. His policy stances
have really not hit home with any number of young people.
Pro-choice, pro-gun control, soft-on-crime youth are voting
Democrat, not Republican.
Bill Simon, by contrast, has taken stances which energize and
excite all true Republicans, young to old. Riordan’s folks
will tell you that he was attacked by Davis because of his status
as front-runner. As with money, all the attack ads in the world
won’t significantly damage a candidate unless there’s
substance to the charges. There’s substance to Simon’s
campaign that makes his money well-spent.
And unfortunately for Dick, there’s plenty of substance to
Davis’s charges: he’s waffled on important issues from
gun control to capital gains taxation. The television exchanges on
the issues of abortion and the death penalty have been simply
hilarious. Most Republicans’ views are very straightforward
on the two: no and yes. And folks, there is a reason why you can be
against abortion and for the death penalty ““ last time I
checked, no unborn child has committed murder in the womb.
Dick Riordan, by contrast, seems to have it all backwards. Davis
“attacks” him for being anti-abortion. How would Simon
respond to such a charge? “Well, duh ““ I am a
Republican.” What happens with Dick? He swells up, turns
purple, and spurts back: “I have always stood firmly for the
right of a woman to choose!”
Now, what’s going on here? Is Dick Riordan running for
Democrat or Republican nomination? If it weren’t so pathetic,
it would be funny: Davis attacking Riordan for being a Republican
““ and Riordan emphatically denying the charges.
And perhaps the most absurd exchange was Davis attacking Riordan
from the right on the death penalty. In that exchange, both came
out looking silly: Davis foaming at the mouth over his love for the
death penalty and Riordan having to backpedal and assure everyone
that, yes, he was a Republican and did support capital
punishment.
Bill Simon has had none of these problems because he knows where
he stands. But Simon will win not just on issues but on leadership.
Anyone who has met the man has come away impressed. His status as a
political outsider gives him a humble and friendly manner. His
attention to detail means that everyone at campaign events, from
banner-holder to button-wearer, receives a smile, a handshake and a
genuine “Thank you.”
Political veterans, folks who have worked on dozens of campaigns
over many decades, enthuse about the “Simon difference”
““ the warmth, degree of access and true excitement about the
work of the campaign. Campaign workers will never badmouth their
temporary boss, but there’s a palpable difference when
speaking with Simon supporters ““ they’re enthused about
their candidate and are excited to tell other people about their
enjoyment.
The very things Dick Riordan lacks ““ an energized base, a
consistent political record and a true vision for all Californians
““ Simon possesses in spades. And yes, when Simon wins the
Republican primary, he will have the momentum necessary to win the
entire state ““ because he is a superior candidate.
Workers of California, break your chains ““ you have
nothing to lose but your Gray-haired Davis!