Much has been made about the strength of the GOP team of statewide candidates this year.
Arnold has the star power. Tom and Tony and Pooch bring out the base. Poizner and McPherson give us strength and balance.
But as these last days approach, I’ve come to believe that the rest of the team brings significant benefit to the ticket as well, but in an unusual way…
About a year ago now if you recall, businessman and Redistricting Reform advocate Bill Mundell was talking about putting his millions up against Senator Feinstein. Bill Simon too was talking about making a run for the Treasurer’s post.
Neither ultimately decided to run, and in some ways, it’s a blessing.
Instead of the popular Senator and the deep-pocketed AG adding to the clutter on the airwaves and giving Democrats actual reasons to go vote, both are opting to sit comfortably atop their warchests, secure in the knowledge that their races don’t require vast expenditures.
An unintended consequence of those decisions though is the removal of a competative race for either post that could possibly pull the Democrats out of the downward spiral of depression that almost assuredly plagues their base and furthers the hopeful prostects of a Lt Gov McClintock and a Controller Strickland.
Much like the offensive line on a football team, our lower profile candidates may not receive the attention or the accolades, but ask any coach and they’ll tell you – you can’t win without an entire team effort.
And as has been said, we’ve got a heck of a team.