OCGOP COOL TO MCCAIN
If last night was any indicator, Senator John McCain has a long way to go in endearing himself to California Republicans.
The Orange County Republican Party had its biennial organizational meeting last night at the Hyatt Hotel in Irvine, where former Assembly Scott Baugh was re-elected to another term as Chairman with hearty applause and no opposition. Also elected were a slate of officers that included myself as Second Vice-Chairman — also uncontested.
That said, Chairman Baugh ended up holding an impromptu popularity poll of the roughly 200 party leaders in attendance for the 2008 GOP Presidential primary. The context was Baugh asking which Presidential contenders those present would like to see speak at the GOP’s big annual Flag Day Gala. Baugh cycled through all of the most talked-about candidates — where Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich received the most applause. There was what I will characterize as a polite applause for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. But probably the most noteworthy response from the room came when Baugh mentioned the name of Arizona Senator John McCain. You could have heard a pin drop.
Later in the meeting, I had a chance to ask a number of people around the room why they were silent on McCain — and the responses were fairly consistent — no one could understand why McCain opposed President Bush’s tax cuts. So, the Senator’s campaign has their work cut out for them — that is for sure. Certainly in making his positions on tax policy clear to grassroots Republicans.
TURMOIL AT THE RNC?
The most interesting article that I found surfing the web this morning isn’t on California politics, per se, but is relevant to all California Republicans. Longtime FR friend Ralph Hallow, a political reporter over at the Washington Times, has carved a niche for himself in penning ‘insider’ stories on what is going on behind the scenes in GOP-land. Today is pens a piece in advance of the Republican National Committee’s upcoming organizing meeting that is later this week. In the story (which you will find at the bottom of the FR main page), Hallow talks about a conservative backlash taking place amongst RNC members at the President’s selection of moderate Florida Senator Mel Martinez to be the new "General Chairman" of the Republican Party. The actual Chairman, running day-to-day operations, would be RNC Committeemember Mike Duncan of Kentucky. But the General Chairman would be the ‘public face’ of the RNC.
**There is more – click the link**
