It’s been one week since Meg Whitman soundly defeated Steve Poizner in the Republican gubernatorial race. Tonight Poizner sent an email message to his supporters thanking them for their work on behalf of his campaign (posted below).
But most notable in the email was the lack of conciliation. Still harping on the fact he was outspent “four-to-one”, Poizner goes on to intimate that Republicans sold out their principles by voting for Whitman—a “hollow victory.”
John Myers, the Sacramento Bureau Chief and Political Reporter for KQED Public Radio, even tweeted about the “defiant” missive from Poizner.
It’s understandable that Poizner would still hold some resentment considering the bruising nature of the governor race, which was particularly tense in the closing month. But at some point Republicans need to unify behind their candidate to beat the alternative: Jerry Brown. For California and the Republican Party’s sake, I hope Poizner’s wrong and Whitman will uphold conservative values. We need them now more than ever.
Dear Supporter,
During this campaign, I was gratified by your unwavering support and steadfast commitment to my campaign. Please take pride in knowing that friends like you were the heart and soul of this great cause.
Running for governor has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. Even though we were outspent four-to-one, I know that this campaign was an overwhelming victory for our solutions, values, and ideals. I believe that being a Republican must be about more than just winning an election. When we surrender our ideals—and the principles we hold dear in the name of victory—that victory is hollow. Our task is to press ahead, fighting for these principles, to ensure that they one day prevail.
I cannot thank you enough for your support and commitment to the cause. I am confident that California’s best days are still ahead of us.
Let’s fight on.
Your friend,
Steve Poizner
June 16th, 2010 at 12:00 am
There is not that much Republican Unity at the moment. My local “RINO San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos” is Best friends forever with Jerry Brown and is asking him to run a Inland Counties (San Bernardino County/Riverside County) for Jerry Brown.
I may not like Meg Whitman, but most likely I will honestly vote for her because after reading how Jerry Brown does not want to announce how he would solve the state budget crisis, I would rather sacrifice some of my pride and make sure California keeps its golden luster.
June 16th, 2010 at 12:00 am
In 1998 I worked in Darrell Issa’s US Senate primary campaign, competing with State Treasurer
Matt Fong. After a long, close race Matt Fong edged Darrell Issa for the GOP nomination.
The morning after the primary, Darrell Issa then attended a “unity” breakfast for all statewide
Republican candidates.
When he was called to the podium, the room got quiet as people wondered what he would
say. Would it be a review of his exhausting campaign and then a perfunctory nice comment
about Matt Fong?
No. Darrell Issa pounded the rostrum and gave a fighting speech about why Matt Fong should
win the Fall election vs. Sen. Boxer, and pledged he would help Matt Fong’s campaign.
The room exploded with cheers and applause.
Mr. Issa kept his pledge and materially aided Matt Fong.
Two years later, when Rep. Ron Packard said he would retire from the US House, Darrell Issa
announced he would run to succeed him. Matt Fong was THE FIRST name Republican to
phone Mr. Issa and pledge his vocal support.
Now Darrell Issa is one of the major Republican figures in the US Congress, and his Comeback
began that morning in June 1998, when he selflessly endorsed Matt Fong, and thus elevated his
status and prestige among Republicans all over the State.
That is a positive example to contemplate today.
June 16th, 2010 at 12:00 am
I feel compelled to put in my 2 cents.
The amount of phone calls our household received from the Poizner campaign, was unacceptable. What was it, 4 or 5 a day? Maybe 6? We dreaded picking up the phone. Total turn off for how I perceive a candidate. It even prompted out local club to start sending around the http://www.StopPoliticalCalls.org site in hopes of not having to deal with this again.
June 16th, 2010 at 12:00 am
What an election….a Rinoette vs a Moonbeam!
June 16th, 2010 at 12:00 am
For the first time I agree with Dayna Hydrick. The autocalls were unrelenting for days.
I believe that might be one of the signs of the coming apocalypse. Head to the basement.
June 17th, 2010 at 12:00 am
A stampeding herd of California gun owners will NOT be voting for Meg Whitman.
Call us gunnies back when the CA GOP manages to run a pro-gun candidate. (Poizner was not pro-gun either and embarassed himself with the NRA.)
Bill Wiese
San Jose