With shiny expensive TV production values, slick mail and award winning ads are the norm for first class political consultants. But sometimes you can move public opinion with simple ideas. JohnsonClark’s Trojan Horse is making a publicity killing. This morning"s Capitol Morning Reports lead story features the Trojan Horse ‘truth hour" press conference in front of the state building in San Jose—opposing the dying Prop 93 term limits expansion.

Who would figure that such a simple, old school idea, having Brandon Powers tow the giant Trojan Horse around the state to stage press conferences in 30 media markets would be so effective ?

… Read More

TO: Reporters Attending The Governor’s Yes on 93 Presser Today FROM: Jon Fleischman RE: The Big Lie — A Tale Of Three Mail Pieces Today, Governor Schwarzenegger along with a number of other politicians will hold a press conference in Los Angeles — their last effort to push Proposition 93 to severely weaken California’s legislative term limits, and allow dozens of legislators that would have to retire at the end of this year to serve years longer in office (in the case of Fabian Nunez, he would be able to serve for six more years, until the end of the first term of the Governor to follow Schwarzenegger!). Central to the campaign is what we call "The Big Lie" — which is simply this. Instead of presenting voters with an honest campaign, Fabian Nunez (and now Arnold… Read More

TO: Reporters Attending The Governor’s Yes on 93 Presser Today FROM: Jon Fleischman RE: The Big Lie — A Tale Of Three Mail Pieces Today, Governor Schwarzenegger along with a number of other politicians will hold a press conference in Los Angeles — their last effort to push Proposition 93 to severely weaken California’s legislative term limits, and allow dozens of legislators that would have to retire at the end of this year to serve years longer in office (in the case of Fabian Nunez, he would be able to serve for six more years, until the end of the first term of the Governor to follow Schwarzenegger!). Central to the campaign is what we call "The Big Lie" — which is simply this. Instead of presenting voters with an honest campaign, Fabian Nunez (and now Arnold… Read More

Congressman Darrell Issa sent over this brief piece on his support for Senator John McCain’s campaign for President:

I’ve had a few e-mails from Mike Huckabee supporters asking why we haven’t had more coverage of the former Arkansas Governor’s campaign.

So, for all of those who want to know all about the Huckster, click here.

We don’t have time to play games.… Read More

Among conservatives, the leading GOP presidential choices have become a lesser-of-the-evils option at a more significant level than anytime I can previously remember, not the least of which is due to a competitive Super Tuesday, but also because both McCain and Romney have — to die hards — "questionable philosophical credentials."

Perhaps only fodder in the final day, but check out the missives from some stalwart conservatives to ensure indictments of their "non-choice" of a candidate. The first from former Assemblyman and current ED of the Council for National Policy Steve Baldwin…on Romney:

Well, we tried, but the news is out. We beltway conservatives, radio talk show hosts, conservative columnists, and other assorted "Movement" leaders have tried hard to keep this info from the grassroots but I guess we failed on this one count. We’ve known for years that Romney unilaterally instituted gay marriage in Massachusetts — which, yes, we do acknowledge is probably the single worse action by an elected official in 100 years in terms of undermining America’s Judeo… Read More

The dynamics of the race for the 71st Assembly District have changed dramatically in the last few weeks. The 71st takes in a large parts of Orange County and parts of Riverside County.

Until just a few weeks ago there were four candidates (three of whom were from OC). Now there are just two, Neil Blais a Rancho Santa Margarita councilman and Fire Authority Board Member from Orange County (a Probolsky Research client) and Corona councilman and Transportation Commissioner Jeff Miller from Riverside County. Both candidates are members of their respective county Republican Central Committees.

There has been a fair amount of back and forth regarding the two campaigns finances, so I thought I would set the record straight with some factual analysis of the race.

FACT: Neil Blais raised $124,714 in individual contributions during the latest period. That is without any loans – personal or otherwise. Jeff Miller raised $90,019

FACT: Neil Blais also loaned his campaign an additional $100,000 – like most winning GOP Assembly candidates have done in the past.

FACT: Jeff… Read More

I was pretty surprised with Bill Simon, fresh off of his close friend Rudy Giuliani’s campaign, joined the McCain campaign as a senior member of their policy team. So, the onus is now on you, Bill. Good luck.

OK, with that said, Bill Simon makes his case for why YOU should support John McCain: