Here are a few photos from Day 1 of the McClintock crosses the state tour. Yesterday’s co-starts were Senator Chuck Poochigian and former Assemblyman Tony Strickland. Today Secretary of State Bruce McPherson will travel with us on the McClintock RV… The three candidates rally the troops!

On the RV — from left to right – Lori McClintock, Tony Strickland, Senator McClintock, Jon Fleischman.

Jon Fleischman (left) chats with Senator McClintock, Fresno Mayor Alan Autry, and Congressman George Radanovich, at the Fresno HQ. There has been a lot of media attention on the candidates on the trip… Read More

Many people will look at the 11th Congressional district and see a 6% Republican registration edge and assume the safety of this seat for the GOP and House Resources Chairman Richard Pombo of Tracy. What lies underneath this election year however is a strange dynamic that has made this one of the most heated races in the nation.

Due to the massive infusion of 527 group contributions (on one day the Defenders of Wildlife reported spending over $100,000 just for identification calls) that have been going on the airwaves, in the mailboxes and on the ground, this race is now ground zero in the battle for the House of Representatives.

All polling released so far has put this race as essentially even and has now drawn the full force of both the DCCC and NRCC. This race will now come down to turnout and ground game. While the Pombo team is well known for its attention to ground and ability to turn out the vote, McNerney is counting on bussing in an army from Berkeley, Oakland, Palo Alto and even from as far away as… Read More

The Chairman of the San Bernardino County Republican Party is FR friend Bill Postmus. Postmus also happens to be the Chairman of the County’s Board of Supervisors. He’s now running for County Assessor and is the prohibitive front-runner for that seat. It was Postmus who welcomed us to this GOP volunteer center in Upland.

Bill introduced GOP State Senator Bob Dutton, who thanked all of the volunteers before introducing Senator Tom McClintock…

TM: “This election is now up to you (the volunteers). We have not had this sophisticated of a voter turnout program since 1972!”

Secretary Mc Pherson thanked volunteers and stressed the importance of this election.

Kudos for this well run HQ goes to Postmus and his team, which include Diane Fedele (the local V6 field rep) , Adam Aleman, John Richardson, and Robert Eland, among others.

Many volunteers are here this morning, including “super volunteers” Christina and Jessica Sandoval, who have been personally recognized by the Governor for their amazing dedication as volunteers.

GOP Assemblyman Bill Emmerson, FR’s San Bernardino County… Read More

Todays barnstorming tour of the Central Valley is over… And tomorrow, for day two, we’ll be taking the RV to Upland (at 10am), Temecula and San Diego. Tonight we’ll overnight in Burbank, fresh for the new day!… Read More

About a hundred GOP volunteers are up bright and early here at the Sac V ’06 HQ. The energy is palpable as our candidates mingle through the crowd. Senator McClintock (TM), Tony Strickland (TS), and Senator Poochigian (CP).

Working the crowd are GOP County Chairman (and FR friend) Donna Schalansky, Assemblyman-Elect Ted Gaines (who will be replacing the retiring Tim Leslie), GOP senior advisor Ken Khachigian (who is advising the Poochigian campaign), and GOP energizer bunny Fred Hildebrand.

I spoke with David Sander, the GOP ViceMayor of Rancho Cordova, a suberb of Sacramento. “We’re here to rev up the vote for our GOP ticket — it’s a great day to be a Republican.”

The Program:

Congressman Lungren warmed up the crowd. “It’s what we do today, tomorrow, Monday and yes, Tuesday, that will make the difference… The Congressman emphasized the importance of working hard to re-elect his fellow local Congressmen, John Doolittle and Richard Pombo – both are under serious assault by the far left.

TS: “In politics, it’s turnout, turnout, turnout!”

CP:… Read More

We’re on the McClintock RV (we’re currently debating a better name for it – email me at jon@flashreport.org with suggestions) on our way to Stockton for the second stop of our tour. The caravan includes this RV, an even bigger Poochigian RV, and support vehicles.

I’m sitting at the RV table with Senator McClintock, Tony Strickland, and top McClintock advisor John Feliz. Also on this RV are Lori McClintock, TM Communications Director Stan Devereaux, TM aide Jonathan Huey, TM photographer Roger Canfield, TS’s Director of Operations Chris Wangsaporn and our pilot is Bill Hageland. Hageland is a retired Major General so he has been quite assertive with us. I guarantee you no one on this RV will use the latrine while we are in motion except in dire emergency…”

Stockton here we come…!… Read More

We’re on the campus of the University of the Pacific, home of the UOP Tigers, for the next stop in our GOTV tour.

Greetings us, amidst a crowd of about a hundred folks is Congressman Richard Pombo – a true American hero.

“For all of us, all comes down to turnout,” Pombo told me beforehe started escorting our three statewide candidates around the crowd.

On hand are Republican Stockton Councilmembers Clem Lee and Gary Gioveneti among a whole score of other local GOP notables.

TS: “This election is all about changing California. I have never seen a better ticket from top to bottom! Its up to you to make that extra call or walk that extra precinct.”

CP: “I started out in politics as a volunteer for an Attorney General candidate George Deukmejian. I appcreciate so much the work of volunteers.”

Richard Pombo introduced TM saying, “He always fights for the things he believes in. Even when he is the lone voice standing up for us. He is someone we always know will be there for us…”

TM: “This election will be decided in about 83 hours, and it will… Read More

Sue and Vince Watson just called us as our RV is traveling towards Fresno. You’ll recall the Watsons are the Executive Life Insurance policy holders featured in Tom McClintock’s commercials – Insurance Commissioner Garamendi’s handling of the Executive Life debacle has left the Watsons with significantly less funds to care for their critically injured young child.

The Watsons were calling to wish Tom well, and to let him know that they have been seeing his commercials on TV down in San Diego.

We’re on our way to our next rally in Fresno!… Read More