Friends of mine are telling me that longtime McClintock District Director Joe Giardiello is reported to be strongly considering making a run for Congress. As you might remember, Congressman Elton Gallegly really doesn’t want to be in office anymore, but stuck around for a bit longer to keep Michael Tenenbaum, from capturing his seat (24th District). Gallegly has recently stated he is keeping his options open, and knowing Joe, hecertainly wouldn’t be foolish enough to run against Gallegly. Joe, a McClintock confidante, and decorated Navy veteran who served during Desert Storm would be someone much more in the mold of a replacement Gallegly would be comfortable with. McClintock is, of course, wildly popular in the region, andJoe’s association with McClintock, not to mention a possible endorsement by the next Lt. Governor, would be invaluable in the race. With connections to the McClintock operation throughout the Central Coast district and as President of the Ventura County Republican Assembly,… Read More

While I am with Tony Strickland and Tom McClintock chugging our way down to Fresno, the Poochigian team took a brief diversion to Modesto. Senator Poochigian just sent me an update from that stop — which follows… (Because I am pasting it in, sorry if the formatting is messed up.)

From Senator Poochigian:

Jon: Had great visit with 50-60 volunteers at V ’06 HQ in Modesto. This is part of my 14th Senate District (Fresno – Sacto County line). They were hard at work at 10:30 a.m. working the phones, etc.Supervisor Jim DeMartini opened the event. (Senator-elect) Dave Cogdill – who will be my replacement in the Senatefollowed and offered strong words of encouragement to the volunteers to fight on til the polls close. We have manyfriends there (including a strong contingent from the active Republican Women’s Federated organization. Former Senator Dick Monteith (candidate for county supervisor) was also present. Congressional candidate John Kanno also spoke about his race. A number of other candidates for local office were also present. As on other stops, there is a heightened level of involvement and interest in… Read More

Fresno is Poochigan territory, and a ton of activists are here to welcome the Victory GOTV tour. Poochigian had warmed up the crowd as his bus got here before the McClintock/Strickland bus.

TS: “You all are making the difference. You all will put us over the top.

TM: “Its a choice between a leadership team that has a track record of reducing burdons, or increasing them. I believe that 78 hours from now, you won’t be able to call California the left coast anymore “I he is an incredible candidate and be the best ag the state has ever had.

The FR was pleased to see our good friend Jessica Millan, who heads up Central Valley staff operations for the CRP’s Victory Program. Jessica was running things, as you would expect her to!

Kenneth May, the Chairman of the Fresno County GOP was pretty pumped up about the event here, saying: “This is the best turnout we’ve ever had at any kind of volunteer effect.”

May and Milan both praised Tal Eslick, the local V6 Coordinator for his work at the Fresno HQ. Eslick is the past president of the Fresno “Bulldog” College Republicans.… Read More

No one ever said some of these legislative seats were competitive. Short of the suicide nominees from the minority party and a few of their family, friends and newbies, most watchers know who will win a gerry-bastarded district.

Shirley Horton has the most competitive legislative race in San Diego, no doubt. I still think she’s okay, and all the other incumbents are as safe as the proverbial babe in their mother’s arms.

Yet, an argument can be made that the easiest contest isn’t even an incumbent’s, but that being faced bythe guy who perhaps had the toughest primary…Joel Anderson.

His opponent in the 77th AD, Chris Larkin, is said to have taken a walk on the race. Insiders say that Larkin, also the nominee against Jay La Suer two years ago, was expecting the Dems to pour a cool million behind his efforts, and when that didn’t happen, he quit in somewhat of a hissy-fit. It looks as if he’s stopped filing any campaign financial statements, and his website is downas of this morning,… Read More

There’s a relatively new taxpayers group in San Diego, and they’re playing in this election…statewide.

The TaxpayersAdvocate.org PAC has raised about $190,000 and sent out over 400,000 pieces to swing voter households, saying "John Garamendi Wants to Raise Your Taxes." Tim Clark at Johnson/Clark was the project’s consultant. See the piece here.

TaxpayersAdvocate.org (check out the website) is headed by Scott Barnett, former Del Mar City Councilmanwho served seven years as executive director of theSan Diego County Taxpayers Association.

If you take a look at TA’s statewide ballot recommendations, you’ll actually see a hard position against tax increases. Since this is a taxpayers group, we understand the no position on parental consent and Jessica’s law, but the rest of the list reflects exactly what the State GOP’s recommendations SHOULD look like.

Attached… Read More

Californians United paid for another mail piece to Republicans urging them to vote for write-in candidate Ott Bade. This is the fourth mailer the Democratic independent expenditure group has spaid for since this weekend.

As I pointed out on Red County/OC Blog, Californians United has spent as much on Otto Bade in one week, as Otto was able to raise in an entire year for his own failed 2004 Assembly run.

Californians United also spent $30,000 on pro-Lou Correa cable TV ads.

Will this tactic succeed in its intent to tilt the race to Correa? It’s hard to say. I doubt Otto will accrue very many votes, but in a really close race that may be enough to make the difference. Also, but attacking Lynn Daucher from the right, Californians United may have a depressive effect on conservative Election Day voters planning to cast their ballots vote for Daucher — not that Democrats would ever —… Read More

As we go into the final five days of the 2006 election cycle, there is one thing that is clear — there is a lot that will come down to the wire in this California election… Of course, the big prize has already been won — Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is not just going to be re-elected on Tuesday, he is going to be swept into a second term with what appears to be record levels of support. His opponent, Democrat Phil Angelides, was never able to convince his own party members, let alone centrist voters, that he could credibly run California’s large and complex government. He was defined by his policies and the acumen of Arnold’s team, as a taxer. No one is going to go far when their apparent solution for all of woes of the world is to increase the size and scope of government. At least not in America. I would first and foremost like to draw all FR readers to the feature column that we are running today penned by Ron Nehring. Ron is the Vice Chairman of the California Republican Party, but is also the Chairman of the San Diego County GOP. In today’s column, Ron makes a very convincing case for why the… Read More

As we go into the final five days of the 2006 election cycle, there is one thing that is clear — there is a lot that will come down to the wire in this California election… Of course, the big prize has already been won — Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is not just going to be re-elected on Tuesday, he is going to be swept into a second term with what appears to be record levels of support. His opponent, Democrat Phil Angelides, was never able to convince his own party members, let alone centrist voters, that he could credibly run California’s large and complex government. He was defined by his policies and the acumen of Arnold’s team, as a taxer. No one is going to go far when their apparent solution for all of woes of the world is to increase the size and scope of government. At least not in America. I would first and foremost like to draw all FR readers to the feature column that we are running today penned by Ron Nehring. Ron is the Vice Chairman of the California Republican Party, but is also the Chairman of the San Diego County GOP. In today’s column, Ron makes a very convincing case for why the… Read More