Incumbent Democrat City Attorney Mike Aguirre is on the ropes in perhaps the highest profile local election contest San Diegans have seen in years. Challenger Jan Goldsmith is receiving support from many diverse interests and groups, including the local GOP, all of them withone common goal: The insanity of Aguirre must end. Here’s the latest from the Lincoln Club of San Diego:

LCSDCounty Launches “Spike Mike” Website & Made-for-TV Video

San Diego, CA – October 21, 2008 The Lincoln Club of San Diego County announced today the launch of a website intended to highlight the host of reasons why voters in San Diego ought to oust incumbent City Attorney Mike Aguirre from office on November 4th.

The website, entitled www.spikemike.com, features a brand new 30-second, made-for-TV video on its homepage that encourages the viewer to “go with your instincts . . . spike Mike” on Election Day.

Also… Read More

I attended the debate on Wed night when Mike Lumpkin made the referenced claim. His several supporters at the event were ecstatic … those in the know were simply amused. One person asked me how a candidate could only be three ponts ahead when polling his own supporters….

October 23, 2008

TO:Duncan D. Hunter

FR:Dave Gilliard

RE:Mike Lumpkin’s “informal poll” _____________________________________________________________________________________

I understand that Mike Lumpkin claimed during last night’s debate that he had an “informal poll” showing him “3 points ahead.”

While “informal” polls are worth what you pay for them, our last formal poll, about 14 days old and conducted by one of the top political pollsters in America, showed you with a very solid 23 point lead among likely General Election voters.

Since our poll was completed,… Read More

As I write this, I'm enjoying a late breakfast at Jeannine's in Montecito, near Santa Barbara, before I head over to to wedding of this site's former Managing Editor, Nick, to the love of his life, Lisa.

As I perused the print edition of the Los Angeles Times, I came across an article explaining how Apple Computer has donated $100,000 to defeat Proposition 8, the Protect Marriage Act. That's unfortunate — I think that Apple's Board of Directors (whom I assume would authorize such a donation) should stay focused on their core mission as a supplier of cool electronics to consumers.

That said, I draw a pretty sharp distinction between Apple's donation, and the even larger contribution against 8 that came from Pacific Gas and Electric, the Bay Area's largest electric utility company.

Apple is a company that sells products in a market with vibrant competition. This means that if you disagree with the political donations of Apple, Inc., you can stop buying their products (or buy more if you “like” their politics). Apple has to weigh potential impact on their sales when they do this kind of thing.… Read More

There are a host of initiatives on the November ballot. I would submit that there is none that is more important than Proposition 4, which would require parental notification before a minor could obtain an abortion. As we move into the final home stretch, I am pleased to offer this guest commentary from the Campaign Manager for Prop. 4, Charles Gallagher…

PROP. 4 – CALIFORNIANS AND THEIR GOVERNMENT by Charles Gallagher Prop 4 is ahead in the polls. The undecided vote is large enough that if we win 1 out of every 3 undecided voter, Prop 4 wins. Our focus is to communicate and reach out to those undecideds. Turnout will be higher amongst undecideds than in either 2005 or 2006 (when a similar measure appeared on the… Read More

There are a host of initiatives on the November ballot. I would submit that there is none that is more important than Proposition 4, which would require parental notification before a minor could obtain an abortion. As we move into the final home stretch, I am pleased to offer this guest commentary from the Campaign Manager for Prop. 4, Charles Gallagher…

PROP. 4 – CALIFORNIANS AND THEIR GOVERNMENT by Charles Gallagher

Prop 4 is ahead in the polls. The undecided vote is large enough that if we win 1 out of every 3 undecided voter, Prop 4 wins. Our focus is to communicate and reach out to those undecideds. Turnout will be higher amongst undecideds than in either 2005 or 2006 (when a similar measure appeared on the ballot) because of the presidential election. Our GOTV efforts… Read More

There is no doubt that Democrats are poised to have a good year. Nobody that reads this blog regularly would deny that. We are political junkies.

Here is the problem. Some of the Democrats are making lots of noise about seats they have no chance of securing. We have heard rumors of them coming after seats like AD 36 (Runner/Knight) and AD 38 (Smyth).

Both of these campaigns have done checks in the last few days and found comfortable double digit leads.

In 2006 Smyth won by almost 20 points. Sharon Runner won by 24 points.

Will Smyth and Knight win by that much this year? No. Will they win by double digits? Absolutely — and I am happy to put some money on it.… Read More

Once again the folks at Saturday Night Live filet their favorite victim – President Bush. It’s a great seven minute video… … Read More

Today Governor Schwarzenegger made a slew of appointments to various state posts. A few of them, in particular, are worthy of mention. Congratulations to business developer and GOP financier Hadi Makarechian for received what is probably the most prestigious appointment available to a Governor, to a twelve year terms on the Board of Regents of the University of California. Other FR friends appointed by the Governor today include longtime criminal justice leader Tom Gede to the Board of Regents of Hastings College of Law, Rex Hime of the California Business Roundtable to the California State Fair Leasing Authority, Steve Spernak to the California Council on Criminal Justice, and John Peschong of Meridian Pacific has been appointed to his local fair board (which means that if you make it to the Central Coast at the right time, you might get a deal on carnival food).

Nice to see some solid GOPers being appointed. (Out of this batch, 16 of 23 are Republicans — better than usual!.)… Read More