The Tarrance Group, a polling firm out of Virginia was retained by the Tom Harman for State Senate campaign to survey likely voters. Today, Harman’s campaign gave the FR the early scoop (H/T to FR contributor Duane Dichiara) on the results from that survey.

This survey of 459 registered "likely" voters was taken on February 19-20. The ballot test: TOM HARMAN: 37% LARRY CABALLERO: 23% (Dem) DIANE HARKEY: 16% UNDECIDED: 20%

Name identification: HARMAN: 76% of voters know who he is with 39% having a favorable impression and 14% having an unfavorable impression. HARKEY: 39% know her, and… Read More

OC Sheriff Mike Carona has been called America’s Sheriff. Well last night Orange County conservative Republicans made it clear they support him for re-election here at home.

Over 60 California Republican Assembly delegates from a dozen OC chapters of the conservative grassroots organization UNANIMOUSLY voted to endorse Sheriff Mike Carona.

The sheriff’s most vocal opponent a lieutenant that works for the department has been putting the full court press on speaking at CRA chapter gatherings, but it amounted to nothing when it came time for the delegates to vote.

Carona is stronger than ever among the voters despite being the target of an LA Times attack campaign (I am a friend to the media and don’t use those words lightly).… Read More

Bill Bradley continues to investigate and shine light on Rob Reiner’s use of taxpayer money for a multi-million dollar advertising buy that was timed to help the signature gathering of his new tax hike initiative.

Today he reports on Assemblyman Kevin McCarthy’s creative idea to take the money spent on television and spend it on preschool aged kids.

This is a novel idea in the legislature, spend money intended to help children on… children.

As I understand it, the bill would take the Proposition 10 ad money and could put about 120,000 of the 180,000 preschool aged kids who don’t currently go to preschool into a 5 week accelerated learning program right before they go to Kindergarten.

The statewide program would be modeled after the successful Ready To Start programs in McCarthy’s Kern county Assembly District.

Always the quote machine, this is lifted from McCarthy’s press release:

“Instead of… Read More

Steve Westly’s talking positive. Phil Angelides is beating up on Arnold. But it’s only a matter of time before they turn their guns on each other.

Both candidates have begun statewide advertising more than three months before the primary. When you have two politicians with that much money and that little self-restraint, the odds of either of them getting through the next hundred days with approval ratings any higher than mine are pretty slim.

If Arnold can pull a Steve McQueen and walk through the Democratic bar fight without getting touched, the three months of an Angelides-Westly bloodbath could give the governor some time to restore his own poll numbers and campaign coffers. But just a few thoughts before the Democraic fratricide gets going:

1) Angelides is using Barbara Boxer as a spokesperson in his first ad. Along with his support for tax increases and death-to-Arnold messaging, this is clearly about positioning him in a Democratic primary. But millions of dollars of Boxer ads could leave a residue that may not be so helpful in a general election. In 2004, California Democrats would have happily nominated Howard Dean… Read More

****Exclusive to the FlashReport****

It has all the makings of a municipal soap opera.

A personal bodyguard hired at the behest of Chula Vista Mayor Steve Padilla for a mere $10,000 per month. Allegations against the Mayor of wasting taxpayer money and undue paranoia. Padilla firing the bodyguard, so as "to end complaints from fellow council members and remove the bodyguard issue from the political campaign" (per the Union-Tribune). Bodyguard David Kanter alleging breach of contract and threateninga lawsuit against the city. The City Council reinstating the contract because no termination clause was included to protect Chula Vista’s interests. According to the U-T, "the council’s decision (to reinstate) calls for Kanter’s firm to provide ‘specialized investigative and research services’ to the Chula Vista Police Department and to ‘investigate… Read More

WILL BILL THOMAS RUN FOR CONGRESS? All eyes are on the Registrar of Voters in Kern County these days as much speculation swirls about whether long-time moderate GOP Congressman Bill Thomas (pictured to the right) will decide to retire at the end of this term or not. For a while, it was really being talked about as a likely scenario, as Thomas’ seat as Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee must be surrendered at the end of this session due to the House "3-term limit" on Committee Chairmanships (part of the Gingrich-era reforms). Most are of the opinion that Thomas’ retirement couldn’t come soon enough. The mercurial Congressman has long championed the election of liberal Republicans and has a decades-long track record of divisive politics. He also has quite a temper, which has been exhibited in public many-a-time. He… Read More

WILL BILL THOMAS RUN FOR CONGRESS? All eyes are on the Registrar of Voters in Kern County these days as much speculation swirls about whether long-time moderate GOP Congressman Bill Thomas (pictured to the right) will decide to retire at the end of this term or not. For a while, it was really being talked about as a likely scenario, as Thomas’ seat as Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee must be surrendered at the end of this session due to the House "3-term limit" on Committee Chairmanships (part of the Gingrich-era reforms). Most are of the opinion that Thomas’ retirement couldn’t come soon enough. The mercurial Congressman has long championed the election of liberal Republicans and has a decades-long track record of divisive politics. He also has quite a temper, which has been exhibited in public many-a-time. He… Read More

For some time now, the editorial team at the Orange County Register has been running a blog called the Orange Punch, but as of just a few days ago, I am pleased to let FR readers know that some of the political writers on the new-side of the OC Register have started writing for the new "Total Buzz" blog. The ‘starters’ for this new venture are the Register’s "Ace" Political Reporter "in county" – FR friend Martin Wisckol, who has garnered a reputation for his wide network of good sources. Joining him is the hard-charging Norberto Santana, who cover’s the OCR’s county government beat. Finally you have reporter Peggy Lowe to round out the trio.

FR predicts that very soon we will see the additions of Saraya Nelson out of the OCR Sacramento Bureau, and Dena Bunis out of DC. This will make for a great team, bringing us more great… Read More