Yesterday the Poizner for Governor campaign held a press conference via telephone to share their news with reporters (and some bloggers that at least included the CalBuzz boys and yours truly) where they paraded out the principals of their very reputable polling firm, Public Opinion Strategies, to announce that their poll shows that the GOP primary campaign has closed to a ten point race, with Whitman at 38%, Poizner at 28% and the very large remainder of voters being undecided.

Being that this is an internal poll, there is a tendency for those of us who are not affiliated with either campaign to perhaps want to wait for a the next non-candidate sponsored statewide poll to come out. Sacramento Bee reporter John Chang on the conference call even brought this point up. That said, I decided to do some nosing around and I was able to confirm, from solid sources, two other statewide surveys that show this race even closer — in single digits! I was told about a… Read More

Yes, I know, it’s become cliché but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t apply.

The 43rd Assembly District, which includes Glendale and Burbank, has not been held by a Republican since my former boss, Jim Rogan, left the seat for Congress in 1996. Rogan was elected in a special election succeeding former Assembly GOP Leader Pat Nolan. In those years, this seat was a bedrock Republican district but an influx of new Americans, primarily Armenian and Latino, have changed the demographics and ideological bent of the district. Additionally, this has become a bedroom community for entertainment industry workers who also sit on the left of the political spectrum.

Today, the district is 2-1 Democrat with another quarter of voters decline-to-state. On the surface, Republicans should not be in the game here but due to a special election triggered by incumbent Paul Krekorian’s election to the L.A. City Council, we have a very unique opportunity.… Read More

Yes, I know, it’s become cliché but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t apply.

The 43rd Assembly District, which includes Glendale and Burbank, has not been held by a Republican since my former boss, Jim Rogan, left the seat for Congress in 1996. Rogan was elected in a special election succeeding former Assembly GOP Leader Pat Nolan. In those years, this seat was a bedrock Republican district but an influx of new Americans, primarily Armenian and Latino, have changed the demographics and ideological bent of the district. Additionally, this has become a bedroom community for entertainment industry workers who also sit on the left of the political spectrum.

Today, the district is 2-1 Democrat with another quarter of voters decline-to-state. On the surface, Republicans should not be in the game here but due to a special election triggered by incumbent Paul Krekorian’s election to the L.A. City Council, we have a very unique opportunity.

On April 13th, Republican Sunder… Read More

Tom Campbell’s campaign has really taken off the gloves in this lengthy web-ad that seems to be a comprehensive summary of criticisms hurled at the tenure of Carly Fiorina at HP. Of course, it is likely this will only appear on the web, as opposed to on a statewide television buy. The very wealth for which Fiorina is derided in this spot ensures that her spots on Campbell will be seen…

… Read More

Capitol Alert is reporting that the measure sponsored by Republican Party activist Charles Munger, Jr., to take redistricting out of the hands of the Democrats in Sacramento, and instead put that process under the jurisdiction of the new citizens redistricting commission has qualified for the ballot.

This is great news — especially for Republicans in California. If the Democrats continue to drive the process of Congressional redistricting, they will continue to draw many safe seats to re-elect themselves, and quite possibly carve some current GOPers out of their seats. What would that mean? Few Members of Congress to stand tall against Obamacare, to fight off Cap and Tax, and of course fewer advocates of core principles like the Right To Life.

Munger really deserves a lot of praise as he has really championed this effort — putting vast amounts of money into it (Munger’s father, Charles Munger, Sr., is the longtime partner of Warren Buffet). In addition to pushing this measure to benefit Republicans statewide, Munger is actively engaged not… Read More

Yesterday afternoon, I had the great honor of serving as emcee for a ceremony celebrating the inauguration of Lieutenant Governor Abel Maldonado. Our new LG is the first Latino Republican to hold California statewide office in 130 years (yes, that many). The last gentleman, Romualdo Pacheco, Jr., served in the Legislature, as state treasurer and even spent a year (in 1875) as governor of our great state.

Abel was surrounded by his lovely and delightful wife Laura, his children, his family and his friends; eldest daughter Erica led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Abel opened his remarks in flawless Spanish – directed primarily at his father, Abel, Sr. – and closed with a long list of ‘greats’ for which California is renowned (creativity, tech, work ethic, values, etc.). It was an incredibly proud moment for me.

Our 47th LG assumes office, finally, in June. His confirmation was blocked, on the first attempt, by the California Assembly,… Read More

The Poizner Campaign has released a new survey, and here is their pre-spin and followed by the spin from the pollster… The Whitman Collapse Whitman’s Lead Shrinks to 10 points; Down to 5 in Targeted Markets Team Poizner today announced the latest internal polling showing Meg Whitman’s once 48 point lead down to just 10 points. The poll proves that Poizner’s messaging is moving numbers fast, while Whitman’s messages have been ineffective. Whitman’s 48 point lead has shrunk to five points in all markets outside of the San Francisco Bay Area. While Whitman has poured millions into television and radio in the San Francisco media market, Poizner has yet to launch his broadcast TV campaign there, but will soon.… Read More

Over on the San Francisco Chronicle’s Politics Blog, ace reporter Carla Marinucci is sharing that there is word out there that new polling shows that Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner has significantly closed in on GOP gubernatorial front-runner Meg Whitman.

Here is what Marinucci has deduced thus far. Also in Marinucci’s piece is a new ad put out by the Whitman campaign, which we have embedded below.

The Poizner campaign is holding a 1:30pm press call (which FR will be on) to get more details…

… Read More