The California Republican Party will today launch a major TV advertising blitz criticizing Treasurer Phil Angelides, the Democratic challenger to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, for his advocacy of tax increases. The move comes as Angelides works to unify his own party around his bid.
The two ads, which are produced by media consultants also working for Schwarzenegger, will reportedly prominently feature criticisms of Angelides made in the Democratic primary by his narrowly defeated rival, Controller Steve Westly. The advertising campaign by the Republican Party, which clearly benefits the re-election of the former action superstar, is allowed under law as “issue advocacy.” The ads will not advocate a vote for Schwarzenegger. But their purpose is crystal clear.
As we have seen with the primary campaign, California’s political laws, or at least their implementation, are highly flexible. Angelides’ primary victory was enabled through the utilization of a near $10 million independent expenditure campaign on his behalf, which was 90 percent funded by the Sacramento development empire of his longtime patron and business partner and campaign finance co-chairman, Angelo Tsakopoulos, who hosted a fundraiser for Angelides at his home earlier this week.
The move comes with a private poll being discussed in well-informed circles of the Capitol’s “Third House.” Conducted in mid-June by a highly regarded Democratic polling firm, the survey of over a thousand likely voters gives Schwarzenegger a four-point lead over the former state Democratic chairman.
The hard numbers are Schwarzenegger 42%, Angelides 38%. When given a slight push, i.e., with “leaners” included, the result is Schwarzenegger 46%, Angelides 42%. The Democratic candidate has not received the post-primary bounce in support that many had expected.
For his part, Angelides — who has completed a week of TV advertising that his campaign said amounted to a million dollar buy but Schwarzenegger sources say was about $300,000 less than that — is making moves to consolidate the support of his party behind him.
The announcement of a compromise deal in the Legislature on the governance of the sprawling and long-troubled Los Angeles Unified School District will make it easier for the Democratic gubernatorial nominee to gain the backing of popular LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Angelides, who is backed by the California Teachers Association — which also participated in his independent expenditure campaign during the primary — had conspicuously not supported Villaraigosa’s LA school reform bid.
The seeming resolution of the issue will, according to informed sources, make it much easier for the Democrat Villaraigosa, a friend of Schwarzenegger, to deliver a formal endorsement of Angelides.
In addition, Angelides will meet next week with Steve Westly for the first time since their hurried party unity event the morning after the June 6th primary. The two primary rivals will discuss Westly’s role in the general election campaign.
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I wonder when Mr. Angelides’ famous allies will attempt to come to his rescue. Or are they afraid of triggering a spending war they will lose that will leave them broke and out of luck?
Running ads while everyone is tuning out as they rush to get out of town for the 4th. Marvelous!
I suspect they may not be running the ads while everyone is rushing to get out of town for the 4th of July, which is 11 days from now.
I don’t know if any spending war will leave CTA broke. They raised their dues to fight the Special…did they ever lower them again? They have shown themselves able to quickly generate tens of millions of dollars…always a good ability to maintain.
My recollection is that the controller of the California Teachers Association, Carlos Moreno, swore in an affidavit in October of last year that the union had already spent a three-year emergency dues hike levied for the purpose of fighting Schwarzenegger’s “Year of Reform” special election agenda. I believe the union had to borrow against its property to come up with the cash for the campaign.
Really. Wow. Thought they were more buoyant than that. More bad news for a certain statewide candidate.
Watch for rats scurrying away.
I guess that an Antonio V. endorsement of Phil would read, “Yes. Because I am a democrat, I am allowing fellow democrats throughout this great state to list me as a supporter. Please join me in voting on election day for a great Kal-ee-for-nee-an.”
Here is the quote from my pre-election story last year: “CTA has already spent on the initiative campaign the equivalent of what the temporary dues increase would bring in over three years,” declared California Teachers Association Controller Carlos Moreno in an affidavit earlier this month.
Now the union could always do another dues increase on top of the ongoing dues increase they already have to fight Arnold last year. However, to aggregate the cash in time for this year’s campaign, I suppose they would have to again borrow against their property. I’m not sure how much property CTA owns, and obviously there is already a heavy mortgage from the special election campaign last year.
Perhaps they could get a bank to loan them money using the promise of the future dues as collateral.
“The two ads, which are produced by media consultants also working for Schwarzenegger, will reportedly prominently feature criticisms of Angelides made in the Democratic primary by his narrowly defeated rival, Controller Steve Westly”
Well this is a little awkward considering Phil and Westly are meeting next week to consider Westly’s role in Phil’s campaign! I think that is pathetic. Westly should take his money and help some nanotech start-ups that would be a positive contribution to California …what does either hope to gain by a newly formed alliance? Phil has all the stars except Antonio…which is unfortunately down the line…Westly never had a strong base of support …many voted for him unsure of what they would do in the primary…and many more just never bothered to vote because he either made no impression or a bad one due to Phil’s negative attack ads…
Who are doing the ADS ..the same people that did “Backwards”?
[...] Republicans Hammer Angelides As He Seeks Party Unity [NWN] [...]
It’s almost as though Team Arnold has a good idea of the dynamics of the Democratic Party.
Regarding the ads, my understanding is it’s the same people who did the “Backwards” spot.
It’s a start, Mr. Bradley, however, I think you are still holding back.
Westly can help Angelides with moderates, I think he has a future.
Criticize? No criticisms required. Simply educating the public of Angelides history, policies, and plans should do nicely. Raise taxes on the rich? Define rich Phil? Funny how liberals’ use of the word rich can be stretched down to families that only earn in the 5 figures. Gay marriage? Done! Drivers licenses for illegals? Done! Free healthcare for illegals? Done! Last time I checked, even liberal-leaning Californians are against these things. Heaven knows what other bad ideas are brewing in that misguided little brain of his that run counter to the people of California. Giving Angelides California is atune to giving it to the Lenos, Nunezes, Kuehls, Cedillos, Goldbergs, Chans… Imagine the social engineering experiment that would occur if each of them could get those nutty bills they are always try to pass to Angelides’ desk? Rubber stamp liberalism. Be afraid.
On Westly:
I do not think so. At least statewide… Too many talented hungry politicians in Dem to compete with down the line…Antonio Villaraigosa, Gavin Newsom, Fabian Nunez, John Chiang, Jackie Spier, Debra Bowen, Eric Garcetti, Alex Padilla, Gloria Romero, just to name a few
A good friend who is a prominent downtown LA Lawyer and has had a hand in building everything good and great around this state told me there are two kind of “left of center Dems”, one group understands that the economy is important and the other group does not understand that….I think the DEM party does not need to moderate itself has much but turn itself into the “Left of center but understanding the economy is important party” …
Fickle Barbara!
Most of the names you run off as stars bigger than Westly are unknown to the public and have no money. Westly is very well known and is one of the richest men in the state. Only Villaraigosa and Newsom would be trouble for him of all the names you rattle off. 2 of them are on a city council!
If he wants one, I think Steve Westly has a real future in statewide politics.
Agreed, Ann!
AV and GN are forces to be reckoned with, though I’m not so sure about Newsom running for Guv…perhaps one of the two Senate seats when they open up. This has to be Feinstein’s last go around and Boxer may be on her way before too long. If Boxer hangs it up, a one-two punch of Villaraigosa for Governor and Newsom for Senate could be a mighty ticket for 2010, indeed. One hitch to that scenario is Newsom’s talked-about Presidential potential…the Senate is not a good stepping stone to Penn. Avenue.
Nunez is – by all accouts – looking to be Mayor of LA…thus not an issue for Westly’s future. If he succeeds Antonio, then he won’t be running statewide until 2014 or even 2018.
The rest Babs lists…I don’t see them as competing with Westly.
The real question is: if Phil loses, how much buyer’s remorse will the Dems have? Will four more years of Arnold show them the error of their Primary ways?
I agree about Westly’s future. One thing he can, and should do, is campaign hard for legislative candidates in the ’08 cycle. There are a few competitive seats that will be up (15, 30, 80). The candidates there will be moderate Demorcats, very likely to be in line with Steve’s politics.
You know, I would like to link to other blog items but there aren’t many.
What happened to the daily newspaper political blogs?
Perhaps Westly could step in as the next State Party Chairman? Finish the job he started against Jerry years ago?
Bring a spirit of innovation to the party. Modernize the way the Party does business and communicates with voters…a la the work Howard Dean is doing at the DNC. He may be “too moderate” for the rank and file of the party, who may not want their message moderated…but Westly could certainly bring a vision for CDP 2.0.
Imagine (like the DNC’s 50 State Strategy) a California Democratic Party that BATTLES HARD in all 58 (or is it 57?) counties. Use leadership at the State level to build strong County parties, year round grassroots organizations. Build a California netroots equal to the State’s Dem/Labor grassroots. California is a smaller picture of a changing America. The California Party could lead the National Party…though carefully minding that California policy won’t play in Colorado…much less Mississippi or Alabama.
Perhaps Chariman Bauman would comment on bringing strong County Parties (like I have here in LA) to counties up and down the state, coastal and inland.
Maybe it is too much work? Doing a blog (as Bill well knows) requires constant feeding and attention if it is to stay current and viable. Way too easy to tire of the whole thing and let it slide.
Do not forget Jerry Brown for governor or senator. He would be the immediate frontrunner for either one.
Don’t the daily newspapers have more than one political reporter? lol They didn’t work very hard in the primary and they arent working very hard now.
Oh please this state is full of some of the richest people on earth, and right now he is known has the Dem who lost in a primary that most people did not even care enough about to votie in .Whatever…I am not fickle…I registered here many times my disappointment with him for not going after Reiner, endorsing Prop 82, not taking a bold step to support Antonio in his reform effort…I would have stuck with him if he had won… because Arnold does not do it for me…he is too programmed …and many of the things he is doing that I like strike me as campaign year motivated …but what choice do I have now?…. with Phil I have Barbara Kerr to his left and Mr. T to his right… I listen to he SF debate on the radio…I was shocked at how unprepared Steve sounded
TB:The rest Babs lists…I don’t see them as competing with Westly
4-6 years from now we shall see where my list is and Westly is…
Er, Barbara, was someone impersonating you heading up the cheerleading here for Westly up to the moment he conceded?
Or, actually, um, after.
No revisionist history now.
In my opinion, most of the people on your list will never be major contenders for governor or U.S. senator. You are underestimating how very difficult it is to get known in California politics. And how very valuable it is to be known in California politics.
By the end of that primary campaign, Steve Westly was a pretty polished campaigner. He was good at town hall speeches, good at q&a with the voters, etc.
Yeah Bill, Westly has a future in Statewide politics. He has money-what else do you need? Its certainly not because he shined on the campaign trail. I would guess if you asked most people what they thought of Westly, youd get a blank stare.
Now, for some Phil Shill-
how can you so blandly report on the goings on with the corrections department? Its blatant bribery by the great reformer ( that’d be Arnold) and his new political team. I guess reform is out the window.
It seems Arnolds campaign vision has shrunken-now its just, Im not Phil.
You seem to accept compromise by Team Arnold, but anytime Phil has to bow to political considerations ( like with CTA) you pillory him.
Pillory both sides!
I do love this blog and your insites, but you seem overly harsh on our boy Phil.
Here is another name to throw in there. John Garamendi. If he becomes lieutenant governor, he will have a great title. And he is a name you know, a very experienced and capable figure. That enabled him to come from behind to defeat Jackie Speier.
I should think that the Speier example shows how very difficult it is even for the most prepared little-known statewide candidate to break through against a known quantity.
Well, Mitchell, if you can read what I actually wrote, you will realize that you are simply being argumentative.
I first reported on the “buying off the pissed off” strategy of Team Arnold. Calling it just that.
I first told you that the prison guards union was at the top of that target list.
I just told you the political calculation behind the retreat from prison reform.
Not that Phil can do anything with the issue.
But for that story, you get to wait.
Mr. Bradley, when I for someone I give it my all. I was for him in the primary. I dearly regret he did not win…the things that bothered me would not have impeded him from being a good GUV….but now, I agree about Garamendi…the DEMs have a very good looking bench…Westly was running against Phil! …he looked real good when compared to Phil …up against Antonio, Gavin, even Fabian, who has shown such growth and proven to be such a force this year…I don’t see it…will he look at the Senate …so will Jackie Spier and several others including maybe another millionaire or two…who would DIFI like to see follow her Westly or Jackie?
There is no way that Fabian Nunez is going to be running for governor or U.S. senator any time soon. Not unless he wins a VERY big bet on World Cup soccer. Very few voters recognize his name. Even running for mayor of LA would be a real challenge for him, not that he couldn’t pull that off.
Westly or Jackie Speier? Come on.
Again, you are seriously underestimating what it takes to be a real competitor for those offices.
Here’s a question on Speier…
Where is she against her term limit? She ran for LG, was she on the ballot for her Senate seat at the same time, like Joe-mentum Lieberman?
If she’s not in office, she’ll be off the radar entirely, and it’s a long time between now and 2012, when Feinstein’s seat will open. Westly has a higher profile (ran for Gov/held Statewide office vs State Senator who lost LG primary) and money. If Jackie’s not in office, she got no “hook” to get donors…and even if Clean Money passes on a state level, don’t expect it on a federal level that effects US Senate races.
And I say this with saddness, because I really think Jackie is pretty great.
You may be onto something, Babs…Would DiFi want the “dastardly” Steve Westly holding her seat? Really, who cares? It’s not like she owns the chair…it belongs to the People.
The formidable Jackie Speier is, alas, termed out of office. A prospective employer asked me about her recently.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/columnists/patty_fisher/14814401.htm?source=rss
Now Jackie Speier’s candidacy is virtually a case study in the difficulty of making the jump from being a prominent legislator or local official to running statewide.
With a lot of effort, she raised several million dollars. She moved around the state, doing a good job gathering endorsements running against a very experienced and credible opponent in Garamendi. She had a good staff doing a good job helping her. She had a very interesting personal story and EXCELLENT TV ads.
And yet she lost, to an opponent that she outspent.
“And yet she lost, to an opponent that she outspent.”
That could also be said about Westly , Probably Tommy Boy’s Dunn, (I think that is his name) lets’ face it the low low low voter turn out screwed alot of these people… but it also says something about both top ticket Dem candidates or at least their campaigns…
Barbara, your stubbornness is highly admirable.
In the end, when you add up the “independent” expenditure and internal union communications, Westly outspent Angelides by only a small margin. If at all.
But you miss the point. Of how difficult it is for one of your list to make it in the top races, which the race for LG was not.
Also, and this may be obvious, yes, there are some other REALLY rich people in California. But unless they are celebs of one sort or another, few know who they are. So they would have to spend huge amounts of money to get to where Westly already is. Presumably he would not be sitting on his hands.
I think we’ve said enough about this aspect of it.
I was not a Dunn guy. I’m as Wang Chinag as you can get.
Just to keep that clear.
Just took a tour of the central and northern coast area. I read everything I could get my hands on and talked to the locals. My recomendation for the Nov election is the candidates do the same. We either divide the state in half or get together and figure how to work and move forward. I dont care who’s name is on the ballot. I want leadership and someone who can keep the economy growing. I dont care if he or she is wearing blue , red or purple. I want new fresh ideas. I dont want to see or hear the same BS as we did in the primaries.
You guys want Westly to be the next Senator… he outranks everyone else in talent and money , fundraising ability …fine so be it…Geesh! I am no longer in the prediction business …I am not sure even Arnold will win … when I read your post today ..I just remembered Westly’s great polling numbers …I have decided just to sit back and watch this one…
Barbara, there are actually more numbers. But I’m not going to talk about them now.
The primary polling and the general polling are totally different things.
There you had two candidates who started out not well known and stayed that way until very late. They got pretty well known by the end.
Now you have the Democratic nominee and the Republican incumbent. People know an awful lot about the incumbent. They know a fair amount about the Democrat. These numbers are much more stable.
Mr. Bradley ,
I was very disappointed by Westly’s loss,
I am heartbroken about the fact that Immigration reform will not pass this year…and I really mean heartbroken
I am disappointed even mad everyone tells me that the Dems can’t take the House..
SO, I am left with being happy with the fact that Antonio at least walks away with the 2-3 clusters of the poorest performing schools in LA , as those kids really need his leadership the most..
But at the moment this is not a very good political time for me…I assume you are saying by the above, that Arnold looks good right now to win this..but these are strange political times…and I think they just may get stranger…that could be for the better or worse ..but time will tell.
Barbara,
I miss the Westly campaign too!
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