Wednesday Drive-By: So What If Garamendi Bolts Governor’s Race?
Hoping to signal firm intentions, the John Garamendi for Governor campaign sent out releases this week to trumpet the news that he’s hired two new staffers — a new communications guy and an internet guru.
The announcements followed the bail-out of Silicon Valley consultant Jude Barry from the lieutenant governor’s 2010 bid, and came amid swirling rumors that Big John may switch races to seek the 10th district congressional seat given up by Ellen Tauscher.
Calbuzz says: BFD
Our Garamendi sources say Gov Lite is “still focused on the governor’s race,” but we’re not so sure. Those new hires — liberal radio yakker Peter B. Collins and web whiz Brian Young — could work for a congressional campaign just as easily as one for governor. Which got us wondering: Who benefits if Garamendi does ditch the governor’s race? Place your bets.
1. Attorney General Jerry Brown, because he could pick up some of those older, traditional Democrats* who otherwise might be attracted to old party warhorse Garamendi.
2. Not Jerry Brown, because he wants as big a Democratic field as possible so he can ride hold-over name recognition to victory in a crowded primary.
3. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (aka Tony Villar), because their geographical bases would have greater impact in a smaller field.
4. Not Villaraigosa, because he’d like a field jammed with Northern California white guys.
5. It doesn’t matter – Garamendi had, at best, 8 percent of the vote in the last Field Poll (without Lady DiFi in the mix) and this little slice of the electorate gets dispersed across the field.
Our money’s on Scenario No. 5, because Garamendi has little hardcore support, isn’t raising any money to speak of and has no compelling message.
* Speaking of “older traditional Democrats,” we note with amusement Newsom consultant Garry South’s swipe at the AG on Facebook Tuesday, where he gleefully wished “Jerry Brown a very happy 71st birthday today! Imagine being born when FDR was president!”
I think it would most benefit Newsom because then he would be the candidate with the whitest teeth which seems to get you everywhere these days. Seriously, Jude Barry made the most intelligent and ethical decision by bailing. Garamendi is an empty suit and Barry didn’t want to take the money for nuthin’.
Does this create an opening for anyone else to get in? With 3 libs in the race, how about a mod?
Garamendi is smart, progressive and electable, as he has proven every time he has been nominated. And it’s a mistake to overread polls a year before an election.
Just a reality check. Garamendi has raised 1 million and counting for his bid.
Garamendi is a leader in economy, education and environment.
Garamendi is experienced and prepared to work hard for California.
And finally, his heart is in it for the right reasons.
Let’s look at it the other way, who get’s hurt from Garamendi potentially leaving the race? California.
Garamendi is the most progressive candidate in the race. He is a strong ally of labor, an expert and advocate with regards to environmentalism, a firm supporter of single payer health insurance, and the loudest voice in defense of California’s students. All of these groups lose if he drops out of the race.
Unfortunately, California seems to like flash more than focus and star power more that substance. How else would we end up with Gov. Schwarzenegger?
As for Barry bailing? Good riddance. Who would want the guy who managed Westly’s disastrous gubernatorial campaign in charge?
Here’s why Garamendi will run for Congress:
1. He can’t raise money for a statewide race.
2. He would rather face DeSaulnier/Buchanan than Brown/Newsom/Antonio.
3. He would rather face DeSaulnier/Buchanan than Dean Florez (running for LG).
4. He’s effectively killed his efforts for money and endorsements in the gov’s race by exploring the congressional opportunity — who will help him now that he may jump out?
5. He’s pulled out of a gov’s race before. Remember the recall? This is a pattern if not a pathology.
Roberts and Trounstine, interesting theorizing but no dice. One trick ponies have sank California into the depths of disaster; our state needs a work horse like John Garamendi to do the heavy public policy lifting on education and the environment if we are to be great place. CalBuzzer is more like CalBuzzed and drunk off punch love for raw flash of the ponies hide.
By my count, that’s 5 votes for Garamendi…10 million more and it’s a wrap!
“Garamendi… has no compelling message.”
Aren’t you guys being a little harsh? Have we already forgotten that time when our entire state was riveted by those two whales who swam all the way up the Sacramento River to our state capitol? The only person who cared about the safety of Dawn and Delta was John Garamendi, which is why he took time out of his very busy schedule as Lt. Gov to name those whales and hold press conference after press conference about their condition.
Give the guy some credit. Imagine what else he’ll name if he becomes governor.
The 5 reasons argument also has no dice, especially the 1 through 5.
We have 439 days until the primary; it has little impact if he is being asked and is asking around about the Congressional race.
All this talk about money is like saying there is salt in the ocean; who cares? In our post-Obama world, $ is important, but people are more important. The ability of John Garanendi to be able to tap into 30+ years of networks in unparallelled.
About pulling out being a pathology: ridiculous. Garamendi is the most level headed out of the entire bunch, Democrat or Republican.
Lastly, CalBuzzed is still popping off about Garanendi; all it does is strengthen his hard core supporters to do more. Keep the articles coming and the replies to follow, provides a level of humor and allows the ad absurdum argument to be more fully vetted.
Give us a break – where would we be without our Lt. Governor? We would have an LNG terminal being built off shore of Malibu and the Ventura coast with two eight inch potentially explosive pipelines being tunneled through the minority community of Oxnard. We would have off shore drilling restarting off of Santa Barbara. It was his vote coupled with John Chiang who stopped the “brown” not green Governor’s man voting yes in both cases. He is the best sheperd for the state of California to rebuild after the devastation of our photogenic empty suit and duplicitous current Governor.
Give us a break – where would we be without our Lt. Governor? We would have an LNG terminal being built off shore of Malibu and the Ventura coast with two eight inch potentially explosive pipelines being tunneled through the minority community of Oxnard. We would have off shore drilling restarting off of Santa Barbara. It was his vote coupled with John Chiang who stopped the “brown” not green Governor’s man voting yes in both cases. He is the best sheperd for the state of California to rebuild after the devastation of our photogenic empty suit and duplicitous current Governor.
Give us a break – where would we be without our Lt. Governor? We would have an LNG terminal being built off shore of Malibu and the Ventura coast with two eight inch potentially explosive pipelines being tunneled through the minority community of Oxnard. We would have off shore drilling restarting off of Santa Barbara. It was his vote coupled with John Chiang who stopped the “brown” not green Governor’s man voting yes in both cases. He is the best sheperd for the state of California to rebuild after the devastation of our photogenic empty suit and duplicitous current Governor.
Give us a break – where would we be without our Lt. Governor? We would have an LNG terminal being built off shore of Malibu and the Ventura coast with two eight inch potentially explosive pipelines being tunneled through the minority community of Oxnard. We would have off shore drilling restarting off of Santa Barbara. It was his vote coupled with John Chiang who stopped the “brown” not green Governor’s man voting yes in both cases. He is the best sheperd for the state of California to rebuild after the devastation of our photogenic empty suit and duplicitous current Governor.
Give us a break – where would we be without our Lt. Governor? We would have an LNG terminal being built off shore of Malibu and the Ventura coast with two eight inch potentially explosive pipelines being tunneled through the minority community of Oxnard. We would have off shore drilling restarting off of Santa Barbara. It was his vote coupled with John Chiang who stopped the “brown” not green Governor’s man voting yes in both cases. He is the best sheperd for the state of California to rebuild after the devastation of our photogenic empty suit and duplicitous current Governor.
Give us a break – where would we be without our Lt. Governor? We would have an LNG terminal being built off shore of Malibu and the Ventura coast with two eight inch potentially explosive pipelines being tunneled through the minority community of Oxnard. We would have off shore drilling restarting off of Santa Barbara. It was his vote coupled with John Chiang who stopped the “brown” not green Governor’s man voting yes in both cases. He is the best sheperd for the state of California to rebuild after the devastation of our photogenic empty suit and duplicitous current Governor.
Give us a break – where would we be without our Lt. Governor? We would have an LNG terminal being built off shore of Malibu and the Ventura coast with two eight inch potentially explosive pipelines being tunneled through the minority community of Oxnard. We would have off shore drilling restarting off of Santa Barbara. It was his vote coupled with John Chiang who stopped the “brown” not green Governor’s man voting yes in both cases. He is the best sheperd for the state of California to rebuild after the devastation of our photogenic empty suit and duplicitous current Governor.
Give us a break – where would we be without our Lt. Governor? We would have an LNG terminal being built off shore of Malibu and the Ventura coast with two eight inch potentially explosive pipelines being tunneled through the minority community of Oxnard. We would have off shore drilling restarting off of Santa Barbara. It was his vote coupled with John Chiang who stopped the “brown” not green Governor’s man voting yes in both cases. He is the best sheperd for the state of California to rebuild after the devastation of our photogenic empty suit and duplicitous current Governor.
Give us a break – where would we be without our Lt. Governor? We would have an LNG terminal being built off shore of Malibu and the Ventura coast with two eight inch potentially explosive pipelines being tunneled through the minority community of Oxnard. We would have off shore drilling restarting off of Santa Barbara. It was his vote coupled with John Chiang who stopped the “brown” not green Governor’s man voting yes in both cases. He is the best sheperd for the state of California to rebuild after the devastation of our photogenic empty suit and duplicitous current Governor.
Give us a break – where would we be without our Lt. Governor? We would have an LNG terminal being built off shore of Malibu and the Ventura coast with two eight inch potentially explosive pipelines being tunneled through the minority community of Oxnard. We would have off shore drilling restarting off of Santa Barbara. It was his vote coupled with John Chiang who stopped the “brown” not green Governor’s man voting yes in both cases. He is the best sheperd for the state of California to rebuild after the devastation of our photogenic empty suit and duplicitous current Governor.
Give us a break – where would we be without our Lt. Governor? We would have an LNG terminal being built off shore of Malibu and the Ventura coast with two eight inch potentially explosive pipelines being tunneled through the minority community of Oxnard. We would have off shore drilling restarting off of Santa Barbara. It was his vote coupled with John Chiang who stopped the “brown” not green Governor’s man voting yes in both cases. He is the best sheperd for the state of California to rebuild after the devastation of our photogenic empty suit and duplicitous current Governor.
Give us a break – where would we be without our Lt. Governor? We would have an LNG terminal being built off shore of Malibu and the Ventura coast with two eight inch potentially explosive pipelines being tunneled through the minority community of Oxnard. We would have off shore drilling restarting off of Santa Barbara. It was his vote coupled with John Chiang who stopped the “brown” not green Governor’s man voting yes in both cases. He is the best sheperd for the state of California to rebuild after the devastation of our photogenic empty suit and duplicitous current Governor.
Give us a break – where would we be without our Lt. Governor? We would have an LNG terminal being built off shore of Malibu and the Ventura coast with two eight inch potentially explosive pipelines being tunneled through the minority community of Oxnard. We would have off shore drilling restarting off of Santa Barbara. It was his vote coupled with John Chiang who stopped the “brown” not green Governor’s man voting yes in both cases. He is the best sheperd for the state of California to rebuild after the devastation of our photogenic empty suit and duplicitous current Governor.
Give us a break – where would we be without our Lt. Governor? We would have an LNG terminal being built off shore of Malibu and the Ventura coast with two eight inch potentially explosive pipelines being tunneled through the minority community of Oxnard. We would have off shore drilling restarting off of Santa Barbara. It was his vote coupled with John Chiang who stopped the “brown” not green Governor’s man voting yes in both cases. He is the best sheperd for the state of California to rebuild after the devastation of our photogenic empty suit and duplicitous current Governor.
Give us a break – where would we be without our Lt. Governor? We would have an LNG terminal being built off shore of Malibu and the Ventura coast with two eight inch potentially explosive pipelines being tunneled through the minority community of Oxnard. We would have off shore drilling restarting off of Santa Barbara. It was his vote coupled with John Chiang who stopped the “brown” not green Governor’s man voting yes in both cases. He is the best sheperd for the state of California to rebuild after the devastation of our photogenic empty suit and duplicitous current Governor.
Give us a break – where would we be without our Lt. Governor? We would have an LNG terminal being built off shore of Malibu and the Ventura coast with two eight inch potentially explosive pipelines being tunneled through the minority community of Oxnard. We would have off shore drilling restarting off of Santa Barbara. It was his vote coupled with John Chiang who stopped the “brown” not green Governor’s man voting yes in both cases. He is the best sheperd for the state of California to rebuild after the devastation of our photogenic empty suit and duplicitous current Governor.
Give us a break – where would we be without our Lt. Governor? We would have an LNG terminal being built off shore of Malibu and the Ventura coast with two eight inch potentially explosive pipelines being tunneled through the minority community of Oxnard. We would have off shore drilling restarting off of Santa Barbara. It was his vote coupled with John Chiang who stopped the “brown” not green Governor’s man voting yes in both cases. He is the best sheperd for the state of California to rebuild after the devastation of our photogenic empty suit and duplicitous current Governor.
Give us a break – where would we be without our Lt. Governor? We would have an LNG terminal being built off shore of Malibu and the Ventura coast with two eight inch potentially explosive pipelines being tunneled through the minority community of Oxnard. We would have off shore drilling restarting off of Santa Barbara. It was his vote coupled with John Chiang who stopped the “brown” not green Governor’s man voting yes in both cases. He is the best sheperd for the state of California to rebuild after the devastation of our photogenic empty suit and duplicitous current Governor.
Give us a break – where would we be without our Lt. Governor? We would have an LNG terminal being built off shore of Malibu and the Ventura coast with two eight inch potentially explosive pipelines being tunneled through the minority community of Oxnard. We would have off shore drilling restarting off of Santa Barbara. It was his vote coupled with John Chiang who stopped the “brown” not green Governor’s man voting yes in both cases. He is the best sheperd for the state of California to rebuild after the devastation of our photogenic empty suit and duplicitous current Governor.
Give us a break – where would we be without our Lt. Governor? We would have an LNG terminal being built off shore of Malibu and the Ventura coast with two eight inch potentially explosive pipelines being tunneled through the minority community of Oxnard. We would have off shore drilling restarting off of Santa Barbara. It was his vote coupled with John Chiang who stopped the “brown” not green Governor’s man voting yes in both cases. He is the best sheperd for the state of California to rebuild after the devastation of our photogenic empty suit and duplicitous current Governor.
Give us a break – where would we be without our Lt. Governor? We would have an LNG terminal being built off shore of Malibu and the Ventura coast with two eight inch potentially explosive pipelines being tunneled through the minority community of Oxnard. We would have off shore drilling restarting off of Santa Barbara. It was his vote coupled with John Chiang who stopped the “brown” not green Governor’s man voting yes in both cases. He is the best sheperd for the state of California to rebuild after the devastation of our photogenic empty suit and duplicitous current Governor.
Give us a break – where would we be without our Lt. Governor? We would have an LNG terminal being built off shore of Malibu and the Ventura coast with two eight inch potentially explosive pipelines being tunneled through the minority community of Oxnard. We would have off shore drilling restarting off of Santa Barbara. It was his vote coupled with John Chiang who stopped the “brown” not green Governor’s man voting yes in both cases. He is the best sheperd for the state of California to rebuild after the devastation of our photogenic empty suit and duplicitous current Governor.
If the Lite Gov is so committed to become the real gov why did he initiate a call to Congressman George Miller to seek support? He’s the AIG of the gov’s race — a zombie who’s just going through the motions waiting for another bailout.
I’m catching up a little late, sorry. Busy this week…
What might have been…
Garamendi beat Jackie Speier for lite guv. He was supposed to springboard to governor, but that is not happening.
Jackie goes to Congress, which is fine for the nation.
But what of California?
California still has no strong Democratic woman contender for governor, and that ought to make a few of you sit up and take notice. DiFi is not running. Meg is the only woman in the race. Hello Democrats, have you noticed the problem with this picture yet?
Jackie Speier, who has brains, an amazing story, a great resume, and legislative acumen, is not running for governor because Democrats preferred John Garamendi for Light Gov three years ago. And he isn’t going anywhere. This was a huge failure of Emily’s List that still has a major impact on California politics. The race for governor coming up would have been much, much different had the Demo primary for lt gov three years ago turned out differently. I’m just sayin’.
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I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Sarah
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